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to ensure that space serves
European security needs; to foster crucial technologies and capabilities to make progress in European space transportation and space exploration; and to transform ESA to ensure it is dynamic and responsive to future challenges. It also set out a longer-term vision to accelerate the use of space to meet the needs of European citizens in three areas: space for a green future; a space-enabled rapid and resilient crisis response; and the protection of space assets.
31:
193:. In 2006, he was appointed Head of the Copernicus Space Office and he was then promoted to become Head of Programme Planning and Coordination within ESA's Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes. Between 2016 and 2021, he served as ESA's Director of Earth Observation Programmes and head of ESA's Centre for Earth Observation.
232:, is designed to answer outstanding questions about the Universe and to make breakthrough discoveries in all fields of astronomy. Because its launch was so accurate, the spacecraft has enough fuel left to maintain its position in space for potentially 20 years, which is twice as long as its designed operational lifetime.
209:
On taking office, Aschbacher presented "Agenda 2025" – his plan to ensure that Europe has a world-class space agency. Agenda 2025 listed five immediate interrelated priorities: to strengthen ESA-EU relations; to promote the commercialisation of space and the strength of the
European space industry;
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Aschbacher has subsequently tried to secure Ariane 6 and Vega-C by subsidizing a fixed number of launches each year. He called for a competition revolutionizing the future procurement of Europe’s next generation of launchers with the aim of spurring competition and innovation. Aschbacher further
281:
In
November 2023, political representatives of ESA’s member states, associate states and cooperating states met at a Space Summit in Seville. They endorsed Aschbacher’s proposal to harness space for a greener future, take decisive steps in exploration, and ensure autonomous access to space while
178:
Between 1991 and 1993, he was seconded as a representative of ESA and of the
Austrian Space Agency to Southeast Asia. He became an assistant professor at the Asian Institute of Technology in Bangkok, Thailand, and he initiated Earth observation cooperation programmes between ESA, the European
201:
Aschbacher became
Director General of ESA on 1 March 2021. Based at ESA's headquarters in Paris, he is responsible for the definition, implementation and development of Europe's space infrastructure and activities, which include launchers, satellites performing Earth observation, navigation,
162:
Born in Ellmau, Austria, Aschbacher studied at the
University of Innsbruck, graduating with a Master’s degree and a PhD in natural sciences. He started his career by becoming a research scientist at the university's Institute of Meteorology and Geophysics, a post he held from 1985 to 1989.
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announced a competition between companies based in Europe to develop a space cargo return service that will deliver supplies to the
International Space Station by 2028 and return cargo to Earth. The service vehicle could evolve to a crew vehicle and eventually serve other destinations.
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To create a
European system for secure connectivity, in September 2023 Aschbacher signed an agreement between ESA and the European Commission to develop a constellation of satellites – supported by information-relaying infrastructure on the ground – called
250:
In
November 2022, political representatives of ESA's member states, associate states and cooperating states met in Paris and endorsed Aschbacher's proposal to strengthen Europe's space ambitions. Simultaneously, Aschbacher announced the
940:
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At the Space Summit, Aschbacher invited public organisations and commercial space companies to register their intention to sign a Zero Debris
Charter with the aim of keeping space sustainable and free from space debris.
213:
In June 2021, Aschbacher strengthened the relationship between ESA and the EU by signing a new Financial Framework Partnership Agreement worth almost €9 billion between 2021 and 2027.
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Aschbacher acknowledged ESA's failure for a European autonomous access to space in January 2023, following the retirement of the heavy-lift Ariane 5, the failure of the mid-sized
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in Ispra, Italy, becoming Scientific Assistant to the Director of the Space Applications Institute, where he was responsible for scientific strategy and resource allocation.
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launchers for European spacecraft and astronauts, while arguing that ESA needs to procure European commercial launch services, as its counterpart NASA has done with SpaceX.
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Aschbacher also strengthened relations between ESA and the EU by forming an agreement to work together on climate change with the European Commission’s
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In 2021, Aschbacher became "Grande Ufficiale Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana", the highest recognition accorded to non-Italian nationals.
