🛰️ The future of space infrastructure – from the Grand Palais
At the International Space Summit, EROSS SC coordinator Stéphanie BEHAR LAFENETRE (from Thales Alenia Space) took part in Round Table 1.2, "The Future of Space Infrastructures," sharing how Europe should build — and maintain — the space systems of tomorrow.
On the panel, moderated by Benjamin Kawak (The Exploration Company):
🔹 Marco Brancati — SVP, Leonardo
🔹Stéphanie BEHAR LAFENETRE — Programme Director, Thales Alenia Space
🔹 Philippe Blatt — Managing Director, Astroscale France
🔹 Jean-Luc Maria — CEO & co-founder, Exotrail
A few threads ran through the discussion:
🔧 Build to last — and to evolve. Stéphanie made the case for evolutive maintenance and in-orbit assembly: infrastructure designed to be serviced, upgraded and assembled in orbit — a field where Thales Alenia Space is investing, including in autonomous servicing.
🛰️ Demonstrate first. The message from Astroscale and Exotrail was refreshingly pragmatic — prove the hardware and software in orbit before promising too much.
đź’¶ Seed it with public funding. Public investment is what turns on-orbit servicing from R&D into a real market.
⚖️ Regulate to enable, not to hinder. Stéphanie likened today's orbit to "a 19th-century Far West" — welcoming the EU Space Act and similar initiatives, as long as they open markets rather than constrain them.
For EROSS SC, this is precisely the ground we work on: European on-orbit servicing that keeps satellites operating longer and makes space infrastructure more sustainable.
đź‘Ź Thanks to the moderator and panellists for a sharp, honest exchange.
#EROSSSC #InternationalSpaceSummit #OnOrbitServicing #SpaceInfrastructure #SpaceSustainability #EuropeanSpace #ISOS
