10/06/2020 (Agence Europe) – At the beginning of June, the European Space Agency (ESA) sent a letter, obtained by EUROPE, to the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DEFIS), in which the Agency proposes to participate in the Union’s effort to develop Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, Europe’s ‘’Satcom’ infrastructure. The Agency is concerned about American and Chinese competition in the race for mega satellite constellations, which could put an end to European strategic space autonomy and the entire European space ecosystem. In the framework of its ARTES programme (programme for the development of telecommunications satellites), the ESA says it is ready, subject to the approval of its Member States, to rapidly set up a programme to support the development and deployment of this European infrastructure, “under EU governance”, it says. (PH)