LuxembourgOther

A small country on Earth, but a big one in space

Luxembourg aims to make space one of the country's economic pillars.

Luxembourg’s space industry has witnessed remarkable growth.The country’s space ambitions date back to the 1980s with the creation of SES, the world’s leading satellite telecommunications company. In 2005, Luxembourg joined the European Space Agency (ESA), and in 2016, the government launched SpaceResources.lu, an ambitious programme to develop economic activities in space, including the exploitation of celestial minerals.

In 2017, Luxembourg passed a law that gives companies active in space mining the full ownership of their discoveries. This is the only country in the world with such a law. Luxembourg has also signed a series of space partnerships with countries around the world, including the United Arab Emirates, Japan, China, Poland, Portugal, and the Czech Republic.

In 2018, Luxembourg created the Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA), and in 2020, it launched the European Space Resources Innovation Centre (ESRIC). The ESRIC is an innovation center that aims to become an internationally recognized center of expertise in the space industry.

In just a few years, Luxembourg’s space ecosystem has grown significantly. The country now hosts more than 70 public and private space actors, and the sector employs more than 1,400 people. The space sector accounts for 2% of Luxembourg’s GDP, the highest rate in the European Union.

Luxembourg’s space initiative has successfully put the small country on the map of the global space community.

Key takeaways:

  • Luxembourg’s space industry has grown rapidly in recent years.
  • The country has made space a key economic pillar.
  • Luxembourg is a leader in the development of space mining.
  • The country has signed a series of space partnerships with countries around the world.
  • Luxembourg’s space ecosystem has grown significantly in just a few years.

Luxembourg’s space ambitions are likely to continue to grow in the years to come. The country is well-positioned to be a leading player in the global space industry, and its space ecosystem is poised for continued growth.

Source: https://infos.rtl.lu/photos-et-videos/on-en-parle/a/2146155.html