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138:(ESA), a position he has held since 1 March 2021. His international career in space combines more than 35 years' of experience at ESA, the
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206:. ESA has an annual budget of €7 billion and a workforce of 5500 people distributed across several establishments, mostly in Europe.
639:"The head of Russia's space agency says it will end ISS cooperation with NASA and the European Space Agency amid Western sanctions"
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launches for European spacecraft and astronauts and the termination of the ESA-Russia collaboration in the ExoMars mission .
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telecommunication, space safety and space science, together with robotic exploration and ESA astronauts working on the
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Aschbacher returned to ESA in 2001 to work as programme coordinator for the European Earth observation programme, the
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preparing a paradigm shift towards a more competitive next generation of launchers.
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in February 2022, Aschbacher was forced to accept the unilateral suspension by the
614:"Russia ready to end cooperation with NASA and ESA on International Space Station"
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Aschbacher first joined ESA as a young graduate trainee in 1990, based at the
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663:"European space agency ends cooperation with Russia over Mars rover mission"
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486:"Josef Aschbacher: Europas neuer oberster Erdbeobachter - derStandard.at"
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in December 2021. The telescope, which is a cooperation project between
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764:"Ministers back Europe's sustainable and competitive space ambitions"
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689:"Europe flags space ambitions with spending hike and new astronauts"
891:"Commission joins forces with the ESA on climate action from space"
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814:"European launch deal praised despite competition questions"
789:"Europe targets competitive shake-up in space launch deal"
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From 1994 to 2001, he served at the European Commission's
587:"James Webb telescope completes epic deployment sequence"
562:"ESA and EU celebrate a fresh start for space in Europe"
319:, the Medal of Honour of the State of Tyrol, Austria.
462:"Speaker bios - Copernicus Press Tour, January 2017"
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916:"Members | European Academy of Sciences and Arts"
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512:"Josef Aschbacher, Director General of ESA"
437:"Josef Aschbacher, Director General of ESA"
412:"Josef Aschbacher, Director General of ESA"
387:"Josef Aschbacher, Director General of ESA"
362:"Josef Aschbacher, Director General of ESA"
337:"Josef Aschbacher, Director General of ESA"
739:"ESA works with EU on secure connectivity"
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305:Aschbacher is an honorary member of the
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295:Directorate-General for Climate Action
216:Aschbacher oversaw the launch of the
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307:European Academy of Science and Arts
945:www.programmazioneeconomica.gov.it
266:. He oversaw the temporary use of
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173:ESA Centre for Earth Observation
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1016:European Space Agency personnel
179:Commission and Southeast Asia.
1006:University of Innsbruck alumni
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317:Ehrenzeichen des Landes Tirol
148:Asian Institute of Technology
315:In 2022, he was awarded the
16:Austrian space administrator
612:Orban, André (2022-05-01).
237:Russian invasion of Ukraine
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134:is Director General of the
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78:Johann-Dietrich Wörner
230:Canadian Space Agency
184:Joint Research Centre
144:Austrian Space Agency
136:European Space Agency
920:members.euro-acad.eu
492:(in Austrian German)
191:Copernicus Programme
175:in Frascati, Italy.
140:European Commission
121:Space administrator
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416:www.esa.int
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391:www.esa.int
371:23 November
366:www.esa.int
341:www.esa.int
96:7 July 1962
73:Preceded by
990:Categories
925:31 October
718:www.ft.com
648:2024-01-05
623:2024-01-05
496:31 October
470:31 October
323:References
118:Occupation
107:Alma mater
101:, Austria
52:Incumbent
981:LinkedIn
844:BBC News
591:BBC News
264:Ariane 6
241:Roscomos
222:Ariane 5
150:and the
973:Twitter
346:4 March
301:Honours
268:SpaceX
146:, the
142:, the
99:Ellmau
465:(PDF)
276:IRIS²
245:Soyuz
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927:2020
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260:Vega
226:NASA
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