Why we need space exploration
Thomas Zurbuchen, Director of ETH Zurich Space, explains how Switzerland can do a better job of exploring and exploiting space – and how there’s still enormous potential to be tapped.
Thomas Zurbuchen, your interest in space stretches back many years. Do you still feel a sense of awe at what’s out there
Thomas Zurbuchen: Absolutely, and that only grows the more I learn about it! The night sky I admired as a kid was much simpler than the one I look at today. Now I know there’s at least one planet for every star, and that the whole of space is rippling with gravitational waves. Right now, we’re working on a mission to measure those gravitational waves with a space antenna, part of which is being built at ETH Zurich.
People find space research fascinating. Why do you think that is?
We all share an innate curiosity and a desire to understand nature. Even as children, we are constantly asking what and why, and how things work. But it also stems from our eagerness to push boundaries. In a sense, escaping Earth’s gravity is our way of showing defiance. That childish curiosity is something we need to rekindle.
But what about all the problems on Earth that could be solved with the money that is currently spent on space research?
I would argue we invest too little in this area, especially in Switzerland, because many of the solutions to those problems actually come from space! For example, climate change – one of the biggest challenges we currently face on our planet – is a huge topic at ETH. And data from space is actually helping us understand the changes our world is going through.
In what ways exactly?
Satellite data can be used to predict major storm events. And data from space also improves our understanding of landslides, helps us protect forests and enables us to track pollution in our oceans. This data is a vital tool for people working in Earth and climate observation.
You’ve been at the helm of ETH Zurich Space since August 2023. How do you rate the progress so far?
We’ve achieved good things already, both in terms of promoting innovation and on the teaching and research front. But, of course, we had good foundations to build on: ESA BIC Switzerland – a support programme run by the European Space Agency and ETH Zurich – has been a tremendous success. We’re currently assisting 21 start-ups that are involved in space technology. And our new Master’s degree programme in Space Systems was launched this autumn, which is fantastic.
What’s your vision for the ETH Space initiative?
Over the next five years, we aim to establish our new Master’s degree programme as one of the best in the world and to look at incorporating new teaching content in core studies and continuing edu?cation. I envisage us having two or three major projects on the go by the end of that period: an Earth observation satellite with at least some components built at ETH, for example, or perhaps an ETH robot landing on the Moon. We’re also aiming to develop an innovation cluster in the Swiss space sector by bringing together established companies and finding funding to help start-ups grow. I also hope we can build a stronger network with fellow universities, because Switzerland is really too small for us all to be competing with one another.
Why is space research important to Switzerland?
Space research is the perfect match for Switzer?land. It’s all about quality and great engin?eering, two things which Switzerland is famous for. It’s also a fast-growing market, and Switzerland has a real opportunity to position itself as a place where companies can thrive. We need to ensure that Switzerland seizes that opportunity, hones its competitive edge and enhances its presence on the international stage. The goal is to capitalise on Switzer?land’s uniqueness and to offer things that nobody else can do. Switzerland already plays a leading role in many other areas, such as timekeeping and sensor manufacturing. We have such brilliantly qualified people in our universities and companies, and that’s a real selling point.
How can we unlock all the potential that Switzerland has to offer?
For a start, we need closer collaboration between established companies, start-ups and universities. That’s something the ETH Space initiative can really help with. At the same time, we need a new kind of no-blame culture, because that’s the only way we can achieve great things. We need to remove the stigma around taking risks and making mistakes. And we need to aim so high that we will inevitably fail sometimes but nonetheless learn from those failures. That takes people who believe in the future and are ready to grapple with the big challenges. We need to be offering them more financial support – and that’s where both ETH and the government should be lending a hand.
How important is space to research at ETH?
Observations from space play an increasingly important role in many areas of research at ETH, such as physics, Earth sciences and construction. We should be able to understand that data ourselves and to have a say in how we observe our planet. That means getting experiments from the laboratory into space as quickly as possible, which is why we’re aiming to expand our collaboration with space companies and to take on a leading role in major missions run by ESA, NASA and other space agencies.
Space is becoming more accessible, largely thanks to commercial players. How do you feel about that?
The cost of launching into space has been falling for some time, and that’s a trend which looks set to continue. As a result, it’s getting easier and cheaper for researchers to get their experiments onto the Moon or into space. One of the advantages we have today is that we can build on existing systems, which means we don’t need to make new satellites to perform space experiments.
Would you go into space yourself?
Absolutely! Going into space used to require five long years of preparation, and I wasn’t willing to sacrifice that amount of time. But if someone told me I could join one of today’s space missions after just a couple of months of training, then I would jump at the chance. Especially if I were able to conduct an important experiment in space, such as testing one of ETH’s quantum sensors.
There’s recently been a lot of talk about returning to the Moon. What can we hope to gain from that?
It generally comes down to three things: research, national interest – i.e., prestige and innovation – and inspiration. The exact importance accorded to each of these three factors depends on the country. China, for example, has a strong national interest in showing off its strength, but it’s also a research powerhouse. India needs the Moon programme as a source of national inspiration and as a way of fostering innovation. If I had a billion euros, I would invest part of it in going to the Moon. But my primary goal would be to promote science, rather than simply getting people there.
How long before we have a permanent base on the Moon?
China aims to achieve that by 2035, which puts it ahead of anyone else. The Americans were the first to get there, in 1969. But nowadays it’s not about leaving footprints and flags. We should be using the Moon as a research lab and perhaps also exploiting it for its resources.
If China becomes the first country to have a permanent lunar base, will it then share its research data with other partners?
The international community hasn’t yet been able to come up with a universally accepted set of rules governing lunar collaboration. These rules would need to cover the exploitation of whatever resources we might find on the Moon and set out how data should be freely shared. We need to find a consensus on all these issues – regardless of who gets there first. As a neutral country, Switzerland could very well end up playing a key role in this international discussion.
Thinking beyond the Moon, when are we likely to see a human mission to Mars?
It’s largely a question of money, luck and regu?latory issues. Mars is a far more challenging destination than the Moon, because it may harbour life. It’s vital that we don’t end up permanently polluting the Red Planet as well. And we also need to ensure that future generations can continue our research. But there are still major technical challenges to be resolved. For example, how will astronauts cope with such harsh radiation over long periods of time? And how will we get them safely back to Earth?
What’s the point of even going to Mars, apart from satisfying our curiosity?
Science on Mars is much more interesting than on the Moon. You can look at Mars as a kind of “broken Earth”. It used to boast oceans and a thick atmosphere. What caused that to change? And what we learn from this? As with the Moon, national interests and just plain curiosity play a big role here. When astronauts first set foot on the Moon, it inspired the whole world and paved the way for new technologies that we still use today. It will be a similar story when we reach Mars.
About
Thomas Zurbuchen was head of Science at US space agency NASA from 2016 to 2022. In August 2023, the Swiss-American astrophysicist took charge of the ETH Zurich Space initiative as Professor of Space Science and Technology. The goal of this initiative is to expand ETH’s research and teaching activities and to strengthen collaboration with the space industry.