Bringing space down to earth

The contribution the space industry makes to our daily lives is far more significant, and tangible, than merely providing us with a better understanding of the universe ñ important as that is. The sector plays a crucial role in ensuring Europe has a high level of technological and industrial capability and makes its presence felt in areas as varied as environment, transport, communications, humanitarian aid and financial markets. If the EU does not wish to become dependent on others, notably the US, in this area, it must develop a truly European Space Policy. The Commission and the European Space Agency, working together, have shown how this could be achieved and EU governments have recently given their political support to the strategy.

Space is synonymous with innovation, exploration and new frontiers. It has a capacity to stretch imagination and understanding. The sector also has a strategic importance of its own, helping to fuel research and industrial competitiveness and bringing concrete benefits to millions.

EU governments have now formally recognised the powerful contribution it makes to two of the Unionís main internal goals: ensuring Europeís independence, security and prosperity and boosting economic growth and employment. It also impacts on external challenges by providing vital information on critical global issues such as climate change and humanitarian assistance.

At their fourth meeting on 22 May, EU space ministers unanimously endorsed the paper the European Commission and European Space Agency (ESA), who have been cooperating increasingly closely since 2004, had jointly drafted. This analyses the key challenges facing the European space sector and offers ways these could be addressed.

The policy is designed to increase transparency and to help the major players in the sector ñ the EU, the ESA, national authorities and European intergovernmental organisations ñ to work together more effectively, reduce duplication, achieve synergies and create a coordinated European space effort that meets user and national needs.

Space is a high risk, high innovation sector requiring sustained technological investment where the timeline between concept validation and orbit can be ten years or more. Given the fragmentation in European supply and demand for space systems, largely to meet security and defence requirements, any moves to ensure interoperability and coherence can only be beneficial.

The programme covers major space applications: satellite navigation, earth observation, satellite communications and also security and defence, science and technology, industrial policy, governance, exploration of the solar system and access to space. On the basis of wide-ranging consultation, it sets out a framework for future developments, but does not contain specific expenditure or regulatory measures.

When presenting the policy, G¸nter Verheugen, the Enterprise and Industry Commissioner, emphasised the importance of Europe playing a major, independent role in space policy, especially as new challengers in the shape of China and India appear on the scene.

ìThis is an important milestone for further development of space policy in Europe. I am convinced that Europe needs to remain present in the area of space if it does not want to become an irrelevant space power,î he said.

Jean-Jacques Dordain, the ESAís director-general, noted that the new strategy brought ìa new European dimension to space and a space dimension to Europeî. He pointed out that ìthere are no citizens left who do not depend on the space sector, even if they are not aware of itî. However, he suggested jokingly, they would become fully aware if all satellites were switched off for just one hour.

Reaping the benefits

Finding ways to derive the widest possible use from technological breakthroughs in the space sector will ensure that investment enjoys the maximum economic, political and social returns. The EU is already leading the way in key areas.

Perhaps the best known joint European programme is Galileo, the global navigation infrastructure system that will use 30 satellites to provide accurate timing and positioning services worldwide.

The system will provide information that will be a major benefit to a host of sectors. Transport, rescue and communications will be heavy users. But it can also be applied for other purposes: land survey, agriculture, scientific research, tourism, energy distribution networks and banking systems.

Galileo should be fully operational by the end of 2012. After the recent failure of a public/private partnership to agree all the financial aspects of the initiative, the Commission has proposed an alternative route for the EU to reach its goal. It has advised that the public sector should finance the initial infrastructure and that the system should be operated by a private concession holder. The proposal is being considered by national governments.

Monitoring the pulse of the planet

Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) is another major EU initiative. This uses data from satellites in space and measuring instruments in the air, on the ground, the sea or deep under water to provide information services on environment and security.

With the increase in natural and manmade catastrophes, there is a growing need for this form of monitoring exercise. It can detect dangerous gases and substances in the air, follow the evolution of land cover, assess the state of the sea and identify small movements of the earthís crust.

The inputs are analysed and provide valuable information that can help EU, national, regional and local authorities address a range of environmental and other challenges and assess policy implementation.

For instance, the system can be used to steer fishermen to their optimal catch and to track vessels fishing illegally. It can give farmers information to maximise their crop yield and offer accurate monitoring to discourage fraud. Other services will help civil protection forces to prepare for, and respond, to major disasters ranging from floods and forest fires to earthquakes.

It is not just decision-makers, scientists and organisations that reap dividends from GMES in order to improve policy planning. Ordinary citizens will also benefit as GMES services provide information affecting their daily lives, whether it be city mapping or details of air quality and ultraviolet intensity.

Both the Commission and the ESA are closely involved in the initiative. The former is in charge of identifying user needs and develops the services, while the latter manages the implementation of the space segment. Unlike Galileo, the infrastructure used by GMES largely already exists (satellites and ground-based instruments developed by ESA or Member States) and the challenge will be to make the best use of these European and national resources. Further investments will be destined to bridge technological and operational gaps. For the system to become fully operational, it will be necessary to ensure the long-term viability of services provision and of the supporting observation infrastructure.

Success in orbit

Europe is also well placed in Satellite Communication Systems. It is home to three of the five largest operators in the world. These provide global telecommunications, television broadcasting, data and mobile services.

The satellite systems distribute over 3,000 television channels and are an essential complement to basic microwave and cable public telephony and data networks. They play an invaluable role when land networks are put out of action by natural disasters such as floods and help armed forces deployed on humanitarian or peace-keeping missions.

European firms are well represented in the manufacture and servicing of satellites and their launcher rockets ñ Ariane Espace is the worldís number one launcher ñ and the EU operates the worldís largest environmental space programme. Satellites can also be used to bring educational facilities to remote regions and to expand medical support in developing countries.

Space policy in figures

Europeís expenditure in 2006 on civil space programmes (about Ä 5.5 billion) was less than a third of that in the US ($ 17.3 billion) in a global market that is worth Ä 90 billion and growing 7% per year. The US invests as much as the rest of the world put together in civil space and its expenditure on defence space is even higher.

The sector is a significant source of European employment ñ providing 28,000 jobs ñ and, despite the relative low investment in space, the industry is highly competitive. It holds 40% of the world market for manufacturing, launching and servicing satellites ñ a market that is estimated to reach Ä 400 billion by 2025.

Looking to the future

EU governments have now asked the Commission and the ESA to propose an implementation plan for space policy and to carry out regular monitoring and priority setting and to present a revised space strategy to ministers at their fifth meeting next year.

On the practical side, this will examine the financing of space projects, using as a starting point the Ä 1,430 billion already available in the 7th Programme of Research and Technology Development between 2007 and 2013, and exploring further mechanisms; identifying final users of GMES services and defining the conditions under which national satellites and data will be available to GMES. These aspects will be addressed by the Commission after full consultation with Member States and ESA.

Thought will also be given to measures to encourage technological innovation, to new financing schemes such as public/private partnerships, to ways to help small and medium-sized companies make their contribution to the sector and to potential synergies between civilian and military use.

Attention is also being given to the international aspects of space policy. This ranges from improving access for European suppliers to third country markets and looking for international partners for European programmes to making full use of space systems to support developing countries, especially in Africa.

Aim of the EU/ESA cooperation agreement.

ìThe coherent and progressive development of an overall European Space PolicyÖto link demand for services and applications using space systems in support of the Community policies with the supply of space systems and infrastructure necessary to meet that demand.î

Source EC.EUROPA.

Author: EARSC