Europe’s Biggest Space Opportunity Comes After Launch

Why It Matters

The shift will secure Europe’s strategic autonomy, reduce reliance on foreign providers, and unlock new revenue streams in the rapidly growing space‑services market.

Key Takeaways

• Europe leads in orbital logistics and servicing technologies.
• Current EU procurement focuses on asset ownership, not service outcomes.
• Proposes dedicated budget line for in‑orbit infrastructure at ESA.
• Shift to service‑level contracts would boost resilience and competitiveness.
• In‑orbit infrastructure critical for defence, civil protection, and autonomy.

Pulse Analysis

The global space economy is entering a second act where launch is no longer the primary value driver. In‑orbit logistics, on‑orbit servicing, refueling, and debris removal are emerging as high‑margin markets projected to exceed $10 billion by 2035. Europe already boasts a cluster of firms—D‑Orbit, Astroscale, and others—pioneering autonomous rendezvous, docking, and satellite life‑extension technologies, giving the region a head‑start in building a sustainable orbital economy.

Despite this technical lead, European policy still treats space assets like static hardware. Procurement programs reward fixed‑spec satellite builds rather than measurable outcomes such as uptime, responsiveness, or end‑of‑life disposal. Antonetti’s call for service‑level agreements and a separate budget line for in‑orbit infrastructure would align funding with performance, encouraging commercial competition and reducing strategic fragility. By paying for capability instead of ownership, Europe can accelerate innovation while ensuring that critical services remain resilient against cyber threats and orbital congestion.

The implications extend beyond commercial profit. Dual‑use in‑orbit services underpin defence communications, civil‑protection data links, and national security‑critical navigation. A robust logistics layer would enable rapid satellite replacement, mitigate debris risks, and support allied operations in contested space. If European institutions adopt Antonetti’s recommendations, the region could capture a larger share of the burgeoning space‑services market, reinforce its industrial autonomy, and set global standards for a secure, sustainable orbital environment.