Latest news with #Aschbacher
NDTV
23-05-2025
- Science
- NDTV
Moon, Mars And Beyond: India, Europe Enter New Era Of Space Cooperation
New Delhi: Even as Indian and European space agencies continue prepare astronauts since a year for the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), the two are forging new frontiers in space cooperation. In a conversation with NDTV, Dr Josef Aschbacher, Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA), outlined the deepening collaboration between Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and European Space Agency (ESA) as both are cooperating in space exploration, human spaceflight and satellite launches. A historic joint statement signed this month between ESA and ISRO marks a new chapter in bilateral space cooperation. ESA's annual budget is estimated to be about $7.91 billion compared to ISRO's budget of $1.6 billion. A Legacy Of Collaboration ESA and ISRO's partnership dates back to 1978, with informal ties stretching even earlier to 1971. Over the decades, the two agencies have worked together on Earth observation, ground station support and lunar missions like Chandrayaan. Notably, Dr Aschbacher highlighted that ESA's ground stations were the first to receive data from Chandrayaan-3's historic soft landing near the Moon's South Pole in August 2023, even before Indian officials were informed. India used a global network of stations to receive the telemetry data. Human Spaceflight And The Axiom 4 Mission The collaboration is now entering a new phase with human spaceflight. ESA and ISRO are jointly participating in the upcoming Axiom-4 mission, scheduled for June. The mission will feature an Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla flying alongside ESA project astronaut Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, from Poland. Both will conduct a record number of scientific experiments during a two-week stay aboard the ISS. "This will be the most science-intensive Axiom mission to date," said Dr Aschbacher, expressing excitement about the joint experiment and the symbolic significance of the mission. Toward A Shared Future In Space Stations India's aims to build its own Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) aligns with ESA's long-term vision for low Earth orbit infrastructure. The newly signed statement of intent opens the door for ESA to contribute to BAS through cargo return services, shared equipment, and potentially even joint astronaut missions. "There is a huge possibility of great cooperation," said Dr Aschbacher. "We are at the beginning of this process, but I am very committed to making it work for the benefit of both." Launch Partnerships And Technological Trust ESA recently entrusted India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) with the launch of its Proba-3 mission, a dual-satellite formation flying experiment designed to study the Sun's corona by simulating an artificial solar eclipse. The mission was launched with high precision, earning praise from Dr Aschbacher for ISRO's engineering excellence. "Thank you, India, for a high performance launch," he said, noting that the mission's first eclipse observations are expected in the coming weeks. Ariane 6 And The Competitive Launch Market Reflecting on the retirement of Europe's heavy lift launcher - the Ariane 5 rocket - and the delayed debut of Ariane 6, Aschbacher acknowledged the challenges ESA faced during its "launcher crisis." However, he expressed pride in Ariane 6's successful maiden flight and its potential to compete with SpaceX's Falcon 9. He emphasised that while SpaceX offers low prices internationally, domestic pricing tells a different story. ESA's strategy, he said, is to ensure Europe's guaranteed access to space while also capturing commercial opportunities-such as the deal with Amazon's Kuiper project. Micro-Launchers And Indian Startups ESA is also investing in micro-launchers through its European Launcher Challenge. While ESA has not yet partnered with Indian start-ups, Aschbacher expressed openness to collaboration, especially with Indian companies currently developing suborbital and small-payload launchers. "These start-ups could grow into medium and heavy launch providers," he said, hinting at future cooperation. The Long View: Moon, Mars And Beyond Looking ahead, both India and ESA have ambitious roadmaps - India aims to land an astronaut on the Moon by 2040, while ESA is exploring long-term lunar and Martian, human and robotic endeavours, opening up several opportunities for cooperation. Dr Aschbacher likened this era of space exploration to the age of maritime discovery, calling the Moon "our eighth continent." He emphasised the importance of international cooperation, shared values and mutual benefit in achieving these goals. A Message To Prime Minister Modi When asked for a message for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dr Aschbacher said, "I am really grateful for the excellent cooperation we have between India and ESA. India is already a great space power, and your path to the future is very impressive. I look forward to exploring future opportunities together."
