SpaceX skips Paris summit: Macron calls Europe to build human spaceflight tech

Emmanuel Macron urged Europe to build its own human spaceflight capability within a decade at the Paris space summit. The call gained geopolitical weight after SpaceX, Blue Origin and other US firms skipped the meeting amid reports of White House pressure.French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech at the International Space Summit at the Grand Palais in Paris, France, September 10, 2026. (Photo: REUTERS)French President Emmanuel Macron has called on Europe to develop its own human spaceflight capability within the next decade, setting out an ambitious roadmap for the continent's space aspirations as several major US companies, including SpaceX and Blue Origin, pulled out of an international space summit in Paris.Addressing the summit on Thursday, Macron said Europe must strengthen its independent capabilities in space and move beyond its long-standing reliance on other nations for crewed missions.His call comes as the global space race accelerates, with countries and private companies pushing ahead with new rockets, lunar missions and plans for human exploration beyond Earth.Europe has made repeated efforts in recent years to build greater independence in space but has never launched its own crewed mission. European astronauts have instead relied on spacecraft and rockets operated by the United States and Russia. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and French president Emmanuel Macron pose for a family photo at the International Space Summit. (Photo: Reuters) Macron laid out a series of milestones he wants Europe to achieve over the next decade.“In two years' time,” he said, Europe should see its first cargo capsule, Nyx, dock with the International Space Station. Within five years, the first European lunar lander, Argonaut, should land on the Moon. And within a decade, Macron said, Europe should see its first crewed capsule lift off from Kourou in French Guiana, carrying European astronauts and astronauts from other countries.The push for greater space independence was also echoed by European Space Agency chief Josef Aschbacher, who urged European leaders to invest more heavily in developing an independent space sector.“Will we be passengers or pilots?” Aschbacher asked, according to a copy of his speech.He pointed to rapid advances in space technology around the world, from satellite development to ambitious missions targeting the Moon and Mars, arguing that Europe must establish itself as an indispensable partner with capabilities of its own.The summit, however, was overshadowed by the absence of several major American space companies. SpaceX and its rival Blue Origin were among four US firms that cancelled their participation in the Paris event. Stoke Space and Starcloud also pulled out.Their absence followed reports that the White House had pressured American space companies to skip the September 9-10 meeting.A French ministry spokesperson said it was difficult not to link the cancellations to reports of political pressure, while adding that France wanted to continue working with its US partners and allies.The developments have added a geopolitical edge to Macron's call for Europe to become a stronger and more independent force in space.Prime Minister Narendra Modi also addressed the Summit and highlighted the rapid growth of India's private space sector, saying it was surging in a big way and adding a new dimension to the country's space ambitions.- EndsPublished By: Sibu Kumar TripathiPublished On: Sep 10, 2026 18:42 IST