zprávy

A few months after the entry into force of the EU Space Regulation and the subsequent signature of the Financial Framework Partnership Agreement (FFPA) between EC, EUSPA and ESA, EUSPA Executive Director da Costa welcomed Director General of DG DEFIS, T Pesonen and ESA, Director General, J Aschbacher for the first time at the headquarters of EUSPA in Prague.

In the coming years, the EU space industry will see many developments in the area of satellite navigation, satellite communication or Earth observation. Europe must team up to deliver innovative, value-adding applications based on EU Space technologies to compete worldwide. Cooperation between all the partners of the EU Space Programme is thus essential.

To reaffirm their commitment for collaboration, EUSPA Executive Director, Rodrigo da Costa, European Commission’s Director General Timo Pesonen and ESA’s Director General Josef Aschbacher met for the first time in Prague to discuss the implementation of the governance between the three entities, as set out in the EU Space Programme regulation. Pesonen, da Costa, and Aschbacher also participated in an open dialogue with EUSPA, EC and ESA staff to exchange views on upcoming joint activities. Cooperation between the three parties is at the heart of the FFPA concluded in late June 2021. As a capstone of this agreement, a Joint Office is being set up in Brussels. 

Read this: The new European Union Space Programme a successful European cooperation paradigm

"The collaboration between EUSPA, EC and ESA is fundamental to the success of the EU Space Programme. The staff of the three organisations will work together in many frames in day to day tasks, to streamline the programmatic and administrative processes and ensure the smooth delivery of the Union’s first ever integrated space programme," remarked EUSPA Director, Rodrigo da Costa.

"Together with Josef Aschbacher and Rodrigo da Costa, we have reset the cooperation between the Commission, the European Space Agency and EUSPA. The three organisations are fully committed to making Europe stronger in space and delivering on the priorities defined by Commissioner Breton: modernisation of Galileo and Copernicus, development of the Secure Connectivity Initiative and fostering the space ecosystem including New Space companies. Time has come to combine forces and talents!’’ said Director General of DG DEFIS, Timo Pesonen.

‘’On 22 June of this year, ESA signed the Financial Framework Partnership Agreement (FFPA) with DG DEFIS and EUSPA, formally stabilising the governance and tasks for each partner agency. Now, we need to ensure that the implementation runs smoothly. Together with Timo Pesonen and Rodrigo da Costa, I presented the fresh start of the EU-ESA cooperation and answered questions from colleagues at EUSPA Headquarters in Prague,’’ added ESA Director General, Josef Aschbacher.

During the first half of the day, guests had the time to acquaint themselves with the latest and most innovative applications that utilise data from the EU Space Programme such as H-GEAR. The EUSPA H2020-funded project developed a solution that combines the eCall technology with the forthcoming OS-NMA service of Galileo to offer both safety and security on the road.

Attracting entrepreneurial spirit with space innovation competitions 

The second half of the visit was dedicated to interacting with entrepreneurs and innovators from the host country. The Czech Republic has a flourishing ecosystem of start-ups and SMEs. Many are applying EU space technology in their operations. Recent examples of Czech space start-ups include #MyGalileoSolution winner, ThunderFly, an unmanned aerial vehicle designed to operate in unfavourable weather conditions using Galileo’s positioning services and data from Copernicus to perform atmosphere measurements. 

"Boosting the market uptake of all the EU Space Programme components is within EUSPA’s extended mandate. With #myEUspace we will provide funding to more than 50 start-ups and entrepreneurs to develop products that use EU Space data and technology. I encourage innovators from all backgrounds to apply. Space is ubiquitous and you do not need to be a rocket scientist to make use of it, so go for it!" says EUSPA Director, Rodrigo 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).

The construction of a new Galileo Sensor Station in the Kerguelen Islands, in the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF), was recently completed. The installation of the infrastructure has now begun and will be followed by integration and testing of the GSS apparatuses, which will continue until May 2022 to ensure its robust functioning in view of the forthcoming Galileo satellites launches.

To make the best use of the Galileo services, users rely on much more than the satellites orbiting the earth at an altitude of 23.000km. Dedicated facilities such as the Galileo Control Centers (GCCs), the sensor and uplink stations are some of the most important components that make up the so-called ‘’Galileo Ground Segment’’ the role of which is to support the service provision of Europe’s own Global Navigation Satellite System. 

The Galileo Sensor Stations (GSS) are a network of antennas deployed at remote sites located around the world for real-time monitoring of the signal precision and quality, as well as establishing the satellite orbits with precision.

A new infrastructure was recently built in the Kerguelen Islands to host the newest, state-of-the art GSS. The new station will replace the previous one, built in the earliest stages of the programme, as part of an update of the world-wide network of the Galileo Ground Segment. These upgrades will further increase the performance of the European navigation and positioning system and guarantee an accurate, precise signal at all times across the globe. 

A remote EU location of significant importance. 

Situated in the sub-Antarctic region of the Indian Ocean, with a population of about 150 scientists, researchers and soldiers, the Kerguelen Islands are among the world’s most isolated places, 3500 km away from the Reunion island. Under French jurisdiction, these volcanic islands are part of Europe.

"Placing the GSS in the Kerguelen islands is of major importance. Galileo is the EU’s largest and most ambitious industrial project - maintaining its integrity and performance is of utmost importance for Europe and its citizens. This is a perfect location for both operational and security reasons" says Executive Director, Rodrigo da Costa.

