Thomas Pesquet calls for European space sovereignty and lunar independence

Astronaut Thomas Pesquet has called for increased European investment and sovereignty in space exploration during the International Space Summit in Paris. Pesquet emphasized that Europe must develop its own means to reach the Moon to capture public imagination and ensure long-term strategic independence.

Currently, Europe relies heavily on American technology and private companies like SpaceX for crewed missions. Pesquet noted that the United States invests significantly more in space than the European Union, both in terms of public spending per citizen and the number of private aerospace companies. While the U.S. has over 5,600 such companies, France has 546.

With the International Space Station (ISS) scheduled for decommissioning around 2030, Pesquet urged European leaders to maximize scientific returns from upcoming missions. He highlighted that the European Space Agency (ESA) currently lacks its own operational crewed spacecraft and launch vehicles, making the push for domestic capabilities a priority amidst a volatile geopolitical landscape.