Josef Aschbacher is Director General of the
European Space Agency
The European Space Agency (ESA) is a 23-member International organization, international organization devoted to space exploration. With its headquarters in Paris and a staff of around 2,547 people globally as of 2023, ESA was founded in 1975 ...
(ESA), a position he has held since 1 March 2021. His international career in space combines more than 35 years' of experience at ESA, the
European Commission
The European Commission (EC) is the primary Executive (government), executive arm of the European Union (EU). It operates as a cabinet government, with a number of European Commissioner, members of the Commission (directorial system, informall ...
, the
Austrian Space Agency, the
Asian Institute of Technology and the
University of Innsbruck
The University of Innsbruck (; ) is a public research university in Innsbruck, the capital of the Austrian federal state of Tyrol (state), Tyrol, founded on October 15, 1669.
It is the largest education facility in the Austrian States of Austria, ...
.
Early life and education
Born in Ellmau, Austria, Aschbacher studied at the University of Innsbruck, graduating with a Master’s degree and a PhD in natural sciences. He started his career by becoming a research scientist at the university's Institute of Meteorology and Geophysics, a post he held from 1985 to 1989.
Initial career
Aschbacher first joined ESA as a young graduate trainee in 1990, based at the
ESA Centre for Earth Observation
The ESA Centre for Earth Observation (also known as the European Space Research Institute or ESRIN) is a research centre belonging to the European Space Agency (ESA), located in Frascati (Rome) Italy. It is dedicated to research involving ear ...
in Frascati, Italy.
Between 1991 and 1993, he was seconded as a representative of ESA and of the Austrian Space Agency to Southeast Asia. He became an assistant professor at the Asian Institute of Technology in Bangkok, Thailand, and he initiated Earth observation cooperation programmes between ESA, the European Commission and Southeast Asia.
From 1994 to 2001, he served at the European Commission's
Joint Research Centre
The Joint Research Centre (JRC) is the European Commission's science and knowledge service which employs scientists to carry out research in order to provide independent scientific advice and support to European Union (EU) policy.
Leadersh ...
in Ispra, Italy, becoming Scientific Assistant to the Director of the Space Applications Institute, where he was responsible for scientific strategy and resource allocation.
Aschbacher returned to ESA in 2001 to work as programme coordinator for the European Earth observation programme, the
Copernicus Programme
Copernicus is the Earth observation component of the European Union Space Programme, managed by the European Commission and implemented in partnership with the Member state of the European Union, EU member states, the European Space Agency (ES ...
. In 2006, he was appointed Head of the Copernicus Space Office and he was then promoted to become Head of Programme Planning and Coordination within ESA's Directorate of Earth Observation Programmes. Between 2016 and 2021, he served as ESA's Director of Earth Observation Programmes and head of ESA's Centre for Earth Observation.
Director General of ESA
Aschbacher became Director General of ESA on 1 March 2021. Based at ESA's headquarters in Paris, he is responsible for the definition, implementation and development of Europe's space infrastructure and activities, which include launchers, satellites performing Earth observation, navigation, telecommunication, space safety and space science, together with robotic exploration and ESA astronauts working on the
International Space Station
The International Space Station (ISS) is a large space station that was Assembly of the International Space Station, assembled and is maintained in low Earth orbit by a collaboration of five space agencies and their contractors: NASA (United ...
. ESA has an annual budget of €7 billion and a workforce of 5500 people distributed across several establishments, mostly in Europe.
On taking office, Aschbacher presented "Agenda 2025" – his plan to ensure that Europe has a world-class space agency. Agenda 2025 listed five immediate interrelated priorities: to strengthen ESA-EU relations; to promote the commercialisation of space and the strength of the European space industry; to ensure that space serves European security needs; to foster crucial technologies and capabilities to make progress in European space transportation and space exploration; and to transform ESA to ensure it is dynamic and responsive to future challenges. It also set out a longer-term vision to accelerate the use of space to meet the needs of European citizens in three areas: space for a green future; a space-enabled rapid and resilient crisis response; and the protection of space assets.
In June 2021, Aschbacher strengthened the relationship between ESA and the EU by signing a new Financial Framework Partnership Agreement worth almost €9 billion between 2021 and 2027.
Aschbacher oversaw the launch of the
James Webb Space Telescope
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a space telescope designed to conduct infrared astronomy. As the largest telescope in space, it is equipped with high-resolution and high-sensitivity instruments, allowing it to view objects too old, Lis ...
on board an
Ariane 5
Ariane 5 is a retired European heavy-lift space launch vehicle operated by Arianespace for the European Space Agency (ESA). It was launched from the Guiana Space Centre (CSG) in French Guiana. It was used to deliver payloads into geostationar ...
in December 2021. The telescope, which is a cooperation project between
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agencies of the United States government, independent agency of the federal government of the United States, US federal government responsible for the United States ...
