Media invitation: Programme for the 18th European Space Conference in Brussels

The European Space Agency will take part in the 18th European Space Conference in Brussels on Tuesday 27 and Wednesday 28 January 2026, with its Director General and Directors speaking at many events open to media.

The European Space Conference is a key strategic event bringing together representatives from ESA, the European Commission, industry, national space agencies and other European institutions to discuss the future of Europe in space.

ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher, Directors, astronauts and other high-level experts will attend this two-day conference to deliver keynote speeches, participate in panel discussions and take part in events on the ESA booth. They will be available for media interviews during the two days of the event upon request.

Highlights of the event:

• Don't miss ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher's keynote address on the first day of the event, followed by a joint press point between him and European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius.
• ESA Director for Earth Observation Simonetta Cheli and Eumetsat Director-General Phil Evans will present the first image from MTG-S, launched in July last year.
• On the second day, following a keynote address by the ESA Director General, he and all the ESA directors present will discuss the outcome of ESA's Ministerial Council 2025 with members of the media
• ESA reserve astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski will attend the event on 27 January and ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer will attend on 28 January.
• And so much more, as detailed in our full media programme

Livestreamed events:

The following events will be accessible live on Two - ESA Web TV (all times CET)

• Tuesday 27 January 2026 9.20 Keynote address by ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher
• Tuesday 27 January 2026 9.40 Press statement by European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius and ESA Director General
• Tuesday 27 January 2026 10.40 European Space competitiveness - A Make-or-Break Decade Ahead  - Panel discussion featuring ESA Director General
• Tuesday 27 January 2026 15.20 Access to Space: Towards a European Strategy - Discussion featuring ESA Director of Space Transportation Toni Tolker-Nielsen and Christoph Kautz, Director for Space Policy, Satellite Navigation and Earth Observation, DG DEFIS, European Commission
• Wednesday 28 January 2026 9.10 Keynote address by the ESA Director General

Photos:

Images from the event will be made available during the event at the following link: Collection - Photolibrary for professionals

In case of questions please contact: [email protected]

Interview requests:

Press relations for ESA Director General

Polina Huard

Email	[email protected]
Telephone	+33 7 62 27 02 35

Press relations for ESA Directors and astronauts

Jules Grandsire

Email	[email protected]
Telephone	+33 7 89 56 51 57

Other requests can be sent to [email protected]

Full media programme (Please note all times are Brussels time. Timings and events could be subject to last-minute changes)

Tuesday 27 January

09.20-09.30 ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher gives keynote address

- Gold Hall

09.40-09.50 European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius and ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher give joint press point

- EU Space Pavilion

09.55-10.30 First image release from MTG-S

Phil Evans, Director-General, Eumetsat

Simonetta Cheli, Director for Earth Observation Programmes and Head of ESRIN, ESA

Dorothée Coppens, Hyperspectral Competence Area Manager, Eumetsat

Pierre Coheur, Professor and Vice-Rector, Université libre de Bruxelles

- Agora

10.40-12.00 European Space Competitiveness and Readiness: A Make-or-Break Decade Ahead

Timo Pesonen, Director-General, DG DEFIS, European Commission

Josef Aschbacher, Director General, ESA

Rodrigo da Costa, Executive Director, EUSPA

Hervé Derrey, President and Chief Executive Officer, Thales Alenia Space

Marco Fuchs, President of ASD-Eurospace, CEO of OHB SE

Jesús Serrano, Chief Executive Officer, GMV

Jean-Marie Bétermier, Executive Vice-President Space, Safran Electronics & Defense and Chief Executive Officer, Safran Data Systems

Massimo Claudio Comparini, Managing Director, Space Division, Leonardo

Alain Fauré, Head of Space Systems, Airbus Defence and Space

- Gold Hall

10.45-11.45 European GNSS Services Facing New Challenges

Christophe Grudler, Member of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), European Parliament

Francisco-Javier Benedicto-Ruiz, Director of Navigation, ESA

Paul Flament, Head of Unit Satellite Navigation, DG DEFIS, European Commission

Rolf Kozlowski, Managing Director, DLR-GfR

Miguel Romay, General Manager Navigation Systems, GMV

Edison Rijna, Special Envoy for the BES Islands for EU and UN and Economic Development with Latin America and Caribbean

- Silver Hall

11.30-11.45 ESA's Industrialisation Centre of Competence

Nicoletta Wagner, Head of the Future Engineering Division, ESA

- ESA Booth

11.45-13.05 Evolving needs and capabilities for Earth Observation

Simonetta Cheli, Director for Earth Observation Programmes and Head of ESRIN, ESA

