European Space Agency (ESA) chief Josef Aschbacher said the agency hopes to sign a long-term framework agreement with the UAE, which launched the Arab world’s first mission to Mars in 2020. (EPA Images pic)PARIS: The head of the European Space Agency will meet officials in the United Arab Emirates this week as Europe seeks new partners and aims to reduce its reliance on the US for space exploration.
The rise of Elon Musk's SpaceX has laid bare Europe's reliance on American space technology.
"Number one, we should strengthen our capability, become a stronger player in the global ecosystem, but one that uses its strength to still work with other partners," Josef Aschbacher, director general of the ESA, told Reuters. He will attend meetings in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