, ESA and the
Canadian Space Agency
The Canadian Space Agency (CSA; ) is the national space agency of Canada, established in 1990 by the ''Canadian Space Agency Act''.
The President of the Canadian Space Agency, president is Lisa Campbell (civil servant), Lisa Campbell, who took ...
, is designed to answer outstanding questions about the Universe and to make breakthrough discoveries in all fields of astronomy. Because its launch was so accurate, the spacecraft has enough fuel left to maintain its position in space for potentially 20 years, which is twice as long as its designed operational lifetime.
Following the
Russian invasion of Ukraine
On 24 February 2022, , starting the largest and deadliest war in Europe since World War II, in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, conflict between the two countries which began in 2014. The fighting has caused hundreds of thou ...
in February 2022, Aschbacher was forced to accept the unilateral suspension by the
Roscomos administration of all
Soyuz
Soyuz is a transliteration of the Cyrillic text Союз (Russian language, Russian and Ukrainian language, Ukrainian, 'Union'). It can refer to any union, such as a trade union (''profsoyuz'') or the Soviet Union, Union of Soviet Socialist Republi ...
launches for European spacecraft and astronauts and the termination of the ESA-Russia collaboration in the ExoMars mission .
In November 2022, political representatives of ESA's member states, associate states and cooperating states met in Paris and endorsed Aschbacher's proposal to strengthen Europe's space ambitions. Simultaneously, Aschbacher announced the
2022 ESA astronaut group.
Aschbacher acknowledged ESA's failure for a European autonomous access to space in January 2023, following the retirement of the heavy-lift Ariane 5, the failure of the mid-sized
Vega
Vega is the brightest star in the northern constellation of Lyra. It has the Bayer designation α Lyrae, which is Latinised to Alpha Lyrae and abbreviated Alpha Lyr or α Lyr. This star is relatively close at only from the Sun, and ...
-C rocket on its second flight and delays to the introduction of
Ariane 6
Ariane 6 is a European expendable launch system developed for the European Space Agency (ESA) and manufactured by a consortium of European companies, led by the prime contractor ArianeGroup. As part of the Ariane rocket family, it is operate ...
. He oversaw the temporary use of
SpaceX
Space Exploration Technologies Corp., commonly referred to as SpaceX, is an America, American space technology company headquartered at the SpaceX Starbase, Starbase development site in Starbase, Texas. Since its founding in 2002, the compa ...
launchers for European spacecraft and astronauts, while arguing that ESA needs to procure European commercial launch services, as its counterpart NASA has done with SpaceX.
To create a European system for secure connectivity, in September 2023 Aschbacher signed an agreement between ESA and the European Commission to develop a constellation of satellites – supported by information-relaying infrastructure on the ground – called
IRIS² that will be used by European governments and businesses to keep information secure and confidential.
In November 2023, political representatives of ESA’s member states, associate states and cooperating states met at a Space Summit in Seville. They endorsed Aschbacher’s proposal to harness space for a greener future, take decisive steps in exploration, and ensure autonomous access to space while preparing a paradigm shift towards a more competitive next generation of launchers.
Aschbacher has subsequently tried to secure Ariane 6 and Vega-C by subsidizing a fixed number of launches each year. He called for a competition revolutionizing the future procurement of Europe’s next generation of launchers with the aim of spurring competition and innovation. Aschbacher further announced a competition between companies based in Europe to develop a space cargo return service that will deliver supplies to the International Space Station by 2028 and return cargo to Earth. The service vehicle could evolve to a crew vehicle and eventually serve other destinations.
At the Space Summit, Aschbacher invited public organisations and commercial space companies to register their intention to sign a Zero Debris Charter with the aim of keeping space sustainable and free from space debris.
Aschbacher also strengthened relations between ESA and the EU by forming an agreement to work together on climate change with the European Commission’s
Directorate-General for Climate Action
The Directorate-General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA), est. 2010, is a Directorate-General of the European Commission responsible for EU's international negotiations on climate, development and implementation of the EU Emissions Trading System a ...
.
Honours
Aschbacher is an honorary member of the
European Academy of Science and Arts.
In 2021, Aschbacher became "Grande Ufficiale Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana", the highest recognition accorded to non-Italian nationals.
In 2022, he was awarded the
Ehrenzeichen des Landes Tirol, the Medal of Honour of the State of Tyrol, Austria.
In 2025, Dr Aschbacher was awarded th
Ehrenzeichen für Verdienste um die Republik Österreichby the government of Austria.
References
External links
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Josef AschbacherLinkedIn
LinkedIn () is an American business and employment-oriented Social networking service, social network. It was launched on May 5, 2003 by Reid Hoffman and Eric Ly. Since December 2016, LinkedIn has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft. ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aschbacher, Josef
1962 births
Living people
University of Innsbruck alumni
21st-century Austrian astronomers
European Space Agency personnel
Academic staff of the Asian Institute of Technology