The Air and Space Academy has always shown a keen interest in space policy, expressing its support for an ambitious European approach on numerous occasions in this Dossier series.

Any space policy relies on adequate access to space. From the 1970s on, Europe succeeded in making autonomous access to space a priority, paving the way for the success of the Ariane launchers. But achievements resulting from far-sighted past decisions cannot guarantee that such positions will be maintained in the future, unless a long, hard look is taken at the issues underpinning the future competitiveness of European space launchers and international competition in this market.

This was the objective of the Space commission’s working group into space launchers, set up in 2009, whose report and recommendations are presented in this Dossier. The Air and Space Academy thus hopes to make a contribution to in-depth European reflection in a key area of European space policy.