Canada, European space agencies reaffirm relations in political, economic anxiety
Organization leaders signed a joint statement on Friday reaffirmed their long-term cooperation, forcing Canadian and European space agencies to work closer together and forced Canadian and European space agencies to work closer together.
ESA Director-General Josef Aschbacher said at the Canadian Space Agency headquarters south of the Canadian Space Agency that economic uncertainty and global conflict are driving European space sectors to establish autonomy and reconnect with allies.
“If our goal is more … independent, that doesn’t mean we want to isolate ourselves,” Ashbach said. “We want to have partnerships with other institutions.”
Canada is the only non-European cooperation state in Europe, so Canadian companies are granted the privilege to enter the European space market. Lisa Campbell, president of the Canadian Space Agency, said every dollar granted by a Canadian company will generate a return of three dollars.
Leaders of the two organizations signed a joint statement on Friday reaffirming the agency's close ties. Since 1979, Canada has reached an agreement with the European Space Agency.
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Aschbacher's two-day visit to Canada was the first European space supervisor in a quarter-century, including discussions with government and industry leaders.
He said defense spending is rising globally and the United States is putting pressure on NATO members to increase their spending on defense. “We shouldn’t forget that defense is closely related to space because you do need communication, Earth observation capabilities and many other space technologies to go hand in hand with it.”
Similarly, Ashbach added that NASA could face substantial budget cuts.
“Everyone is looking at the budget proposal released as the first White House recommendation,” Aschbacher said. “I can only say it's an ongoing work: Budget negotiations are underway, but make sure that the European and European Space Agency will get rid of this stronger, more autonomous, more independent situation.”
Campbell said it is important to reaffirm relations with like-minded allies in times of uncertainty.
From wanderers to tools to robotics, Canada is a country of astronauts with demand all over the world in low earth orbit and deep space. Canada is already the partner of NASA and ESA of the world's most powerful telescope.
“We are resilient because we are very confident that we will be doing more and more in low earth orbit and in deep space,” Campbell said.
She said the nascent launch capabilities of commercial companies involved in the East Coast could play a role due to the need for independent access to space. “Canada is also a launch country, it’s only a matter of time.”
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