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You read our news, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, watch our YouTube videos, download our publications, and subscribe to our weekly Watch This Space Newsletter. Maybe you’ve even attended an event or two. 

But does that make you ‘space smart’?

To find out, it’s time to put your EU Space knowledge to the test and take our online quiz!

There are 10 questions that cover everything from EGNOS, Galileo and Copernicus to market uptake and the forthcoming GOVSATCOM. Some might be a breeze, but others might leave you scratching your head. 

To help you out, we’ve created this cheat sheet, which you can use to go from being a space student to becoming a space ace. 

How many Galileo satellites are now in orbit?

There are currently 28 Galileo satellites in orbit. The most recent satellite to enter service is called Nikolina, named after one of the children who won the 2020 Galileo drawing competition. With satellites 29 and 30 set for launch later this year, Galileo will soon enter Full Operational Capability. 

What are EUSPA’s responsibilities?

Under our new mandate, which went into effect just over a year ago, EUSPA is responsible not only for implementing the EU Space Programme (and ensuring that EU citizens and companies benefit and make the best out of it) but also for the satellite service provision of Galileo and EGNOS and the security accreditation of the EU Space Programme. But even with our expanded mandate and new responsibilities, EUSPA’s mission remains the same: linking space to user needs.

How many airports across Europe use EGNOS today for safer, greener and less noisy landings?

EGNOS has revolutionised aviation – creating greater access to small and regional airports, increasing safety and facilitating more sustainable flight routes across Europe. Today, over 400 airports have implemented EGNOS-based approaches, including many small and regional airports that cannot afford the high cost of ground-based navigational systems. By increasing accessibility to regional airports, EGNOS-based procedures help decongest Europe’s busy airspace, especially around the major hub airports.

At what altitude do Galileo satellites orbit Earth?

While Galileo satellites may be orbiting 22,900 kilometres above us, their impact is felt right here on Earth. Whether you’re using a navigation device in your car or on your mobile phone, thanks to these satellites in space, you’ll always know your exact position. That same positioning and timing information is also used for everything from search and rescue missions to keeping the trains running on time.

What percentage of new tractors in Europe use EGNOS?

With EGNOS, European farmers can leverage the many benefits of precision agriculture, including cutting waste, saving time, reducing fatigue, optimising equipment and increasing crop yields. No wonder 97% of new tractors use EGNOS! 

Which facts and figures are true about EUSPA?

Just as the EU is diverse, so too is EUSPA. Today, we have 250 colleagues from 22 different nationalities. Our team is spread across 7 locations and 5 sites that stretch from our headquarters in Prague to our operational facilities in France, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy and Belgium. With plans to expand to around 300 staff by 2024, we’re always looking for new talent to join our team. 

What will GOVSATCOM offer?

As the fourth pillar of the EU Space Programme, GOVSATCOM will offer secure communication capabilities to security and safety critical missions managed by the EU and its Member States. EUSPA has been entrusted with the procurement of the secure operational ground segment, its operations and the coordination of the user-related aspects of GOVSATCOM, all in close collaboration with Member States and other involved entities.

Today, how many smartphones use Galileo worldwide?

Around the world, more than 3 billion smartphones rely on Galileo’s precise positioning information for a range of location-based services. This number will continue to grow, as all smartphones sold within the European single market are now required to be Galileo-enabled. 

Which component of the EU Space Programme allows us to monitor climate change?

From curbing CO2 emissions to fighting illegal logging and tracking biodiversity, Copernicus – Europe’s Earth Observation programme – is an essential tool for monitoring climate change and delivering on the Green Deal’s ambitious goals. 

According to the 2022 EUSPA EO and GNSS Market Report, how much revenue did the GNSS and Earth Observation downstream market generate in 2021? 

Not only did the GNSS and EO downstream market generate over EUR 200 billion in revenue in 2021, but it’s set to reach almost half a trillion over the next decade. Add this up and what you have is a very lucrative investment opportunity.

A space ace

You now have all the information you need to ace our space quiz. Keep following our EUSPA channels to ensure your EU Space knowledge stays in top form! 

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).

The EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is set to launch a new Fundamental Elements call. To kick things off, they are hosting a dedicated online workshop on 30 June. The workshop is an opportunity to not only learn about the new call, but also hear from successful projects funded during the last call.

Fundamental Elements is an R&D funding mechanism designed to support the development of innovative chipset, antenna and receiver technologies that industry would not yet invest in on its own initiative. In doing so, the programme helps accelerate the integration of European GNSS (EGNSS) into market-ready devices and solutions.  

Projects funded by Fundamental Elements play a key role in EUSPA’s mission of driving the development and market uptake of Galileo-enabled receivers. For example, the GEARS project, which was funded during the initial call, developed a super accurate and highly robust Galileo-enabled receiver capable of providing both time and frequency data for critical infrastructure. 

GEARS, another project funded during the programme’s first call, developed an eCall and anti-theft system leveraging Galileo. The innovative device integrated the anti-theft and e-call Galileo based system into a small/medium-size scooter manageable by the user through a mobile application, battery duration, and the antenna performance in a stressed environment, due to the vibrations and potential accidents.

The new Fundamental Elements call builds on the success of projects like these by: 

• Integrating Galileo’s key differentiators into receiver technologies, including OS-NMA, High Accuracy Frequency, triple frequency, Early Warning Service, CAS and ARAIM

• Leveraging disruptive technologies such as machine learning and artificial intelligence

• Exploring potential synergies with Copernicus and the forthcoming GovSatCom 

More details about these points and the call in general will be made available during EUSPA’s upcoming Fundamental Elements online Workshop via Webex. Scheduled for 30 June, the workshop will include in-depth information on the funding programme and the application process. The event will also feature a number of project teams funded during the first Fundamental Elements call, who will share their experiences, best practices and advice for putting together a successful project.     

You can register for the workshop here. 

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).

The EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is set to launch a new Fundamental Elements call. To kick things off, they are hosting a dedicated online workshop on 30 June. The workshop is an opportunity to not only learn about the new call, but also hear from successful projects funded during the last call.

Fundamental Elements is an R&D funding mechanism designed to support the development of innovative chipset, antenna and receiver technologies that industry would not yet invest in on its own initiative. In doing so, the programme helps accelerate the integration of European GNSS (EGNSS) into market-ready devices and solutions.  

Projects funded by Fundamental Elements play a key role in EUSPA’s mission of driving the development and market uptake of Galileo-enabled receivers. For example, the GEARS project, which was funded during the initial call, developed a super accurate and highly robust Galileo-enabled receiver capable of providing both time and frequency data for critical infrastructure. 

GEARS, another project funded during the programme’s first call, developed an eCall and anti-theft system leveraging Galileo. The innovative device integrated the anti-theft and e-call Galileo based system into a small/medium-size scooter manageable by the user through a mobile application, battery duration, and the antenna performance in a stressed environment, due to the vibrations and potential accidents.

The new Fundamental Elements call builds on the success of projects like these by: 

• Integrating Galileo’s key differentiators into receiver technologies, including OS-NMA, High Accuracy Frequency, triple frequency, Early Warning Service, CAS and ARAIM

• Leveraging disruptive technologies such as machine learning and artificial intelligence

• Exploring potential synergies with Copernicus and the forthcoming GovSatCom 

More details about these points and the call in general will be made available during EUSPA’s upcoming Fundamental Elements online Workshop via Webex. Scheduled for 30 June, the workshop will include in-depth information on the funding programme and the application process. The event will also feature a number of project teams funded during the first Fundamental Elements call, who will share their experiences, best practices and advice for putting together a successful project. See the agenda here.     

You can register for the workshop here. 

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).

The EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is set to launch a new Fundamental Elements call. To kick things off, they are hosting a dedicated online workshop on 30 June. The workshop is an opportunity to not only learn about the new call, but also hear from successful projects funded during the last call.

Fundamental Elements is an R&D funding mechanism designed to support the development of innovative chipset, antenna and receiver technologies that industry would not yet invest in on its own initiative. In doing so, the programme helps accelerate the integration of European GNSS (EGNSS) into market-ready devices and solutions.  

