The head of the European Space Agency (ESA) has described US President Donald Trump’s plans to send humans to Mars and plant a US flag as “not impossible.”
Speaking at a news conference in Innsbruck, ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher called Trump’s statement “fascinating and good.” However, he acknowledged the significant technological challenges the idea would pose.
While the journey to Mars itself may not be the biggest hurdle, ensuring a safe return to Earth would require overcoming “some obstacles,” Aschbacher said.
US Space Developments and Commercial Spaceflight
Aschbacher also commented on the rapid commercialisation of US space exploration, particularly driven by billionaires such as SpaceX’s Elon Musk and Amazon’s Jeff Bezos.
“In relation to the EU, we’re talking about a factor of five to one for the USA,” Aschbacher said, highlighting the stark disparity in investment between the two regions.
Austria’s Role in European Space Exploration
At the same event, Aschbacher said Austria’s position in the space sector is “highly regarded internationally.”
He also highlighted the selection of Carinthian medic Carmen Possnig as an ESA backup astronaut, chosen from 22,500 applicants two and a half years ago.
However, Aschbacher suggested that Austria could do more to support European space efforts, with its contribution to the ESA budget standing at just 1.2% or 60 million euros. “Austria could definitely contribute a bit more,” he said.
ESA’s Leading Role in Earth Observation
When it comes to the role of ESA in international space efforts, Aschbacher is particularly proud of the agency’s leadership in Earth observation, an area where ESA is even outpacing NASA.
“As ESA, we are leading in Earth observation – collecting Earth data through satellites,” Aschbacher explained, adding that over 33% of ESA’s budget is allocated to this research area, reflecting its growing importance, particularly in the context of global security.
He also presented ESA’s key space projects, including the Vega-C and Ariane 6 rockets. The heavy-lift Ariane 6, which successfully launched from the European Spaceport in French Guiana in late 2023, is seen as one of the agency’s major hopes for the future. The next launch is set for next week, marking the beginning of “commercial spaceflight” for ESA.
The ESA now has 23 member states, including the major EU countries, the UK, Norway and Switzerland. Slovenia joined the organisation earlier this year, and Austria has been a member since 1987.
