ESA weighs exploration options ahead of December ministerial meeting
ESA is assessing space exploration options ahead of a December meeting at which ministers are expected to make decisions. The ideas raised at IAC are not approved missions.
Review information is loading.
ESA director general Josef Aschbacher told representatives of member states at IAC 2026 that the agency was assessing costs, schedules and possible scenarios that could be put before ministers, according to ESA’s account of the discussion [1]. The agency expects decisions at its Intermediate Ministerial Meeting in Rome on 15 December and is also preparing for the next ESA Council at Ministerial Level in 2028.
Participants discussed possible future astronaut transport, a sustained European presence in low Earth orbit after the International Space Station’s operational life, a greater role in lunar exploration and continued independent access to space. These were possibilities under discussion, not approved missions. Aschbacher argued for greater European autonomy in exploration and space transportation while maintaining international partnerships.
ESA also reported signing a memorandum of understanding with the International Astronomical Union’s Centre for the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky from Satellite Constellation Interference. ESA said the agreement is intended to support work on the challenges that satellite-reflected sunlight and radio-frequency interference pose for astronomy [1].
Sign in to give this article a thumbs up or down.
About this discussion and AI questions
Private test discussion. Comments are readers’ views and are not yet automatically fact-checked. Editing is available for 60 seconds after posting.
Sign in with a confirmed reader account and choose a username to read comments and participate.
Sorting applies to top-level comments; replies remain oldest first. New comments and likes can change the order. Refresh for the current ranking.
Loading comments…