Projects funded by Fundamental Elements play a key role in EUSPA’s mission of driving the development and market uptake of Galileo-enabled receivers. For example, the GEARS project, which was funded during the initial call, developed a super accurate and highly robust Galileo-enabled receiver capable of providing both time and frequency data for critical infrastructure. 

GEARS, another project funded during the programme’s first call, developed an eCall and anti-theft system leveraging Galileo. The innovative device integrated the anti-theft and e-call Galileo based system into a small/medium-size scooter manageable by the user through a mobile application, battery duration, and the antenna performance in a stressed environment, due to the vibrations and potential accidents.

The new Fundamental Elements call builds on the success of projects like these by: 

• Integrating Galileo’s key differentiators into receiver technologies, including OS-NMA, High Accuracy Frequency, triple frequency, Early Warning Service, CAS and ARAIM

• Leveraging disruptive technologies such as machine learning and artificial intelligence

• Exploring potential synergies with Copernicus and the forthcoming GovSatCom 

More details about these points and the call in general will be made available during EUSPA’s upcoming Fundamental Elements online Workshop via Webex. Scheduled for 30 June, the workshop will include in-depth information on the funding programme and the application process. The event will also feature a number of project teams funded during the first Fundamental Elements call, who will share their experiences, best practices and advice for putting together a successful project. See the agenda here.     

You can register for the workshop here. 

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).

When it comes to making European rail safer, cleaner and more efficient, the EU Space Programme is nothing short of a gamechanger. As a case in point, look no further than the European Railway Traffic Management System (ERTMS). 

ERTMS aims to make rail transport safer and more competitive by replacing Europe’s different national train control and command systems with a single, coordinated and highly digital solution. To do this, it’s using European GNSS.

Not only does GNSS provide precise positioning and localisation, when augmented by EGNOS and possibly fused with other sensors, it has the potential to replace the expensive physical balises used to monitor train speed and streamline rail operations. 

GNSS’ potential becomes even greater when its positioning is complemented by Earth Observation. For example, railway operators can use Earth Observation data to monitor and prevent vegetation encroachment, landsides, and other risks that could endanger the safe operation of trains. 

With the goal of further advancing the safe use of GNSS as a source of positioning for trains, the EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) has funded several research and development projects. One of those projects is CLUG, an initiative dedicated to developing a cost-efficient train tracking solution using EU satellite technology in conjunction with other sensors and data. 

Developing future train technology today

The CLUG project brought together experienced rail operators and infrastructure managers to define a set of specifications and operational scenarios capable of meeting the sector’s strict safety needs. The main outcome of this work is an interoperable, failsafe Train Localisation on Board Unit (TLOBU). 

The TLOBU uses measurements from a GNSS receiver and an EGNOS-enabled integrity algorithm, together with other technologies, such as an IMU and a digital map notably, to provide train and railway operators with such critical information as positioning and velocity. 

"It is within EUSPA’s long term strategy to ensure that EGNSS can support fail-safe train localization within ERTMS. CLUG consortium composed by many important railway undertakings and system integrators is contributing to this objective by developing Train Localization onboard unit, combining EGNSS with additional sensors to achieve the required localization performance in difficult railway environment," says Daniel Lopour, Market Development Officer for Rail and Logistics at EUSPA.

Read this: EGNOS and Galileo on the ambitious Digital Rail agenda (europa.eu)

“The idea is to move away from trackside-based train detection systems to onboard safe navigation systems using multi sensor fusion with EGNSS” said CLUG Project Coordinator Valentin Barreau, who made his remarks during the project’s Final Event on 9 June. 

“The absolute safe train positioning solution is oriented towards the needs of the future railway system. It will foster concepts such as intelligent traffic management, automated train operation (GoA2 to GoA4), ERTMS/ETCS Level 3 and it will decrease the cost of the ERTSM signalling system” by reducing the ground equipment used for safe train localisation, including axel counters, track circuits and, to some extent, physical balises.

Although the project itself is now finished, the CLUG team plans to continue developing its solution with the aim to include the necessary elements within the future evolution of the ERTMS technical specifications for interoperability.  

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).