On Thursday 11 January, the Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA), Josef Aschbacher, presented his agency’s objectives for 2024, starting with the return of European launchers to space, following the difficulties experienced by Vega-C and Ariane 6 in 2023.
“Last year, I said that Europe was in a launcher crisis, not having our own access to space. Getting Ariane 6 onto the launch path and Vega-C returning to flight kept us very busy last year. I can say that this year will look much better, of course always hoping that everything goes according to plan”, he announced to the media.
Ariane 6 is scheduled for launch between 15 June and the end of July, and Vega-C on 15 November, after two tests, one before and one after the summer.
In addition to greater autonomy of access to space, ESA wants to continue developing partnerships, particularly with the EU. The launch of two Copernicus Sentinel 1-C and 2-C satellites is planned, as is the launch of four satellites (in two launches) for Galileo. Their launch depends on a decision by the European Commission. For Galileo, Mr Aschbacher said he hoped to obtain the green light from the Commission “very soon”.
Francisco-Javier Benedicto Ruiz, Director of Navigation, recalled that ESA had 28 satellites in orbit, and that 10 others were ready to be launched (4 this year and 6 in 2025 and beyond). 12 second-generation satellites are in production, to be launched in 2026 and beyond, he added.
In addition, the agency will be developing and validating the Iris² satellite constellation in orbit, and starting to implement a new programme with the EU, Space Weather. It will also be working on the European launcher challenge to develop smaller launchers and will select the first projects for a cargo return service (see EUROPE 13280/26).
The Hera planetary defence mission, currently under development as part of ESA’s space safety and security programme, is scheduled for launch in October 2024. Its aim is to study the binary asteroid Didymos and to measure in detail the results of the kinetic impactor test on NASA’s DART mission. EarthCare, ESA’s Earth observation mission, which will study the role of clouds and aerosols in the reflection of solar radiation, is due to be launched on 1 May.
The year will also be marked by a new summit on 23 May in Brussels. As in Seville, there will be several sessions: a Council of ESA members, a Council of ministers responsible for space in the EU Member States, and a joint EU-ESA meeting.
The ESA budget for 2024 will be a record €7.79 billion (+10% compared with 2023). Of these funds, 23.4% come from the EU, i.e. €1.8226 billion. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)