European Union faces capacity gap in space access
Speaking at a conference in Brussels, officials stated that tens of thousands of satellites are expected to be launched in the next decade and Europe is struggling to meet this demand.
At the 2nd EU Space Access Conference held in Brussels, it was announced that approximately fifty thousand satellites are projected to be sent into space globally in the next decade, and current launch capabilities are falling behind this intense demand.
Launch Demand is Increasing
At the 2nd EU Space Access Conference held in Brussels, it was reported that nearly fifty thousand satellites are planned to be launched into space worldwide over the next decade.
It was emphasized that the current launch infrastructure and capacity remain insufficient to meet such a massive demand, resulting in a facing capacity gap.
Needs of Critical Projects
It was noted that the European Union needs a total of 62 launches by 2034 for strategic projects such as the Galileo satellite navigation system, the Copernicus Earth observation program, and the IRIS² secure satellite communication network.
It was stated that this capacity gap must be closed urgently; otherwise, Europe's space programs as well as its defense and security could be negatively affected.
Independence and New Action Plan
It was expressed that ensuring Europe's independent access to space is among the fundamental goals and that dependence on foreign rockets must be reduced.
It was conveyed that launch facilities, manufacturing, and testing centers in Europe will be visited to work on increasing capacity, and a comprehensive action plan will be presented next year.