Astronomy Prints 🌌: Space Minds: Inside Europe’s push for space autonomy with Josef Aschbacher

Monday, September 21, 2026

Space Minds: Inside Europe’s push for space autonomy with Josef Aschbacher

09/21/2026

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In this episode of the podcast, SpaceNews’ Mike Gruss interviews Josef Aschbacher, the director general of the European Space Agency, at the World Space Business Week conference in Paris. They discuss Europe’s growing push for stronger sovereignty in space and other domains. Aschbacher also shares his views on where Europe is leading in space, where he feels it needs to catch up and what he hopes to get out of Europe’s new investments in space.

Inside Europe’s push for space autonomy with Josef Aschbacher

FROM THE CONVERSATION

Josef Aschbacher: "Sovereignty does not mean isolation or independence. Sovereignty, and we use autonomy as the right term, means to me that we are building up our capacity; that we are stronger … in order to be a good partner."

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