zprávy

Space traffic is a pressing issue. With over 20.000 satellites expected to be launched in the next decade, various orbits are becoming increasingly congested. The situation is especially pronounced in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).  

The abundance of satellites is not only responsible for "an unprecedented space traffic jam".  It is also the cause of a large amount of space debris, or ‘’junk’’, which is increasing at an alarming rate. According to the Directorate General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS), over 1 million debris items larger than 1cm are currently orbiting the Earth.

When we talk about space debris, we often refer to large objects, such as dead satellites, that have either failed or not been moved to their designated ‘’graveyard orbit’’. But space debris can also be any manmade object in space, ranging from small cables and screws that have fallen off a rocket to actual rocket components. While some debris (in LEO) may re-enter the atmosphere after some years and burn up, large part will remain in orbit for hundreds, or even thousands of years. 

Space debris can go on to cause further damage, potentially taking out functioning satellites. What’s more, the collision of space debris with satellites, operational or not, creates even more debris, thus further aggravating the problem.

In summer 2016, Copernicus Sentinel-1A satellite was hit by a millimetre-size particle in orbit causing only minor damage to one of the solar panels, fortunately not affecting the satellite’s performance. 

The damages caused by larger pieces of debris to any navigation, communications and Earth Observation satellites could be irreversible and the repercussions will certainly affect us, end users down on Earth.

Before and after debris impacted the Sentinel-1A solar panel. Credits: European Space Agency (ESA)

Towards a unified approach in Space Traffic Management 

As both space debris and congestion jeopardise the operation and security of the EU’s and Member States’ space assets, such as Galileo, Copernicus and EGNOS, the European Commission recently proposed an EU integrated approach to Space Traffic Management (EU STM). This holistic approach will secure long-term viability of space activities by ensuring that space remains a sustainable, safe and secure environment encompassing the means and the rules to access, conduct activities in, and return from outer space safely, sustainably and securely.

"It is of a geostrategic question to be able to monitor autonomously space and enhance our collective situational awareness of threats to European or national Space assets," remarked Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton during the European Space Conference in 2023. 

To ensure the adequate protection of its satellite infrastructure, the European Union has been relying on EU Space Surveillance and Tracking (EU SST) Partnership, which is the main operational pillar of STM. 

The EU SST Partnership operates a network of ground-based sensors capable of surveying and tracking space objects, together with processing capabilities aiming to provide data, information and services on space objects that orbit the Earth.

Today, EU SST provides collision avoidance services to more than 390 satellites distributed in Low Earth Orbit, Medium Earth Orbit and Geostationary Orbit using Member States’ civil and military assets that remain under the control of its Member States.

EUSPA to support the EU Space Traffic Management

As part of its expanded role in the Union Space Programme, and its expertise in service provision and security issues management, EUSPA will take responsibility for the Space Surveillance and Tracking (SST) service provision Front Desk as of July 1st, 2023. 

"The EU SST Front Desk is a key interface for the delivery of SST information and services, including activities related to user coordination, service performance," says EUSPA Executive Director, Rodrigo da Costa. "Additionally, the SST Front Desk will be engaging with users and promoting the use of the SST services to further support the future of STM in the EU," he concludes. 

The visit of the EU SST partnership Member States to EUSPA took place in this context, gathering all the representatives for a presentation of EUSPA and an exchange of views on future work.

"We are very pleased to visit EUSPA in Prague and we look forward to working with our future EU SST service provision front desk to support our growing user community" declared Pascal Faucher, Chairman, European Union Space Surveillance and Tracking Partnership, Defense and security, CNES. The responsibility is currently being transferred from the European Satellite Centre (SatCen), who currently operates the service, to EUSPA’s Galileo Security Monitoring Centre (GSMC) in Madrid.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the EUSPA website (http://www.euspa.europa.eu).

Space traffic is a pressing issue. With over 20.000 satellites expected to be launched in the next decade, various orbits are becoming increasingly congested. The situation is especially pronounced in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).  

The abundance of satellites is not only responsible for "an unprecedented space traffic jam".  It is also the cause of a large amount of space debris, or ‘’junk’’, which is increasing at an alarming rate. According to the Directorate General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS), over 1 million debris items larger than 1cm are currently orbiting the Earth.

When we talk about space debris, we often refer to large objects, such as dead satellites, that have either failed or not been moved to their designated ‘’graveyard orbit’’. But space debris can also be any manmade object in space, ranging from small cables and screws that have fallen off a rocket to actual rocket components. While some debris (in LEO) may re-enter the atmosphere after some years and burn up, large part will remain in orbit for hundreds, or even thousands of years. 

Space debris can go on to cause further damage, potentially taking out functioning satellites. What’s more, the collision of space debris with satellites, operational or not, creates even more debris, thus further aggravating the problem.

In summer 2016, Copernicus Sentinel-1A satellite was hit by a millimetre-size particle in orbit causing only minor damage to one of the solar panels, fortunately not affecting the satellite’s performance. 

The damages caused by larger pieces of debris to any navigation, communications and Earth Observation satellites could be irreversible and the repercussions will certainly affect us, end users down on Earth.

