https://spacewatch.global/tag/josef-aschbacher/ AN INDEPENDENT PERSPECTIVE ON SPACE Tue, 19 May 2026 09:19:16 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://spacewatch.global/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SpaceWatchGlobal-Sign-90x90.png https://spacewatch.global/tag/josef-aschbacher/ 32 32 https://spacewatch.global/2026/05/europe-and-chinas-joint-smile-mission-to-study-earths-magnetic-shield-launches-to-space/ Tue, 19 May 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=74018 ESA and the Chinese Academy of Sciences have launched the SMILE mission on Vega-C to study solar storms and Earth's magnetic shield.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/05/esa-and-jaxa-sign-dedicated-collaboration-agreement-for-2028s-ramses-mission-to-asteroid-apophis/ Mon, 11 May 2026 06:00:21 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=73752 ESA and JAXA have signed a collaboration agreement for the 2028 Ramses mission to asteroid Apophis, deepening cooperation in planetary defence.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/04/esa-and-canada-sign-agreement-on-the-exchange-of-classified-information-around-strategic-space-domains/ Mon, 20 Apr 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=73130 ESA and Canada have signed a classified information exchange agreement, enabling closer collaboration on space surveillance, disaster response, and security technologies.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/03/rocket-lab-launches-celeste-europes-low-earth-orbit-satellite-navigation-demo-mission/ Mon, 30 Mar 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=72438 Rocket Lab has delivered ESA's Celeste mission to orbit — the first LEO satellite navigation demo for Europe.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/03/cyprus-becomes-associate-member-of-the-european-space-agency-after-last-octobers-association-agreement/ Fri, 20 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=72203 The Republic of Cyprus has become an Associate Member of the European Space Agency, following the entry into force of the Association Agreement signed on 23 October 2025. The seven year agreement opens the way for Cyprus’s participation in ESA’s optional programs. The Associate Membership allows Cyprus to participate in ESA optional programs, enabling national industry, research institutions and start-ups to engage more closely with the European space sector. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/02/spacewatchgl-europes-space-pivot-from-esas-science-logic-to-national-security-logic/ Tue, 17 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=71269
Written by Niels Buus
Germany has signaled plans to invest around €35 billion through 2030 in space-related defence capabilities. The number matters not only because it is unprecedented in a European context, but because it is strategically framed: sovereignty, resilience, protection, and military readiness. This is the point: space in Europe is moving from “science-first” to “security-first.”]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/02/ariane-6-lifts-off-with-four-boosters-to-deploy-32-amazon-leo-constellation-satellites/ Fri, 13 Feb 2026 07:00:07 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=71192 The inaugural launch of Ariane 64 - the four-booster version of Ariane 6 - has deployed 32 satellites for Amazon’s Leo constellation to low-Earth orbit. Liftoff occurred at 16:45 GMT/ 17:45 CET from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, with separation of the last satellites occurring after 114 minutes.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/02/ohb-establishes-european-moonport-company-as-an-innovation-center-for-lunar-ambitions/ Thu, 05 Feb 2026 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=70958 OHB has announced the establishment of the European Moonport Company to consolidate the company's activities related to future lunar missions in Bavaria. The company will subsequently support lunar missions related to the development of European infrastructure on the lunar surface.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/12/spacewatchgl-opinion-bremen-a-victory-for-europe-but-what-for/ Tue, 16 Dec 2025 09:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=69836
Written by Gilles Rabin
Josef Aschbacher won his bet at the ESA ministerial conference, raising more than €22 billion. With an increase of more than 30% compared to the last conference in Paris, Europe is discovering its ambition for space, and the smiles on the faces of the Germans and Spaniards showed that this sector is no longer considered an excuse to take pretty pictures of the ISS or to present new superheroes in the form of astronauts wearing ESA jackets. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/12/poland-and-esa-discuss-plans-for-new-esa-security-center-in-the-country/ Wed, 03 Dec 2025 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=69433 The European Space Agency and the Republic of Poland are considering the creation of a new ESA center focusing on security that will be located in Poland. The announcement was made as part of the outcomes of ESA's Ministerial Council (CM25), in Bremen, Germany. The potential Polish center would be complementary to existing security and resilience activities, particularly at the European Space Security and Education Center (ESEC) in Belgium. It would also support efficient and coherent development of European space security and resilience capabilities.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/12/spacewatchgl-opinion-estonia-showcases-space-cyber-capabilities-at-bremen-space-tech-expo/ Tue, 02 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=69298