Putting together the infrastructure was not easy due to the weather conditions and the island’s remote location. It is reached only four times a year by “Marion Dufresne”, a vessel departing from La Réunion, and anchoring off the Kerguelen Islands only after 15 days of sailing. The new GSS worth 2 million euros is fully funded by the European Union and is set to undergo tests until May 2022 to ensure its robust functioning in view of the forthcoming Galileo satellites launches.  

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 construction of a new Galileo Sensor Station in the Kerguelen Islands, in the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF), was recently completed. The installation of the infrastructure has now begun and will be followed by integration and testing of the GSS apparatuses, which will continue until May 2022 to ensure its robust functioning in view of the forthcoming Galileo satellites launches.

To make the best use of the Galileo services, users rely on much more than the satellites orbiting the Earth at an altitude of 23.000km. Dedicated facilities such as the Galileo Control Centers (GCCs), sensor and uplink stations are some of the most important components that make up the so-called ‘’Galileo Ground Segment’’ the role of which is to support the service provision of Europe’s own Global Navigation Satellite System. 

The Galileo Sensor Stations (GSS) are a network of antennas deployed at remote sites located around the world for real-time monitoring of the signal precision and quality, as well as establishing the satellite orbits with precision.

A new infrastructure was recently built in the Kerguelen Islands to host the newest, state-of-the art GSS. The new station will replace the previous one, built in the earliest stages of the programme, as part of an update of the world-wide network of the Galileo Ground Segment. These upgrades will further increase the performance of the European navigation and positioning system and guarantee an accurate, precise signal at all times across the globe. 

A remote EU location of significant importance. 

Situated in the sub-Antarctic region of the Indian Ocean, with a population of about 150 scientists, researchers and soldiers, the Kerguelen Islands are among the world’s most isolated places, 3500 km away from the Reunion Island. Under French jurisdiction, these volcanic islands are part of Europe.

"Placing the GSS in the Kerguelen islands is of major importance. Galileo is the EU’s largest and most ambitious industrial project - maintaining its integrity and performance is of utmost importance for Europe and its citizens. This is a perfect location for both operational and security reasons" says Executive Director, Rodrigo da Costa.

Putting together the infrastructure was not easy due to the weather conditions and the island’s remote location. It is reached only four times a year by “Marion Dufresne”, a vessel departing from La Réunion, and anchoring off the Kerguelen Islands only after 15 days of sailing. The new GSS of 2 million euros worth  is fully funded by the European Union and is set to undergo tests until May 2022 to ensure its robust functioning in view of the forthcoming Galileo satellites launches.  

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 20th EUROPEAN MOBILITY WEEK is on! This year’s motto is ‘Safe and Healthy with Sustainable Mobility’ paying tribute to the hardships felt by Europe – and the world – throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Space is a significant booster in the development of new, intelligent mobility solutions as well as the monitoring of important urban infrastructures. 

The European Mobility Week is the European Commission’s flagship awareness-raising campaign on sustainable urban mobility, promoting new ways of living in favour of active mobility, public transport, and other clean, intelligent transport solutions. The benefits of space services and data for sustainability and smart mobility are currently under the spotlight as the Union is investing more on its EU Space Programme for the definition of its green and digital policies. Here are 5 ways the EU Space Programme is positively impacting sustainable mobility: 

1. Streamlining urban traffic

Transport is one of the main sources of air pollution, which is known to have direct effect on mortality as well as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. The use of satellite navigation systems such as Galileo in vehicles can reduce journey times by more than 10%, and thus contribute to reducing emissions of harmful and polluting substances. Copernicus services can support emissions monitoring by validating the measurements from existing sensors and providing data from areas not covered otherwise. 

2. Contributing to Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS)

ITS systems rely on positioning data, which has now become much more precise thanks to Galileo services. With the help of the EU’s GNSS, advanced implementation of Intelligent Transport System (ITS) is now becoming a reality for transport and mobility companies. The city of Madrid was among the first to integrate Galileo’s enhanced positioning services into its Transport System to improve public transport services in the Spanish capital. EU Space technology is becoming fundamental for the development of smart mobility solutions targeting the EU Green Deal.

3. Mobility infrastructure monitoring

Copernicus offers a broad range of products and services based on satellite optical data. Lidar images, can for instance, help urban planning authorities to identify changes in the terrain such as land subsidence or vegetation that could encroach rail tracks or power grids supplying the city with electricity. The combination of imagery from Copernicus with the very accurate positioning provided by Galileo allows for the monitoring of critical infrastructures tunnels, motorways and bridges.

4. Easing the flow of goods between EU cities during COVID-19

Developed by EUSPA in collaboration with the European Commission, the Galileo Green Lane app is a key tool in the EU’s COVID-19 pandemic response. By easing traffic flow through the EU’s borders, the app is helping to support a fundamental EU principle - the free movement of goods and freight in the internal market.

5. Faster emergency response on the road

As of April 2018, all new car models in the European Union are equipped with eCall technology. In the event of a serious accident, eCall automatically dials 112 - Europe's single emergency number - to provide faster assistance. Leveraging Galileo, the system sends the accurate position of the crashed vehicle and the direction of travel to the emergency services, enabling the emergency responders to get to the accident site faster. By speeding up emergency response times by 40% in urban areas and 50% in the countryside, it is estimated that eCall could help prevent 2,500 road deaths and save EUR 26 billion every year.

Towns and cities worldwide are invited to participate in the EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK, which takes place 16-22 September each year, check out the interactive map to see if your city is taking part. 

More info and registration 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).