ESA at ILA Berlin 2026: Day 2 Focuses on Autonomy, Resilience and a Call From Space
ESA’s second day at the ILA Berlin International Airshow 2026 combined high-level political engagement, strategic discussions on European space autonomy, and an in-flight call with ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot from the International Space Station.
Day 2 on June 11 opened with a press conference by ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher, who outlined Europe’s priorities in space including exploration, cybersecurity, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in space activities. Aschbacher highlighted AI applications from handling the increasing volume of Earth observation data to supporting planetary defense missions such as Hera.
The official opening of ILA Space Day 2026 followed under the theme “Space4Future.” Representatives from ESA, the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the German Aerospace Industries Association (BDLI), and the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space discussed developments likely to shape space activities in the years ahead. Aschbacher pointed to opportunities in security, in-orbit services, and exploration, while emphasizing that Europe’s future in space depends on talent and shared vision as much as technology.
Strategic capabilities
The German-Italian Aerospace Forum explored how Europe can combine resilient Earth observation with secure satellite connectivity to improve monitoring and decision-making. Aschbacher stressed in his keynote that these are strategic capabilities for Europe’s security, competitiveness, and sovereignty, and that their full value depends on stronger European cooperation.
Later, Aschbacher joined an international panel with Walther Pelzer, Director General of the German Space Agency at DLR; Francois Jacq, Chairman and CEO of CNES; and Amit Kshatriya, Associate Administrator at NASA, to discuss the role of space agencies in a shifting global landscape.
Independent access to space was another major theme. ESA Director of Space Transportation Geraldine Naja joined a panel on how Europe can secure and scale its launch capabilities under changing geopolitical and market conditions. The discussion examined how established systems such as Ariane 6 and Vega-C can be complemented by new commercial solutions, and how procurement, funding, and industrial policy can build a more competitive European launcher ecosystem.
Call from orbit
The day’s highlight was a live in-flight call with ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot, currently aboard the International Space Station. Adenot spoke with attendees about life in orbit and the experience of flying the epsilon mission.
The day closed with two panel discussions on Europe’s ambitions beyond Earth. ESA Director of Human and Robotic Exploration Daniel Neuenschwander joined a discussion on “Europe and the Moon: Capabilities and Next Steps,” while ESA Director of Technology, Engineering and Quality Dietmar Pilz took part in a panel on “From Space Services to Strategic Resilience,” focused on interoperability in strengthening Europe’s future space capabilities.
Sources: ESA press release, June 11, 2026.