Europe needs sovereign access to space in order to be able to receive satellite reconnaissance data and be less dependent on the United States, Rene Oberman, head of the supervisory board of the European company Airbus said.
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“For many years, Europe did not have big space ambitions. As a result, we are lagging far behind. Last year, more than 140 missile launches were conducted in the United States, about 70 in China, and three in Europe,” Oberman said.
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However, he noted, it became possible to launch the European Ariane 6 launch vehicle “with a high payload and a good frequency.” In addition, there is progress with small rockets, for example, from Isar Aerospace, the head of the supervisory board added.
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“We need sovereign access to space and European satellite groups to be able to communicate independently from (American entrepreneur, founder of SpaceX, Elon) Mask and Starlink, respectively, and receive military intelligence data via satellite,” Oberman added.
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In February, CDU/CSU leader and likely next German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also stressed the importance of independent European access to space in light of the changing US foreign policy.
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In early March, the French military satellite CSO-3 was launched into orbit as part of the first commercial launch of the new European Ariane 6 launch vehicle in French Guiana. French Defense Minister Sebastian Lecornu welcomed the satellite’s launch into orbit, calling the success of the launch an “important milestone” in France and Europe’s return to autonomy and sovereignty in space.
