Didier Schmitt

Didier Schmitt is coordinator for human and robotic exploration at the European Space Agency. Previously he was member of the Space Task Force at the European External Action Service – EU Diplomatic Service, seconded by ESA (2014-2018). Scientific adviser and foresight coordinator in the Bureau of European Policy Advisers to the President of the European Commission (2012-14), and member of the Space Policy Unit at the European Commission (2009-12), seconded by ESA. Head of Life Science Unit in the human spaceflight and exploration programme at the European Space Agency (1997-2009).

Talk: Space exploration, a global commons or wild west?

Technology innovation and incentives for commercial initiatives tend to open up a dichotomy in space exploration: exploitation for the richest versus exploration for all human kind advancement.