Written by Tamara Blagojevic, SpaceWatch.Global
Estonia, long recognized for its digital resilience, put its space, cyber, and defense capabilities on full display at the Trade Estonia side event during the Space Tech Expo in Bremen. The event gathered companies and governmental stakeholders to highlight Estonia’s growing role in Europe’s strategic space and defense ecosystem — from cyber ranges and satellite collision analysis to AI-enabled robotics and advanced counter-drone systems.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/12/eib-launches-space-techeu-financing-program-to-scale-up-europes-space-sector/ Mon, 01 Dec 2025 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=69360 The European Investment Bank is setting up Space TechEU, its first dedicated financing program for the European space sector, as part of its TechEU initiative. The space financing initiative was announced at the European Space Agency`s triannual Council of Ministers (CM25) meeting in Bremen. The new lending program will include €500 million EIB financing to support companies across the space value chain, from upstream to downstream, and mobilize an estimated €1.4 billion of new investment in cooperation with commercial banks.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/11/esa-member-states-approve-e22-1bn-at-2025s-ministerial-council-meeting-cm25-in-bremen-germany/ Fri, 28 Nov 2025 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=69341 ESA member states have approved €22.1bn at this year's Council meeting at Ministerial level (CM25) in Bremen, Germany. This year’s Ministerial Council also served as the first stage of the implementation of ESA’s Strategy 2040 The Member States consequently guaranteed a historic increase of 3.5% per year beyond inflation that will enable significant European missions, bolstering the region's scientific leadership. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/11/esa-ministerial-2025-day-1-wrap-up-funding-priorities-no-roadblocks-yet/ Tue, 25 Nov 2025 18:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=69260 Reporting from Bremen, where the ESA Ministerial Conference 2025 has officially launched. The same venue that hosted Space Tech Expo last week now looks completely transformed — high security, closed-door negotiations, and Europe’s biggest space decisions on the line.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/11/space-cafe-radio-with-dr-josef-aschbacher-and-dr-pascal-legai/ Tue, 25 Nov 2025 09:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=69191 n this episode of Space Café Radio, we take you deep into one of Europe’s most strategic space initiatives: ERS – European Resilience from Space. Host Torsten Kriening is joined by ESA Director General Dr. Josef Aschbacher and his Security Advisor Dr. Pascal Legai to unpack how ERS aims to give Europe independent, secure, and rapid access to intelligence from orbit – and why this matters now more than ever.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/10/esa-to-establish-presence-in-tokyo-to-strengthen-strategic-partnership-with-japan/ Thu, 30 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=68648 ESA is establishing a new presence in Tokyo, Japan, its first in Asia, with a staff member working in the heart of Tokyo’s innovation hub X-NIHONBASHI. The move will reinforce ESA’s long-standing and trusted partnership with Japan and deepen cooperation with JAXA, as well as Japan’s growing space ecosystem, including its start-up sector.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/10/aschbacher-presents-european-resilience-from-space-program-in-brussels/ Thu, 30 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=68656 ESA DG Josef Aschbacher has presented the European Resilience from Space program, a new optional program that will be open for subscriptions from Member States at November's ESA Ministerial Council. Aschbacher made the announcement during the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI)-organized Space for European Resilience conference in Brussels.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/10/cyprus-joins-european-space-agency-as-an-associate-member/ Mon, 27 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=68570 Cyprus has signed an Associate Agreement with ESA, and will tentatively become an Associate Member in the coming months. ESA and Cyprus have cooperated successfully for a decade, with Cyprus becoming a European Cooperating State in 2017. Cyprus will subsequently proceed with ratification, aiming to achieve associate membership by early 2026, during its Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) from January to June 2026]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/10/esa-inaugurates-new-35-meter-diameter-antenna-in-australia-to-support-space-missions/ Mon, 06 Oct 2025 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=68163 ESA has expanded its capability to communicate with Solar System missions with a new 35-m diameter deep space antenna. Located in New Norcia, about 115 km north of Perth, Western Australia, the ‘New Norcia 3’ antenna will help meet the agency’s fast-increasing data download needs and secure Europe’s independence and leadership in space.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/09/german-space-congress-2025-dr-josef-aschbacher-on-europes-space-ambitions-defense-and-momentum/ Mon, 29 Sep 2025 14:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=68037 In this powerful Space Café interview, recorded at the 3rd German Space Congress in Berlin, ESA Director General Dr. Josef Aschbacher sits down with Torsten Kriening to talk about Europe’s moment of truth - and opportunity - in space.]]>