5 minute read
Rodrigo da Costa
LEADERS' OUTLOOK
ANNUAL EDITION / JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2022
Building Synergies to Strengthen European Space
BY RODRIGO DA COSTA
Executive Director, European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA)
The primary role of the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is to ensure uninterrupted, safe, and secure satellite navigation services from the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) and Galileo. As part of an extended mandate, this agency now promotes commercial utilization of Copernicus data and services. We also closely coordinate Governmental Satellite Communications (GOVSATCOM), EU’s satellite communications program focused on user requirements in the Member States. EUSPA is also in charge of security accreditation for all components of the EU Space Programme through its Security Accreditation Board.
Our agency has a proven track record of boosting Space innovation and entrepreneurship through various tools. EUSPA is capitalizing on this legacy by providing financial incentives, technical expertise, and market know-how to small and medium enterprises (SMEs), start-ups, academia, and innovators, so that they can make EU Space an integral part of their businesses. Our role will continue to grow in the coming years as we will be responsible for the launch of Galileo satellites in 2023.
Working towards a greener future Data from EU Space Programme components, especially Copernicus, is a valuable tool for the Member States, offering trends on atmospheric changes, emissions, air quality, etc. By having access to real-time information about such trends, governments can develop and modify their mitigating policies. The EU satellite navigation system is playing an important part in its green transition, mainly by providing information about key sectors. For example, the aviation sector creates 13.9 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, making it the second biggest source of emissions after road transport. It also accounts for 3.8 percent of
the overall CO2 emissions. The European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) helps reduce the frequency of aborted landings (go-arounds) and, therefore, emissions, by enabling aircraft to land safely under challenging weather conditions. By 2025, an estimated 80,000 flight delays and 20,000 flight diversions will be prevented across EU due to EGNOS.
Building synergies can ensure great results. For instance, we know that oceans produce over 50 percent of the oxygen we breathe, regulate the climate, and are home to millions of Earth’s plants and animals. Since oil spills can have detrimental effects on our aquatic habitats, high-resolution imagery from Copernicus can track these spills in real time, while the precise location provided by Galileo can enable authorities to reach the incident site and take timely action. At EUSPA, we make sure we multiply such opportunities. We recently launched a Horizon Europe Call with a focus on the Green Deal. The budget for this specific Call is EUR 14 million (USD 15.82 million) and it will require synergy between the Space program components.
Boosting economy, ensuring safety and security EUSPA contributes to the growth of the European economy by providing value-added services to users and supporting the EU Space companies. A fine example of great returns on investment is the use of Copernicus and Galileo in precision farming and variable-rate technology (VRT), a technique based on satellite technology that automates the application of fertilizers, chemical sprays, and seeds in a given piece of land. Satellite imagery provides information about soil quality, moisture, and other climatic factors to agronomists and helps farmers accurately steer tractors through the areas that need soil treatment. This results in better yields and less fertilizer and water consumption.
We also engage with various users, raise awareness about Space benefits, and provide those interested with financial incentives, mentoring, and GNSS and Earth Observation know-how. We have created a vibrant ecosystem of start-ups and SMEs, most of which are now upscaling their operations using Galileo, EGNOS and Copernicus.
EUSPA is the gatekeeper of the security of the EU Space Programme. The security of our Space assets, both in Space and on the ground, is the basis for the provision of high quality and uninterrupted services. The Galileo Security Monitoring Centre is an integral part of Galileo infrastructure that acts on security threats, alerts, and the operational status of system components.
We are in-charge of ensuring the security accreditation of all the components of the EU Space Programme. All components of our Space programme are critical systems for the Union.
Addressing position, navigation and timing vulnerabilities Intentional satellite interference is not a new issue. Lately, however, the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) industry has been facing lots of challenges concerning jamming and spoofing, driven mainly by the growing awareness and the availability of low-cost, illegal disruption equipment. GNSS signal falsification can have disastrous impact on applications and markets that rely on precise position, navigation, and timing (PNT).
To contribute to the detection of certain types of data-level GNSS attacks, EUSPA and the European Commission are currently testing the Galileo Open Service — Navigation Message Authentication (OSNMA), which is a new feature of Europe’s positioning system that meets a clear user need — the provision of a more robust and trustworthy GNSS. This forthcoming service is an authentication mechanism that allows open service users to verify the authenticity of its navigation message, making sure that the data the users receive is indeed from Galileo and has not been modified in any way.
In cases where strong reliability is required, the overall PNT solution does not rely on a single source of information and is composed of complementary technologies in addition to GNSS, such as inertial sensors, LiDAR, cameras, etc. At EUSPA, we are prepared to deliver a great package of opportunities to those who look to make EU Space a part of their business and develop new solutions and services. With Copernicus onboard, we are ready to level up our game and forge synergies that will boost Europe’s resilience and help it deliver on its ambitious EU Green Deal.
LEADERS' OUTLOOK
ANNUAL EDITION / JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2022
