The Three Questions Driving Us to Space

Space is getting crowded. Most people focus on the problems: debris, satellite traffic, Starlink's dominance. But Sabine, speaking from a corporate perspective rather than as a startup founder, sees something deeper.

She frames space exploration around humanity's three unanswered questions: Where do we come from? Where do we go? Are we alone?

"The answer might be in outer space," she explains. "Mankind will be curious to find out."

Why Failure Leads to Success

European space companies are proving that persistence works. Rocket Factory Augsburg's recent test at SaxaVord succeeded but revealed unexpected lessons. ISAR Aerospace learned more from their first test flight than anticipated.

SpaceX's transformation from early failures to Falcon 9's current dominance as "the most successful, reliable, and high-performance launcher all over the world" proves the point: space is hard, but giving up isn't an option.

"I think failure is a very hard word, but if you fail, the best thing is to try again," Sabine notes. "The idiot is who's trying it again witouth changing anything."

Beyond Pretty Pictures

When Sabine shows satellite imagery of the Bosporus—optical, infrared, and hyperspectral views—she's making a larger point. These technologies don't just create impressive photographs. They drive innovation that improves life on Earth.

First hyperspectral images from EnMAP environmental satellite showing Istanbul and the Bosporus, with Europe (west) and Asia (east) visible. Credit: Deutsche Raumfahrtagentur (DLR_SpaceAgency)

Moon missions will require technologies for launching from the lunar surface, not just landing. These developments create "a big spin into technologies that we use on Earth."

Time for Private Space

The era of government-only space programs has ended. Private industry brings competition and faster innovation. But for Europe, this represents an existential choice.

"We have not so many resources here," Sabine argues. "We have to invest in our minds, make sure that we preserve Europe as a high-tech environment."

Space has become "one of the most crowded tech parties ever." But joining requires actual access—which remains complex because rockets, despite appearances, involve challenges that take much longer than expected.

The Bigger Picture

Sabine's argument transcends business cases. Space exploration addresses fundamental human curiosity while driving technological advancement. It's about answering the questions that define us as a species.

"We have to be brave. We have to take our risks," she concludes. The message is clear: space represents humanity at its best—curious, persistent, and willing to tackle the universe's biggest challenges.

Watch the full presentation to hear Sabine's complete argument for why space exploration matters more than ever, and why Europe must act now to secure its place in humanity's cosmic future.