Indian Express
07-05-2025
- Science
- Indian Express
Direct and clear objectives to collaborate with ISRO: ESA chief Josef Aschbacher
The European Space Agency (ESA) now has direct and clearer objectives to work with India and is open to collaborating on bigger and unexplored areas of space, said Dr Josef Aschbacher, the ESA director general. On Wednesday, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and ESA inked a Joint Statement of Intent on Human Space Exploration on the sidelines of the Global Space Exploration Conference (GLEX) – 2025. 'ESA and ISRO have been collaborating for over 40 years. But we will jointly explore newer areas of space exploration together like never before,' the ISRO chairman, Dr. V Narayanan, said. Speaking to The Indian Express, Aschbacher said, 'ESA is happy partnering with ISRO and we look forward to exploring large-scale space operations. It is a strong recognition both for ESA and ISRO to work together on a domain of space exploration. This is a complete new chapter in our relations.' While ISRO and ESA are yet to discuss the exact areas of collaboration, Wednesday's agreement will now pave the way for greater discussions between the two space agencies and the process for which will get underway in the coming months. Two months ago, the ESA delegation visited India and held preliminary discussions. Collaborations are being keenly considered on India-proposed building of the Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS). India plans to build the space station by 2035. In a five-module design, the BAS-1 is scheduled for a launch in 2028. 'Both India and ESA have ambitious space exploration programmes and we would identify areas that will complement and benefit each other. A lot can be done together,' the ESA chief Aschbacher said. 'Our respective teams will discuss and define concrete actions and areas to collaborate,' the ESA chief said. ESA is considering the utilisation of BAS once it is built and ready. It is also considering providing ISRO with cargo-delivery support in building the BAS. The components of the Indian space station are planned to be sent into space as different segments and docked once in space. Earlier this year, ISRO successfully performed the docking and undocking of two satellites in its SpaDeX mission — a demonstration and a skill which will be essential for future space activities like building the BAS. The ESA chief, Aschbacher, also said, 'ESA is building a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) cargo return service vehicle, and who knows, it may, in future, turn into an astronaut carrying vehicle. This would be of great interest for India, which is planning to send its first human into space.' The two agencies will work out the working modalities, cost estimates, make best use of expertise available on either side and the governmental-level sanctions both in India and among the 23 ESA member states.
The Guardian
28-04-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Europe must boost space investment to secure autonomy from US, says ESA boss
Donald Trump's return to the White House has prompted a shift away from ties with America by European political leaders and a rapid increase in defence spending as the continent's security reaches a 'turning point'. The ripples from Europe's newfound desire for self-reliance could go even further: as far as space. Europe's drive for more autonomy means it must also increase its invesment in space technology, according to Josef Aschbacher, director general of the European Space Agency (Esa), the intergovernmental body tasked with overseeing the space exploration ambitions of European countries including much of the EU and the UK. 'There are many domains that are seen in space as the ones where Europe will want to increase its autonomy, and it is crystal clear in a more volatile geopolitical situation the need for more autonomy is there,' Aschbacher said in an interview with the Guardian in London. 'The situation is changing drastically.' Humans are turning their eyes to the skies more than ever. The world is in the middle of a second space race, with governments – and also private companies – taking advantage of huge advances in satellites, sensors and, crucially, rockets. Analysts talk of a $1tn industry, a scale that would match today's airline sector, with Earth observation, communications, and even tourism expected to boom. The Trump-provoked increase in military spending could add further momentum, as armed forces vie for better spying gear. However, Aschbacher's role as Esa boss is also to argue for continued investment in science to benefit humanity, including projects such as measuring wind speed using lasers, climate monitoring satellites, and the Euclid telescope, designed to explore the mysteries of dark matter. For European space science, close cooperation with the US has been vital for decades. The Esa works with American counterparts on projects ranging from putting astronauts on the International Space Station to the James Webb telescope, which is peering at radiation from galaxies billions of years ago, and the Artemis programme to return people to the moon. Aschbacher, an Austrian, controls a budget worth €7.7bn (£6.4bn) this year, a large amount, but dwarfed by the $25.4bn (£19.6bn) budget of the US's National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa). Trump's return has raised questions over whether that cooperation will continue, as the US imposes steep cuts on Nasa. Elon Musk adds another complication. His SpaceX has already been perhaps the biggest contributor to the revolutionary decline in launch costs thanks to its reusable Falcon 9 rockets. Yet the billionaire's highly controversial cost-cutting mandate under Trump means he is likely to wield significant influence over US space policy, despite the obvious risk of conflicts of interest as Nasa's key