European space chief says Europe must be able to compete globally
Europe needs to 'raise its ambitions' in space, ESA head says
Airbus and Thales exploring tie-up for space activities
European firms face tougher competition from Starlink
By Tim Hepher
Oct 18 (Reuters) -The head of the European Space Agency (ESA) has said the region's space industry needs the muscle to compete globally, warning Europe risks falling behind in the new space race.
Major European satellite makers are looking at teaming up as they face competition from Elon Musk's Starlink, with Airbus this week announcing 2,500 job cuts in defence and space.
In an interview, ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher declined to be drawn directly on the preliminary merger talks but said ESA wanted an industry capable of competing on the world stage balanced with good value for European taxpayers.
"I know that we have the capacity and excellence of the European industry. What I'm more worried about is ... how and what does Europe need to succeed on the global stage?" he told Reuters at a global space meeting in Milan this week.
"My goal ... is to make sure that we develop a solid, robust European space industry that can serve our own citizens' needs, but also be a success on the world market," he said.
Talks between satellite rivals Airbus and Thales, which also include Thales' Italian space partner Leonardo, emerged in July in the wake of disappointing results in the sector and a series of charges at Airbus.
The manufacturers have traditionally been geared towards one-off satellites in geostationary orbit, deploying ambitious but costly technology. They face increasing competition from small satellites in low Earth orbit built at much lower cost.
Previous efforts to combine the satellite activities of Airbus and its main rival Thales Alenia Space, two-thirds owned by Thales and one-third by Leonardo, have run up against opposition from the European Commission, industry sources say.
Telespazio, in which Leonardo owns two thirds and Thales the rest, competes with Airbus in satellite services.
ESA is Airbus' largest space customer.
Fast-growing competition has triggered a regulatory debate over whether the market is a global or European one.
"It is really for industry to organise itself as it sees fit, but from a European Space Agency's point of view, I will always accompany industry's processes to be successful," Aschbacher said.
"Being successful means using taxpayers' money in the best possible way to create a maximum impact for our industry for European needs, and obviously also to put them in good conditions for the global competitive base."
Aschbacher was speaking at the International Astronautical Congress, which ends on Friday after China showcased a rock sample from the moon's far side earlier this week.
Elsewhere, global attention was captured by the novel capture of a rocket's booster back to its launch pad using giant mechanical arms, during a test flight of SpaceX's Starship.
"Europe needs to accelerate its activities in space, needs to raise its profile, needs to raise its ambition, otherwise we will risk falling behind," Aschbacher said.
ESA this week launched its 'Moonlight' Project to provide communication and navigation services for more than 400 future missions planned by space agencies and private companies.
Reporting by Tim Hepher
Editing by Mark Potter
Mga Kaugnay na Asset
Pinakabagong Balita
Disclaimer: Ang mga kabilang sa XM Group ay nagbibigay lang ng serbisyo sa pagpapatupad at pag-access sa aming Online Trading Facility, kung saan pinapahintulutan nito ang pagtingin at/o paggamit sa nilalaman na makikita sa website o sa pamamagitan nito, at walang layuning palitan o palawigin ito, at hindi din ito papalitan o papalawigin. Ang naturang pag-access at paggamit ay palaging alinsunod sa: (i) Mga Tuntunin at Kundisyon; (ii) Mga Babala sa Risk; at (iii) Kabuuang Disclaimer. Kaya naman ang naturang nilalaman ay ituturing na pangkalahatang impormasyon lamang. Mangyaring isaalang-alang na ang mga nilalaman ng aming Online Trading Facility ay hindi paglikom, o alok, para magsagawa ng anumang transaksyon sa mga pinansyal na market. Ang pag-trade sa alinmang pinansyal na market ay nagtataglay ng mataas na lebel ng risk sa iyong kapital.
Lahat ng materyales na nakalathala sa aming Online Trading Facility ay nakalaan para sa layuning edukasyonal/pang-impormasyon lamang at hindi naglalaman – at hindi dapat ituring bilang naglalaman – ng payo at rekomendasyon na pangpinansyal, tungkol sa buwis sa pag-i-invest, o pang-trade, o tala ng aming presyo sa pag-trade, o alok para sa, o paglikom ng, transaksyon sa alinmang pinansyal na instrument o hindi ginustong pinansyal na promosyon.
Sa anumang nilalaman na galing sa ikatlong partido, pati na ang mga nilalaman na inihanda ng XM, ang mga naturang opinyon, balita, pananaliksik, pag-analisa, presyo, ibang impormasyon o link sa ibang mga site na makikita sa website na ito ay ibibigay tulad ng nandoon, bilang pangkalahatang komentaryo sa market at hindi ito nagtataglay ng payo sa pag-i-invest. Kung ang alinmang nilalaman nito ay itinuring bilang pananaliksik sa pag-i-invest, kailangan mong isaalang-alang at tanggapin na hindi ito inilaan at inihanda alinsunod sa mga legal na pangangailangan na idinisenyo para maisulong ang pagsasarili ng pananaliksik sa pag-i-invest, at dahil dito ituturing ito na komunikasyon sa marketing sa ilalim ng mga kaugnay na batas at regulasyon. Mangyaring siguruhin na nabasa at naintindihan mo ang aming Notipikasyon sa Hindi Independyenteng Pananaliksik sa Pag-i-invest at Babala sa Risk na may kinalaman sa impormasyong nakalagay sa itaas, na maa-access dito.
