Paris to host International Space Summit on orbital governance

The International Space Summit will be held in Paris on September 9 and 10, convened by President Emmanuel Macron to address the governance and future of orbital activities. The summit arrives as the space sector shifts from purely scientific exploration to a critical arena for economic competitiveness and international security.

A primary focus of the summit is regulation and sustainability. With over 16,000 tons of artificial objects currently orbiting Earth, including defunct satellites and debris, the risk of collisions is increasing. Space Traffic Management (STM) is being identified as a vital necessity to establish international rules and prevent Earth's orbit from becoming a lawless territory.

Other key pillars of the summit include science and exploration, such as missions to the Moon and Mars, and industrial competitiveness. European leaders, including ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher, have noted the need for Europe to strengthen its autonomy, as U.S. space program investment is approximately six times higher than that of Europe.