Caught in the middle: Can Europe broker peace between China and U.S. in new space era?

"We are the crew of Planet Earth. The future of humanity is our common interest."

This powerful philosophy from former ESA director general Jean-Jacques Dordain is now clashing with geopolitical reality. The international framework for space cooperation is more complex – and perhaps more fragile – than ever, risking a return to Cold War divisions. In this candid roundtable interview, hear from top European space leaders about the challenges of East-West collaboration.

They reveal why Europe is uniquely positioned to act as a crucial "go-between" for the world's two biggest space powers and call for both sides to take a step toward each other. Additionally, they assess China's true status in the new space era and identify the one Chinese mission – Tianwen-3 Mars sample return – that is expected to be the most revolutionary breakthrough of the next decade.