[1] Born in Ellmau, Austria, Aschbacher studied at the University of Innsbruck, graduating with a Master’s degree and a PhD in natural sciences.

He became an assistant professor at the Asian Institute of Technology in Bangkok, Thailand, and he initiated Earth observation cooperation programmes between ESA, the European Commission and Southeast Asia.

[9] In June 2021, Aschbacher strengthened the relationship between ESA and the EU by signing a new Financial Framework Partnership Agreement worth almost €9 billion between 2021 and 2027.

The telescope, which is a cooperation project between NASA, ESA and the Canadian Space Agency, is designed to answer outstanding questions about the Universe and to make breakthrough discoveries in all fields of astronomy.

Because its launch was so accurate, the spacecraft has enough fuel left to maintain its position in space for potentially 20 years, which is twice as long as its designed operational lifetime.

[11] Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Aschbacher was forced to accept the unilateral suspension by the Roscomos administration of all Soyuz launches for European spacecraft and astronauts and the termination of the ESA-Russia collaboration in the ExoMars mission .

[24] In 2021, Aschbacher became "Grande Ufficiale Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana", the highest recognition accorded to non-Italian nationals.