What would happen if a hostile power targeted our space infrastructure? For Josef Aschbacher, Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA), it would be the "worst scenario imaginable". Speaking on the sidelines of Globsec, a series of conferences held in Prague from 20 to 23 May, the Austrian, who leads one of the continent's most powerful institutions, warns of just how dependent we all are on space in our daily lives. Essential in both civilian and military domains, satellites are at the heart of the independence that Europe is seeking to develop. Opposite, two giants – the United States and China – are engaged in a space race. Will the Old Continent manage to secure a place for itself?
L'Express: ESA is perceived as a civilian agency, and yet you are at GLOBSEC, a conference dedicated to security. How do you define the link between space and European defence?
Josef Aschbacher: That's a very good question. ESA has been involved in the space sector for more than fifty years. We celebrated our fiftieth anniversary last year. From day one, space has always had dual-use applications. One of the reasons ESA was created was specifically to develop a European launcher programme, Ariane. Today we have Ariane 6, but it all started with Ariane 1. Launchers are a prime example of dual-use technology. They put both types of satellites into orbit and are therefore used for both civilian and military purposes.