Mauro Facchini, Head of Unit of Earth Observation

DG DEFIS, European Commission

Milena Lerario, Chief Executive Officer, e-GEOS

Rafal Modrzewski, Chief Executive Officer, ICEYE

Phil Evans, Director-General, Eumetsat

Roberto Mulatti, Managing Director for Space, Serco Europe

Eric Even, Senior Vice President Head of Space Digital, Airbus Defence and Space

Alain Arnaud, Head of Digital Ocean Program, Mercator Ocean International

- Silver Hall

12.00-12.15 Technology challenges of conducting experiments in space

Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, Member of the astronaut reserve, ESA

- ESA booth

12.50-13.20 Drift or Steer? A Defining Year for Europe's Space Industry

Afke Schaart,EVP International Affairs, Eutelsat Group

Jean-Marc Nasr, Industrial Ombud, ESA

Markus Möller, Member of the Management Board responsible for Business Development and Strategy, OHB

Matija Rencelj, Director of Strategy and Operations, ESPI

- Agora

14.40-15.10 European Centre for Space Economy and Commerce

Juan Tomas Hernai, CEO of Satlantis & ECSECO Board Member

- ESA booth

14.40-16.00 Europe's Multi-Orbital Advantage: the expanding role of space connectivity from broadband to security

Laurent Jaffart, Director of Connectivity and Secure Communications, ESA

Jérémie Godet, Head of Unit for Secure Connectivity and Space Surveillance, DG DEFIS, European Commission

Luis Mayo, Chief Executive Officer, Hispasat

Xavier Bertrán, Chief Product and Innovation Officer, SES

Jean-Hubert Lenotte, Chief Strategy and Resources Officer, Eutelsat

Benoit Deper, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Aerospacelab

Enrique Fraga, General Manager Space Systems, GMV

Elodie Viau, Senior Vice-President, Telecommunication and Navigation, Airbus Defence and Space

Michaël Trabbia, Chief Executive Officer, Orange Wholesale

Piotr Wesolowski, Director Space Programmes, Deutsche Telekom

- Silver Hall

15.10-15.20 In conversation with ESA astronaut

Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, Member of the astronaut reserve, ESA

- Agora

15.00-15.45 Access to Space: Towards a European Strategy

Christoph Kautz, Director for Space Policy, Satellite Navigation and Earth Observation, DG DEFIS, European Commission

Toni Tolker-Nielsen, Director of Space Transportation, ESA

- Gold Hall

16.00-16.20 An informal conversation between ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher, member of the ESA astronaut reserve Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski and students

- ESA Booth

16.15-17.30 Access to Space: Industry Readiness

Christoph Kautz, Director for Space Policy, Satellite Navigation and Earth Observation, DG DEFIS, European Commission

Toni Tolker-Nielsen, Director of Space Transportation, ESA

David Cavaillolès, Chief Executive Officer, Arianespace

Giulio Ranzo, Chief Executive Officer, Avio

- Gold Hall

16.15-17.15 Securing Space-based Infrastructure and Signals

Florian Guillermet, Executive Director, European Union Aviation Safety Agency

Charlotte Neyret, Chief Executive Officer, European Satellite Services Provider

Álvaro Sánchez, Chief Executive Officer, INTEGRASYS

Silvia de Castro Garcia, Managing Director, Starion

Jean-Luc Trullemans, Head of the European Space Security and Education Centre, ESA

- Silver Hall

17.00-18-15 Access to Space: Market Realities and Tomorrow's Challenges

Géraldine Naja, Director of Commercialisation, Industry and Competitiveness, ESA

Christian Hauglie-Hanssen, Director General, Norwegian Space Agency

Maria Fernandez Molinero, Head of Unit Space Policy, DG DEFIS, European Commission

Hélène Huby, Chief Executive Officer, The Exploration Company

Yohann Leroy, Chief Executive Officer, MaiaSpace

Xavier Llairó, Co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer, Pangea Propulsion

Stella Guillen, Chief Commercial Officer, Isar Aerospace

- Gold Hall

17.15-18.00 From Supply Chains to Cloud: Building Europe's Digital and Industrial Sovereignty

Thibaut Kleiner, Director for Future Networks, DG CONNECT, European Commission

Dietmar Pilz, Director of Technology, Engineering and Quality, ESA

Maciej Krzyżanowski, Chief Executive Officer, CloudFerro

Ulli Leibnitz, Senior Vice President CS and Head SPACE Germany, CGI Germany

Lars Neumann,Senior Vice President T-Cloud, Deutsche Telekom

- Silver Hall

Wednesday 28 January

09.10-09.20 Keynote Address

Josef Aschbacher, Director General, ESA

- Gold Hall

9.30-10.30 Highlights from ESA CM25

Josef Aschbacher, Director General, ESA and Directors meet members of the media

- ESA Booth

09.40-11.00 International Space Cooperation

Marjeta Jager, Deputy Director-General, DG INTPA, European Commission

Eric Morel de Westgaver, Director of Strategy, Legal and External Affairs, ESA

Jolanda van Eijnthoven, Head of Unit for Legal, International and Coordination, DG DEFIS, European Commission

