Recent changes in American space policy, the spectacular progress realised by China and the relative stagnation of the satellite telecommunications market in the past few years all indicate the need to find a new impetus for European space policy.

Constructive reflection in Europe seems at present to be limited to institutions such as the European Space Agency (ESA), the national space agencies and, for the past few years, the European Commission. Foundations, research centres and universities are not active in this sector, and the recent creation of the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI), which should help to bridge this gap, has not yet influenced European policy.

As a result, the French Air and Space Academy decided to set up a Space Commission in late 2003, calling on specialists from all horizons, including experts from other European countries so as to widen reflection to a European, rather than a French framework.

Dossier 27 includes the reports and recommendations from the commission’s seven different working groups, as well as an executive summary, and thus constitutes a vital contribution to the development of a common space policy, still cruelly lacking in Europe.