The ESA-led events on Wednesday 22 May will feature significant announcements including the first two mission assignments of ESA astronauts from the class of 2022.
Additionally, they will showcase the outcomes of the previous Space Summit in Seville, including the signing of the Low Earth Orbit Cargo Return Service contract and the Zero Debris Charter. A major industry contract for ESA’s new Vigil space weather mission will be presented.
A second set of images from Euclid, ESA’s ambitious astronomy mission to map the dark Universe, will also be unveiled.
On 23 May, a concluding press conference will be held, chaired by the Belgian EU Presidency, State Secretary Thomas Dermine, and the German ESA Ministerial Council Chair, Federal Aerospace Coordinator Anna Christmann, with ESA Director General, Josef Aschbacher, and EU Commissioner for Internal Market, Thierry Breton (tbc).
Media Programme
Wednesday 22 May at Royal Museum of Fine Arts, Brussels
- 17:15-18:00 (doors open to media from 16:30)
Briefing with ESA DG Josef Aschbacher, ESA Delegations, Directors, Industry and further VIP partners
- Presentation of first two mission assignments of ESA astronauts from class of 2022
- Signing of Low Earth Orbit Cargo Return Service contract
- Signing of Zero Debris Charter
- Celebration of industry contract for new Vigil space weather mission
18:00-19:00
- Community event and social reception (Press attendance possible, ESA/BELSPO/EU event)
- Prize Ceremony - European Space Ultra Challenge 2024 (BELSPO event)
- Celebration of the 20th anniversary of the EU/ESA Framework Agreement - highlights of ESA/EU collaboration + cocktail
Thursday 23 May at the EU Council Europa Building, Brussels
- EU Competitiveness (Space) Council
- ESA Council at ministerial Level
- Common Space Council (joint meeting of EU and ESA Councils)
13:30-14:00 (doors open to media from 13:00)
Concluding ESA-EU Press conference after Space Council (in nearby Justus Lipsius building, Zoom link possible too) with
- Belgian EU Presidency, Federal State Secretary for Research, Thomas Dermine
- EU Commissioner for Internal Market, Thierry Breton (tbc)
- German ESA Ministerial Council Chair, Federal Aerospace Coordinator Anna Christmann
- ESA Director General, Josef Aschbacher
Media opportunities
22 May - Media presence throughout the afternoon
23 May - Press conference following the Space Council (no possibility to enter the Space Council meeting itself) Additionally, several activities will be streamed online both days via ESA Web TV , including the ESA Council and Space Council, all signing events, the announcement of new astronaut assignments, and the reveal of Euclid astronomy images.
Venues
22 May: Royal Museum of Fine Arts, Auditorium, Place du Musée, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
23 May: Justus Lipsius Building, Rue de la Loi 175, 1000 Brussels, Belgium (close to Europa building)
Media registration
Please be advised that separate registrations are required for the two distinct events occurring on 22 May and 23 May.
22 May: For the activities scheduled on 22 May, media are kindly requested to register using the following link: Space Ministerial Meetings (lyyti.fi) no later than 20 May.
23 May: To attend - or follow remotely (via Zoom) - the EU-ESA Space Council and associated events on 23 May, media are invited to register via ESA forms by 21 May 12:00 CEST 2024 at the latest for on-site or remote attendance. Please note that the registration list will be shared with the EU Council press centre for coordination purposes.