Markus Möller, Member of the Management Board responsible for Business Development and Strategy, OHB

Erica Gerresten, Acting Director for the Green Deal and Digital Agenda, DG INTPA, European Commission

Phil Evans, Director-General, Eumetsat

- Silver Hall

10.15-10.45 CASSINI Investment Facility: From SME to Mid-Cap

Tomas Jonsson,CASSINI Team Leader, CASSINI Space Entrepreneurship Initiative, DG DEFIS, European Commission

Gianluigi Baldesi, Head of Ventures and Financing Office, ESA

- Agora

11.15-12.00 Space Exploration: A Driver of European Industrial Competitiveness

Didier Schmitt, Head of Future Preparation at the Human and Robotic Exploration Directorate, ESA

Matthias Maurer, ESA astronaut

Christian Feichtinger, Executive Director, IAF

Muthusamy Arumugam, Deputy Director for Liquid Propulsion Systems, ISRO

Mariella Graziano, Director of Science, Exploration and Transportation strategy, GMV

- Silver Hall

12.00-13.15 Setting Priorities for Space Research and Innovation in the Next Funding Cycle

Manuel Heitor, Chair, Expert Group on the Interim evaluation of Horizon Europe

Carole Mundell, Director of Science, ESA

Matthias Maurer, ESA Astronaut

Zuzana Mazanova, Head of Unity Space Single Market, DG DEFIS, European Commission

Michal Brichta, Director, Slovak Space Office

Renato Krpoun, Head, Swiss Space Office

Eleni Patouni, Project Officer for Space Research and Technology, EDA

- Silver Hall

12.25-13.15 Enabling Defence Readiness: Space Connectivity, Ground Architecture, and Mission Data Access

Major General Michael Traut, Commander, German Space Command

Ekaterini Kavvada, Director for Secure and Connected Space, DG DEFIS, European Commission

Laurent Jaffart, Director of Connectivity and Secure Communications, ESA

Sylvain D'Hoine, Executive Vice President Space, Sopra Steria

Augusto Caramagno, Director of Strategy, Cooperation & Growth, Indra Space

Nicolas Lefort, Head of New Markets, MBDA

- Gold Hall

14.30-14.50 An informal conversation between Carole Mundell, EDA Director of Science, and students

- ESA booth

14.30-15.30 Sustainably Securing Orbits: Space Surveillance and In-Orbit Capabilities

Aarti Holla-Maini, Director, UNOOSA

Rolf Densing, Director of Operations, ESA

Jérémie Godet, Head of Unit for Secure Connectivity and Space Surveillance, DG DEFIS, European Commission

Chiara Manfletti, Chief Executive Officer, Neuraspace

Jean-Luc Maria, Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder, Exotrail

Philippe Blatt, President and Managing Director, Astroscale France

Alberto Agueda, Director of Space Surveillance and Traffic Management, GMV

- Silver Hall

15.00-15.15 The importance of human spaceflight

Matthias Maurer, ESA astronaut

- ESA booth

15.30-16.30 Capital and Competitiveness: Investment pathways to finance the European Space Industry

Tobias Gotthardt, State Secretary, Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy, Bavarian State Government

Giancarlo Granero, Head of Unit for Space Economy, DG DEFIS, European Commission

Luca del Monte, Head of Commercialisation department, ESA

Charles Beigbeder, General Partner, Expansion Ventures

Giovanni Sylos Labini, Chief Executive Officer, Planetek Italia

- Silver Hall

For more details on ESA booth and exhibition,please check our article online:

https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Exhibitions/ESA_at_the_European_Space_Conference_2026

Images

ESA's Photo Library for Professionals:

Home Page - Photolibrary for professionals

Terms and conditions for using ESA images:https://www.esa.int/spaceinimages/ESA_Multimedia/Copyright_Notice_Images

For questions or more information related to ESA images, please contact directly [email protected]

Videos

ESA's Video Library for Professionals: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos

Terms and conditions for using ESA videos: ESA - Terms and conditions of use of images and videos available on the esa website

For questions or more information related to ESA videos, please contact directly [email protected]

Social Media

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About the European Space Agency

The European Space Agency (ESA) provides Europe's gateway to space.

ESA is an intergovernmental organisation, created in 1975, with the mission to shape the development of Europe's space capability and ensure that investment in space delivers benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.

ESA has 23 Member States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia are Associate Members.

ESA has established formal cooperation with four Member States of the EU. Canada takes part in some ESA programmes under a Cooperation Agreement.

By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, ESA can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country. It is working in particular with the EU on implementing the Galileo and Copernicus programmes as well as with Eumetsat for the development of meteorological missions.

Learn more about ESA at https://www.esa.int