On Thursday 20 March, the European Space Agency (ESA) Council finalised the Agency’s Strategy 2040, which will guide the activities of the next Ministerial Council in November.
This strategy defines ESA’s objectives in five areas. The first, ‘Protect our planet and the climate’, focuses on the development of technologies, missions, applications and services that will enable progress to be made in the fight against climate change, environmental degradation and the pressure on natural resources.
Other objectives are to spearhead a greener, more circular space economy, with global sustainability standards and a ‘zero debris’ environment, and to position Europe as a world leader in space security by developing its capabilities in space weather services and planetary defence.
In Exploration and Discovery, the objectives are ESA’s world leadership in Earth and space sciences to unravel the mysteries of our planet and the Universe, and the development of ESA’s unique roles and capabilities in the new era of space exploration in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), around and on the Moon, and to Mars.
According to the strategy, strengthening autonomy and resilience means securing autonomous and competitive access and mobility to space through new transport systems and services (which may be reusable), developing new-generation technologies and systems for connectivity, positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) and Earth observation “for a more connected and safer future for citizens”, and developing advanced solutions for forecasting and managing natural and man-made disasters and emergencies.
There are four objectives under the fourth heading, ‘Boost European growth and competitiveness’. The aim is to accelerate innovation by driving the development of competitive, cutting-edge European space technologies in key strategic areas, and to strengthen industrial capacity and competitiveness to unlock new markets and stimulate economic growth, thereby fostering a more prosperous society. Making Europe a commercial hub in the booming global space economy, by attracting significant private investment, but also space research, operating world-class technical facilities and investing in and attracting the best talent in science, technology, engineering and mathematics are another priority.
The final axis, entitled ‘Inspire Europe’, has a number of objectives: to strengthen Europe’s space network through world-class project management and enhanced cooperation between Europe's key players; to make ESA a model of inclusion in space activities to inspire young people and future generations from diverse backgrounds; and finally, to enable ESA Member States and the EU to harness space capabilities to increase their influence in international diplomacy and world affairs.
The strategy, which follows on from Agenda 2025, is a “living” document that will evolve over the coming years, according to the Agency.
See the strategy: https://aeur.eu/f/G12
Strengthening international cooperation. The European Space Agency has also announced a strengthening of its international cooperation.
For example, ESA and the Japanese space agency JAXA have extended their cooperation on the use of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites for Earth sciences and applications. The agreement, initially signed in 2020 and extended to 2023, has now been extended for a further two years, until 31 March 2027. The Council also approved the signing, later this year, of a new ten-year framework agreement for a strategic partnership on climate action between the two agencies. Alongside the meeting, ESA and JAXA also signed a declaration of intent strengthening their ties in the field of lunar energy.
The agreement between ESA and Brazil on space cooperation for peaceful purposes has been extended by ten years, until 17 May 2035. The initial agreement came into force in May 2004 and has since been extended several times.
In addition, a new Memorandum of Understanding to promote synergies between the African Union – represented by the African Space Agency (AfSA) – and ESA has been signed, providing for the implementation of joint activities, particularly in the context of the contribution agreement with the EU relating to the EU-Africa Space Partnership Programme.
The ESA Member States also decided to reappoint the Chairman, Renato Krpoun, and the Vice-Chairmen of the Council, Frank Monteny and Juan Carlos Cortés Pulido, for a period of one year from 1 July 2025. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)