After the start of the ETS, the EU abandoned Russian space technology and thus became dependent on the US company SpaceX, having signed a contract with it to launch four satellites. Europe intends to regain its autonomy through the development of its own Ariane 6 launch vehicle, but it is not yet ready for its first flight, says La Nouvelle Tribune.
The Ukrainian conflict has shown the weakness of Europe, which wants to achieve independence in the space sphere, writes La Nouvelle Tribune. While space was once considered free from geopolitical games, it has now become a new battleground. As a result, the Galileo project, which would give the EU autonomy in satellite navigation, has reached a dead end due to the boycott of Russian technology and the inability to use the familiar Soyuz launch vehicle.
Deprived of Soyuz, Europe turned to Elon Musk’s SpaceX, the publication says. The European Space Agency has signed a preliminary agreement with it to launch four Galileo satellites in 2024. Such a controversial and necessary step in the current circumstances, however, means Europe’s dependence on the Americans and its weakness in a crucial area.
As an example of the EU’s problems in the space field, the French newspaper cites the situation with European launch vehicles: the Ariane 5 is no longer in use, the Vega-C has encountered technical difficulties and the Ariane 6 is not yet ready for its first flight scheduled for next year. The only working Vega rocket is not suitable for Galileo systems – thus Europe cannot send them into orbit on its own.
La Nouvelle Tribune concludes by noting that the EU is set to regain its autonomy thanks to the development of the Ariane 6 launch vehicle. Independence in the space domain is important to maintain Europe’s credibility and sovereignty and will allow it to better withstand current and future geopolitical upheavals.
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