Before and after debris impacted the Sentinel-1A solar panel. Credits: European Space Agency (ESA)

Towards a unified approach in Space Traffic Management 

As both space debris and congestion jeopardise the operation and security of the EU’s and Member States’ space assets, such as Galileo, Copernicus and EGNOS, the European Commission recently proposed an EU integrated approach to Space Traffic Management (EU STM). This holistic approach will secure long-term viability of space activities by ensuring that space remains a sustainable, safe and secure environment encompassing the means and the rules to access, conduct activities in, and return from outer space safely, sustainably and securely.

"It is of a geostrategic question to be able to monitor autonomously space and enhance our collective situational awareness of threats to European or national Space assets," remarked Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton during the European Space Conference in 2023. 

To ensure the adequate protection of its satellite infrastructure, the European Union has been relying on EU Space Surveillance and Tracking (EU SST) Partnership, which is the main operational pillar of STM. 

The EU SST Partnership operates a network of ground-based sensors capable of surveying and tracking space objects, together with processing capabilities aiming to provide data, information and services on space objects that orbit the Earth.

Today, EU SST provides collision avoidance services to more than 390 satellites distributed in Low Earth Orbit, Medium Earth Orbit and Geostationary Orbit using Member States’ civil and military assets that remain under the control of its Member States.

EUSPA to support the EU Space Traffic Management

As part of its expanded role in the Union Space Programme, and its expertise in service provision and security issues management, EUSPA will take responsibility for the Space Surveillance and Tracking (SST) service provision Front Desk as of July 1st, 2023. 

"The EU SST Front Desk is a key interface for the delivery of SST information and services, including activities related to user coordination, service performance," says EUSPA Executive Director, Rodrigo da Costa. "Additionally, the SST Front Desk will be engaging with users and promoting the use of the SST services to further support the future of STM in the EU," he concludes. 

The visit of the EU SST partnership Member States to EUSPA took place in this context, gathering all the representatives for a presentation of EUSPA and an exchange of views on future work.

"We are very pleased to visit EUSPA in Prague and we look forward to working with our future EU SST service provision front desk to support our growing user community" declared Pascal Faucher, Chairman, European Union Space Surveillance and Tracking Partnership, Defense and security, CNES. The responsibility is currently being transferred from the European Satellite Centre (SatCen), who currently operates the service, to EUSPA’s Galileo Security Monitoring Centre (GSMC) in Madrid.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the EUSPA website (http://www.euspa.europa.eu).

Today, the EU and its citizens celebrate the signing of the Schuman Declaration, the historic agreement that laid the foundation for a united Europe and planted the seeds to what would evolve into the European Union. 

A lot has been achieved in the seven decades since the declaration was signed on 9 May 1950. For example, we’ve established the freedom of movement for EU citizens, built one of the world’s biggest single markets and even won a Nobel Peace Prize. We continue to protect our citizens with robust consumer protection laws and are on our way to becoming the world’s first climate neutral continent. 

We also built an independent space programme that is both competitive and innovative and that delivers real benefits to citizens and businesses alike. “The data and services provided by the EU Space Programme support EU interests and goals like the Green Deal and Digital Transformation and are indispensable to the daily lives of Europeans,” says EUSPA Executive Director Rodrigo da Costa. 

A comprehensive EU Space Programme 

Over 4 billion people currently use Galileo, the world’s most precise positioning system, while many governments, national agencies, institutions, researchers and businesses are leveraging the information coming from Copernicus, the world’s best Earth Observation system.

The EU Space Programme also includes EGNOS, Europe's regional satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS) that is used to improve the accuracy and reliability of GNSS positioning information. Originally designed to benefit aviation, EGNOS has revolutionised the way we fly – creating greater access to small and regional airports, increasing safety and facilitating more efficient and sustainable flight routes across Europe. 

Rounding out the EU Space Programme are Space Situational Awareness (SSA), which provides comprehensive knowledge about space hazards, and the forthcoming GOVSATCOM, which aims to provide secure and cost-efficient communication capabilities to security and safety critical missions and operations. 

The latest addition is IRIS² (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite). The new satellite constellation will provide secure communication services to the EU and its Member States as well as broadband connectivity for European citizens, private companies and governmental authorities. Initial services are expected to launch next year, with full operational capability happening by 2027.

The link between space technology and user needs 

Not only is Europe Day an opportunity to celebrate the achievement that is the EU Space Programme, it also coincides with EUSPA’s anniversary. Established two years ago as the European Union’s only agency dedicated to space, EUSPA serves as the essential link between space technology and user needs.

In addition to implementing the EU Space Programme, EUSPA is responsible for providing reliable, safe and secure space-related services and maximising their socio-economic benefits for all of society. By fostering the development of innovative and competitive upstream and downstream sectors and by engaging with the entire EU Space community, EUSPA helps drive innovation-based growth across the European economy. It also contributes to the safety of EU citizens, the security of the Union and its Member States and reinforces the EU’s strategic autonomy.

“At the heart of our work is a commitment to support an innovative and competitive EU space sector, ensuring that space continues to drive innovation-based growth in Europe and deliver services and applications that meet the challenges of both today and tomorrow,” adds da Costa. 

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the EUSPA website (http://www.euspa.europa.eu).