Geopolitics has entered the space. The European Space Agency (ESA) is moving ahead with its collaborations with China, even as political tensions grow between the East and West.
Scientific Goals over Political Noise
According to ESA’s Science Director, Carole Mundell, the agency has strong internal checks to avoid risks tied to international politics.
ESA is working closely with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) on two missions: the Einstein Probe (EP) and the Solar-wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE). Both projects focus on scientific discoveries and not political alignment.
The Einstein Probe was launched by China in early 2024 from Xichang, with support from the ESA. It is a space telescope that studies X-rays in orbit 600 kilometers above Earth.
The SMILE mission is a joint 50-50 project. It will be launched from the ESA’s base in French Guiana in 2026. This satellite will travel in a high elliptical orbit and help study the relationship between the Sun and Earth. It will look at how solar wind affects Earth’s magnetic shield.
Mundell says that political disputes between countries like the United States and China do not directly impact ESA decisions. The ESA follows its own rules based on its 23 member countries. The agency is not tied to any one nation’s political position and focuses only on scientific research.
She explained that ESA treats each partner country according to that country’s export control rules. If a satellite component comes from Belgium or the UK, it must pass through local approval systems.
ESA does not take political sides. It operates like an international civil service. Whether working with China or NASA in the US, the agency sticks to a technical and regulated framework.
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Mundell, who began leading ESA’s science division in 2023, has a strong background in astrophysics. She studied black holes and galaxy behavior. Before joining ESA, she held senior roles in the UK government and advised on international science cooperation.
She recalled visiting China’s space institutions in 2019 while working for the UK government. During that trip, she learned about the SMILE project and its early plans. The mission was originally meant to launch in 2023 but was delayed due to the global pandemic.
Changing Political Climate, Constant Scientific Focus
Despite the shifting global environment, ESA maintains its course. Since 2022, many major political events have occurred. Russia invaded Ukraine. China and the US entered deeper trade and technology conflicts. Europe also tightened its policies on China.
Just days ago, the European Union approved another round of sanctions on Russia. This time, two Chinese banks were also included. China strongly opposed this move.
Still, ESA avoids being drawn into these disputes. It is a separate organization from the EU and is governed by its own member nations. These 23 countries contribute funds and decide how ESA should run.
Mundell pointed out that, just like CERN in physics research, ESA is built on cooperation and neutrality. Its funding decisions are made by member state ministers during special meetings, including one planned for November this year.
ESA and the EU do work together on many programs, including:
- Iris2, a satellite system for secure digital communication and strategic use by the EU
- Galileo, a navigation satellite system made up of 28 satellites and multiple ground stations
- Copernicus, an Earth observation program that provides climate and environmental data
In 2021, the EU signed a financial agreement with ESA, committing about €9 billion for the years 2021 to 2027. ESA’s own annual budget in 2024 was €7.79 billion.
China does not officially release how much it spends on its space programs. But third-party data from Statista suggests China spent nearly $20 billion on space in 2024. In comparison, the United States spent nearly $80 billion, while the EU’s spending was around $3.7 billion.
Mundell says competition in science is not harmful. If another country wants to invest more in Earth monitoring, that is good for the planet. She compared it to the search for the best COVID-19 vaccine, where the goal was saving lives—not winning a race.
She emphasized that climate change monitoring is too important to be politicized. Global cooperation and open data are key. The ESA’s Copernicus program is known for its high transparency in sharing Earth data. Mundell hopes other countries and agencies will follow this model.
She gave an example from her time in the UK Government. During a visit to a Chinese climate research center, she saw how local Chinese data was used to improve UK models. These models later helped global efforts to understand climate patterns.
Partnerships Beyond Geopolitics
ESA is looking beyond China for more scientific partners in Asia. In March 2025, ESA signed a letter of intent with Singapore’s Office for Space Technology & Industry (OSTIn). The goal is to deepen space cooperation between the two sides.
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Then in May, ESA and India’s space agency ISRO signed an agreement. It focuses on human space exploration, especially missions in low Earth orbit and eventually to the Moon.
In July, ESA revealed it would soon sign a broader agreement with South Korea’s Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA). This step aims to boost joint space activities with the newly established Korean agency.
ESA, based in Paris, marked its 50th anniversary this year. Since 1975, it has grown from a European vision into a global scientific force. Despite the tensions that now color international relations, the agency continues to hold to its mission—focusing on discovery, neutrality, and science-first cooperation.
By sticking to its technical goals and keeping politics out of its programs, ESA remains a unique example of how international organizations can work together during complex times. Through shared knowledge and open data, it aims to better understand the world and the universe beyond.
