The European Space Agency (ESA) and Mistral, a French artificial intelligence company, have signed a letter of intent to explore new applications of AI in space engineering and Earth observation. The agreement also aims to establish guidelines for using these technologies on an European infrastructure. The letter of intent was signed by Josef Aschbacher, ESA’s director general, and Arthur Mensch, Mistral’s CEO, extending an existing partnership between the two. While a letter of intent does not commit to specific actions, it sets the stage for future collaboration and research projects. The agreement focuses on three key areas. The first combines Earth observation data—collected by satellites on topics like climate, terrain, and human activity—with Mistral’s AI models. The second aims to develop AI tools tailored to the unique challenges of the space sector. The third involves training and knowledge exchange between the teams of ESA and Mistral to build shared expertise. According to Josef Aschbacher, AI is becoming a critical tool for the future of space exploration and engineering. ESA is already using AI in various projects, primarily to help engineers access technical knowledge, automate routine tasks, and support decision-making. Two existing AI tools are central to these efforts: Orbit, a secure AI assistant used daily by ESA engineering teams, and EVE (Earth Virtual Expert), developed by ESA’s Φ-lab with European partners, which helps analyze and interpret Earth observation data. ESA and Mistral also plan to study how to implement these AI tools on an European infrastructure. This includes ensuring security, resilience, traceability, and auditability, as well as protecting sensitive data. Traceability refers to the ability to track how an AI system reached a conclusion, while auditability allows third parties to check its operations. For ESA, maintaining control over these systems and data is a priority, especially to avoid reliance on non-European suppliers. Arthur Mensch of Mistral aims to turn ESA’s data into practical services for the space industry using the company’s adaptable AI technology. Mistral has recently expanded its partnerships with French and European organizations, including a notable agreement with Airbus in late May focused on commercial aviation, defense, and space. However, the partnership with ESA is still in the exploratory phase, with no specific timeline or budget announced yet.