[Josef Aschbacher] Are we pilots or are we passengers?

[Orionid]

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Are we pilots or are we passengers?
Josef AschbacherJosef Aschbacher 18.05.2026

Recent changes to the Artemis architecture by the United States signal a rapidly shifting landscape in human space exploration. Decisions to pause Gateway and cancel Mars Sample Return disrupt Europe’s lunar exploration plans, underscoring a broader reality: Europe has become too exposed to decisions beyond its control.

Europe must decide whether it prefers to be dependent on others to send its explorers into space or to assume its role as a fully capable space power. As the head of the European Space Agency (ESA), I am convinced that autonomous human spaceflight is not a luxury. It is a necessary anchor for Europe to secure its freedom to unlock the scientific, economic, strategic and geopolitical benefits of space and to inspire a new generation to shape Europe’s future. 

Through ESA’s Explore2040, Member States have already agreed on a cohesive exploration strategy, laying the foundations for Europe’s own human and robotic spaceflight capability. Yet, political decisions have always fallen short of pursuing full autonomy in human exploration – a hesitation which has had lasting consequences. To reconcile this, we now need the political will to adjust and accelerate the roadmap.

Over decades, ESA has built world-class missions and systems across Earth observation, navigation, science and technology that few actors worldwide can match. From building the world’s most comprehensive Earth observation system with Copernicus, to delivering Galileo as a global reference for satellite navigation; from leading flagship science missions that reshape our understanding of the Universe, to developing the technologies that power robotic exploration, ESA has consistently translated European ambition into operational reality. This accumulated experience is not incidental – it is precisely what gives Europe the credibility to be the maker of its own future in exploration.

Partnerships and international cooperation are cornerstones of Europe’s approach to space – this will not change.  ESA's reputation for reliability has been built by delivering on its commitments on time and at the highest level of performance. That is why partners consistently choose to work with ESA. However, we must be mindful to not let cooperation slip into dependency. The current environment demands both diversified international partnerships and strengthened autonomous capabilities to avoid single points of failure – whether political, technical, or strategic. Only under these conditions can Europe decide when to act independently and when to cooperate globally, protecting our investments and our industrial base amid geopolitical uncertainty.

Our engineers and scientists are among the finest, our industry is world-class, and our institutional model of uniting multiple nations behind shared objectives while prioritising safety, legitimacy and science is stable and proven. The collective strength of 23 Member States is far from being a limitation. This diversity is our greatest asset – financially, politically, industrially and intellectually – giving our shared decisions continuity and resilience that last beyond shifts in national politics.

But this strength only exists if we act together. Fragmentation weakens us; unity amplifies us. European nations must resist the temptation to look inward – forging solo paths on the Moon and beyond. In the long run, no single Member State can achieve on their own what we can achieve together. Within its trusted multilateral framework, ESA serves the interests of its Member States by ensuring that decisions are taken collectively and that national priorities are translated into shared victories.

The shifting landscape we are witnessing did not begin yesterday. When Europe made the difficult but necessary decision to end cooperation with Russia on ExoMars or in taking our astronauts to space, we understood we were narrowing our options. Today’s context is not a surprise, but a prompt to act decisively in response to a geopolitical landscape that keeps transforming. We must use this challenging moment and turn it into an opportunity to redefine our position.

There is no room for delay. A rare convergence of political decisions and funding milestones is already set: ESA Council in June, the International Space Summit in September, ESA Intermediate Ministerial Council on exploration in December, and the full Ministerial Council in 2028. In parallel, the European Union is finalising its Multiannual Financial Framework for 2028–2034. There has never been a better time. If we started today, it would still take us many years to build autonomous capability – we must act quickly. The cost of inaction would far outweigh the necessary investment.

If not now, then when? If not ESA, then who?

History will not wait for Europe to feel comfortable and ready; it will move forward with or without us. The choice before Europe is clear: do we pilot, or are we merely passengers? We have everything we need. What remains are the confidence and political will to act.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/we-pilots-passengers-josef-aschbacher-5mxxf

POLITICOEurope @POLITICOEurope 11:53 AM · May 21, 2026
"The public sector is the driving element of defining space activities worldwide — and there Europe has a huge gap to fill,"
@AschbacherJosef told us.
"Europe has a sixth of the funding in the public side" compared to the U.S., he said.
#GLOBSEC2026 #POLITICOTheSpeakeasy

https://twitter.com/POLITICOEurope/status/2057399417750127098