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by Andrea Bettini

23 December 2020 ROME - For four years he directed the Earth observation programs of the European Space Agency and ESRIN, ESA's center in Frascati, near Rome. Austrian, 58 years old, Josef Aschbacher is ready to move to Paris: on 1 July he will become general manager and take the lead in all of space in Europe. The appointment came last week, at the end of a long and hard-fought selection. Among the most important files that you will find on your desk is the return to the moon. Artemis mission: United States leader, ESA leading partner.



Director Aschbacher, NASA wants to bring man back to the moon in 2024. If all goes according to plan this will happen during his tenure, which ends in 2025. Are we really close to this milestone and when will it be a European's turn?


The United States has a very ambitious plan to go to the moon by the end of 2024. They want a woman to reach the surface.

It is quite ambitious but together with international partners they are working with great commitment and determination.

It is being defined precisely in this period when it will be the turn of a European astronaut.

There is no date yet, but it will happen.



Has the renewed focus on missions to the Moon instead pushed the goal of reaching Mars even further away?


Mars and the Moon are closely connected.

They proceed as a single project.

There will be the Gateway in lunar orbit, there will be the intermediate stop on the Moon but this does not distract us from the goal of reaching Mars.

We will get there.

There are also private individuals who want to go to the Red Planet, such as Elon Musk.

One thing doesn't stand in the way of the other: the moon is a stepping stone to Mars



What do you think of Elon Musk's plans to bring astronauts to the Red Planet within six years?


They are very ambitious.

A few years ago I heard Elon Musk say at a conference that he wanted to reach Mars in 2024, which is impossible given the current situation.

Doing it in six or seven years is still very ambitious but Elon Musk devotes a lot of energy to space and its activities.

Personally I think it will happen a little later, but it will happen.



Speaking of SpaceX, private companies are increasingly protagonists in the space sector.

From this point of view, where is Europe and where can it arrive?


Strong commercialization of space activities is underway, not only in the United States but also in Europe.

And Europe must play an important role.

The question is whether we can have something like SpaceX in Europe or not, what it means or what it takes to achieve this.

Surely one thing I will do when I become ESA's Director General is to try to strengthen this process at the European level.



One of the areas in which Europe excels is that of Earth observation.

This is what Frascati's ESRIN deals with, which you have directed in recent years.

Is this a specialization that ESA intends to strengthen?


Earth observation is a priority for Europe and is ESA's largest directorate.

It is also the largest program in terms of number of satellites and investments because it serves to take care of the population and our planet.

I am convinced that it is a very important application of space activities and will certainly be strengthened.



Italy has considerably increased its contribution to ESA's budget.

It is the third largest contributor after France and Germany.

It is no mystery that in recent months he has also hoped for the appointment of an Italian as the new general manager.

What role will it play in ESA's future?


Italy is an important country in the European Space Agency.

He is the third contributor in terms of budget and at ESA there are many very talented and extremely qualified Italians, not necessarily only as directors but also in other key roles.

It is true that Italy aspired to have a candidate for director general but elections are like this and sometimes other people are lucky.

But sometimes I am considered the best choice after an Italian, since I have been here in Frascati for years and I really like it.

So I think Italy is not too sorry for my appointment as I am considered a strong supporter of your country as well.



Emerging countries such as China and India are increasingly active.

Meanwhile, the United States has recently created the Space Force, a new armed force.

After decades of international collaboration, is space in danger of becoming again a field of competition between powers and perhaps also an increasingly militarized sphere?


In space, as always, there is competition, but also cooperation.

There is competition between the United States, China and even Europe in various sectors.

On the other hand there is also strong cooperation and we work very well especially with the USA.

A little less with China, but also with India, Russia, Japan and other countries.

It's normal.

What we want is that Europe is a strong and credible partner for good cooperation on a global level.



What do you hope ESA and space Europe will be like in four years?

I think that by the time I finish my mandate, in four and a half years, the Europe of space will be stronger.

I hope that we will have strengthened cooperation with the European Commission and the European Union and also that we will have a clear vision of where Europe wants to go.

Sometimes we need to take a step back, compare Europe with the United States and China in terms of economic power and political status on the world stage, see what space is doing and what it takes.

It is something I would like to discuss with the European Commission and Member States to see if we can define and strengthen the role of ESA and space in Europe.