contractor. Trump's pick for Nasa administrator, the billionaire Jared Isaacman, paid SpaceX to take him to space. Musk has criticised Artemis, preferring instead his ambition to send people to Mars. European countries are also racing to wean themselves off SpaceX's Starlink, a network of internet satellites in low-Earth orbit (Leo). Starlink has built by far the largest Leo constellation, giving reliable internet access in remote locations and becoming an indispensable part of Ukraine's military communications since Russia's 2022 invasion. Asked about Musk's influence, Aschbacher declined to comment on 'the internal politics of the United States and who should influence these decisions'. The Esa is continuing with its part of the planned works, building the Orion capsule to transport astronauts, Aschbacher said, adding that he is 'confident that the US will keep cooperating with Europe in the Artemis programme', including in creating a 'lunar gateway' orbiting the moon. 'If changes happen and if our US partners and friends are changing their plans, of course we will be ready for plan B,' Aschbacher said. 'And certainly we will reinforce our autonomy and our capacity as a consequence of it. But today is not the time to talk about plan B, because plan A is in place.' However, the Esa is also considering tie-ups with other countries who could be part of 'plan B'. Aschbacher highlighted Australia, the United Arab Emirates and India as promising partners for Europe. SpaceX last month confirmed its dominant position when its Dragon capsule brought back four people, two of whom were stranded on the International Space Station after technical issues on rival Boeing's Starliner craft. Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion Europe was left reliant on SpaceX to launch part of its Galileo satnav system after the retirement of the Ariane 5 rocket, and the grounding of Vega C, both operated by Arianespace, co-owned by aerospace manufacturers Airbus and Safran. That amounted to a 'launching crisis' that was only ended by the first flight of Arianespace's Ariane 6 rocket last year. The Esa is now seeking to spur more launch competitors for the next generation, with a focus on reusable rockets to emulate SpaceX's cost reductions. One Esa-led project, the Prometheus engine, should be able to launch in 'less than a handful' of years, Aschbacher said. Other European private-sector players, such as German startup Rocket Factory Augsburg, are also in the race. If all goes to plan, they could also take off from the UK, ending the reliance on the Esa's spaceport in French Guiana in South America. Aschbacher said the development of UK spaceports, most notably one in Shetland, would be another welcome development. The Esa, funded by 23 member states, but is not an EU organisation, meaning Brexit has not stymied the UK's involvement, although there was a hiatus in its part in the Copernicus climate satellite programme. The Esa's role is to explore space peacefully, but the obvious military applications may make it easier for the agency to win increased funding from its member governments this November as they rush to rearm and fill the gap left by the US. Yet, Aschbacher is a scientist. He studied natural sciences at the University of Innsbruck and joined the Esa in 1990, rising through the ranks to lead its Earth Observation Division. Although he acknowledged that space technologies will 'play a fundamental role in order to enable many of these security requirements' for European governments, he also called for continued investment in science. He likened space investments to those into the fundamental research that allowed scientists to develop vaccines against Covid with astonishing speed during the pandemic. 'Investments in space in Europe have to increase in order to make sure that Europe can sustain its standard of quality of life and standard of living for its people,' he said. 'Science is such a strength of Europe. It's actually the reason why economic progress and economic development can happen or happen faster.'
See - Sada Elbalad
16-04-2025
- Science
- See - Sada Elbalad
European Space Agency Proposes €21 Bln Military Satellite Network
Israa Farhan The European Space Agency (ESA) is preparing to launch an ambitious €21 billion project to establish a military-grade satellite reconnaissance network in collaboration with the European Union, according to ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher. Speaking to *Euractiv*, a media outlet focused on EU affairs, Aschbacher explained that the war in Ukraine and rising geopolitical tensions with the United States have intensified the EU's focus on defense-related investments in space technology. The proposal was presented during a high-level meeting of EU officials in Warsaw, where Aschbacher noted that the preliminary funding package — valued at approximately €21 billion — could still be adjusted based on further negotiations and assessments. Although ESA is not formally a part of the European Union, it includes overlapping membership from EU countries as well as the United Kingdom and Switzerland. Ministers from ESA member states meet every three years to discuss funding for various scientific and exploratory programs. During the agency's last summit in Paris in 2022, European governments pledged a record €16.9 billion. Budget constraints had previously cast doubt on the possibility of an increased allocation for the next ministerial meeting scheduled for November 2025. However, recent developments — including Elon Musk's threat to restrict Ukraine's access to the Starlink satellite network and shifting attitudes within the White House — have reshaped the debate, propelling military space assets to the forefront of European defense policy. ESA's proposed program includes a constellation of next-generation surveillance satellites capable of delivering ultra-high-resolution infrared imagery from any point on Earth every 20 to 30 minutes. These images would be made available on demand to European militaries and governments, dramatically enhancing real-time situational awareness. Several European companies have advocated for such a program, arguing that it could significantly boost the region's space-tech startup ecosystem while reducing reliance on non-European satellite services. Aschbacher described the initiative as a potential game-changer, emphasizing that neither the EU nor ESA currently possesses a comparable system. Both the United States and China, however, have made considerable advances in this area, underlining the strategic importance of keeping pace. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia Lifestyle Pistachio and Raspberry Cheesecake Domes Recipe News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Arts & Culture Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's $4.7M LA Home Burglarized Videos & Features Bouchra Dahlab Crowned Miss Arab World 2025 .. Reem Ganzoury Wins Miss Arab Africa Title (VIDEO) Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple Arts & Culture Arwa Gouda Gets Married (Photos)
Telegraph
14-03-2025
- Science
- Telegraph
European Space Agency spacecraft to steer asteroids away from Earth
Hollywood films would have you believe that the best way to deal with an Earth-threatening asteroid is to blast it out of orbit. But the European Space Agency (ESA) is looking at a far subtler approach to saving the planet – a gravity tractor. The plan involves sending a spacecraft to rendezvous with a dangerous asteroid and use its tiny gravitational field to slightly alter the space rock's trajectory so that, over time, it would soar harmlessly past Earth. It is an idea that has been floated for decades, but recently become more pressing after the 2024 YR4 scare earlier this year, an asteroid that came seemingly out of nowhere and at one point had a one in 32 chance of hitting Earth in December 2032. Joseph Aschbacher, director general of ESA, admitted he had been ''very worried' about 2024 YR4 and said the space agency was stepping up its planetary defence capabilities. Speaking to The Telegraph at Space-Comm expo this week, Dr Aschbacher said: 'I was very worried. 'If the asteroid is in front of your door, more or less, it's too late, and we probably cannot do much. 'The earlier you detect an asteroid that might impact planet Earth, and the earlier you can take action far away from planet Earth, the higher the chances are that it will not have negative impacts. '(A planetary defence mission) may actually start, by just sending a satellite there, and letting it fly close by the asteroid so that the gravity of the satellite influences the gravity of the asteroid itself. 'Slightly by degrees, it would change the trajectory, and therefore may result in a different trajectory than the ones that might be directed to Earth. So the further away you can do it, the bigger the chances of minimising damage.' Apophis rock no longer a risk Last year, ESA announced that it planned to rendezvous with the asteroid 99942 Apophis, a cruise ship-sized rock, which makes an exceptionally close flyby of Earth in April 2029, when it will be visible to the naked eye. The mission, called Ramses (Rapid Apophis Mission for Space Safety), will give a crucial window into how asteroids are affected by gravitational forces – in this case, the gravity of Earth. Apophis was predicted to get dangerously close to Earth in 2068, but experts have since revised their calculations and no longer see it as a risk. 'We have a mission planned already to encounter that asteroid before it comes to Earth, and to really measure it,' added Dr Aschbacher. 'We are not assuming it will hit planet Earth, but it will fly by very closely, and that will be quite a spectacle, in terms of every citizen being able to see it, but it is a unique opportunity to really study the asteroid close by.' Most asteroids and comets have orbits that do not bring them very close to Earth, and they are only classed as dangerous if they come within 4.6 million miles and are larger than 460 feet. But occasionally they can hit. The last major impacts include the Tunguska event in 1908 in Siberia which felled an estimated 80 million trees, while the 2013 Chelyabinsk meteor is the only known incident in modern times which resulted in numerous injuries. Only one asteroid deflection test has ever taken place in space. In 2022, Nasa sent its Dart (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) spacecraft to crash into Dimorphos, a 525ft-wide 'moonlet' which circles a larger asteroid called Didymos. The team had hoped the impact would shorten Didymos' 11 hour 11 minute orbit by a few minutes, but it ended up shaving off around half an hour. However, the impact had unexpected consequences, unleashing a storm of boulders 'as deadly as Hiroshima' and proving that deflection strategies could have unintended consequences that leave smaller rocks on a collision course with Earth. In contrast, a gravity tractor would cause less collateral damage, gently nudging an Earth-bound asteroid in a new trajectory. Last year, ESA launched a spacecraft, named Hera, which is travelling to Didymos-Dimorphos to assess the true scale of the damage in a mission which will help determine which asteroid defence scheme will be chosen in the event of another scare. It is due to arrive in October next year. Dr Paul Bate, the chief executive of the UK Space Agency, said: 'Asteroids are one of the ways in which you show the power in space, so we are right to be worried. 'Whether we like it or not, these things have been happening literally since the start of the solar system. We're connected. 'We don't have any choice, but we know we can actively choose to understand more and that's very important for deflection, for protecting our planet.'
