- November 2, 2021
- Posted by: EARSC
- Category: EOcafe
“Copernicus Commercial Data and New Space”
Thursday 4th November 2021
16h00-17h00 CEST
The Copernicus programme provides access on a full, free and open basis to its Sentinel data. The thematic information products from its six Copernicus services are also made available on a full, free and open basis. This topical information is produced using Sentinel data (so-called dedicated missions) complemented, where needed, with Very High Resolution (VHR) Earth Observation (EO) data from commercial satellite data providers (so-called contributing missions). The users of the Contributing Missions (CCMs) activity are the six Copernicus services and mainly the Land, Emergency, Security and Marine services. The CCMs provide mainly Very High Resolution Optical and Radar data that are complementary to the Copernicus Sentinel missions to answer to the Copernicus Services’ need for VHR EO data.
The European Space Agency recently launched a Request for Information in order to interact, gather information and identify innovative and agile solutions from the European (space) industry on how the CCM activity can be reshaped and enhanced. The objective of the Copernicus Programme is to gradually increase the share of commercial European VHR data up to 80% by 2027 (for both on- demand and systematic CCM data supply)1, which corresponds to the requirements of the Copernicus services. By encouraging the emergence of multiple supply sources and testing other types of commercial satellite data, the aim is to stimulate the development of European New Space actors, SMEs and start-ups.
In order to encourage European entrepreneurs to rely on the Copernicus programme as anchor customers, the selected companies would be entitled to join the CCM data and information provisioning services even if they still are in the development phase of their satellite/constellation. This approach should help European New Space data providers to raise additional external capital for their investments in infrastructure and operations.
On the 16th and 17th of November 2021, a Copernicus online Workshop2 will be dedicated to the presentation of current and potential future offers by European new space data providers and a discussion around the emergent views following the RFI consultation. Prior to this workshop, the EOcafe will provide a good opportunity to discuss the industry priorities and strategies and better understand how we can leverage the European space industry’s capabilities corresponding to the data needs and requirements of the Copernicus services.
The relationship between this initiative and the Cassini programme is also of interest and an update on Cassini will also be discussed.
In this EOcafe our host, Geoff SAWYER (EARSC’s Strategic Advisor and former Secretary General) together with our guests, Catharina BAMPS (Policy officer, Copernicus Programme) and Tomas JONSSON (Policy Officer, Cassini Space Entrepreneurship initiative, European Commission), will discuss the following topics:
• The Copernicus Contributing Missions’ activity, a brief insight on the current status and plans for the future including topics like: role of the European industry and especially SMEs, start-ups to provide commercial data for the Contributing Missions’ activity, data policy, anchor tenancy scheme…
• Linked to this, a brief update on CASSINI, the European Commission’s activity to support innovative entrepreneurs, start-ups and SMEs in the space industry, including New Space, during 2021-2027
Registration: The webinar is open to ALL but priority will be given to EARSC members. Registration is free but compulsory. Please click on the following link to register.
Registration link
Please note this is a virtual event!
EOcafe is part of a series of EARSC meetings that offer timely, relevant, and practical information on a broad variety of topics related to the EO sector. Join us every two weeks to discuss and network while enjoying a cup of coffee with friends.
IMPORTANT NOTES!!!
• The use of a video camera is not mandatory but encouraged to facilitate better interaction among the attendees and the guest speaker(s).
• The EOcafe will stay open after 17:00 in case our guests want to continue the discussion.
• By registering for this event, you accept the terms and conditions ( https://earsc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/EARSC_Events_GDPR-2.pdf ).
If you have any questions, and/or you want to know more about the EOcafe, and/or you want to share an idea about a future EOcafe, please contact Delphine (Delphine.Miramont@earsc.org).
1 https://ec.europa.eu/defence-industry-space/have-your-say-evolution-copernicus-contributing-missions-2021-10-11_en
2 https://www.copernicus.eu/en/events/events/call-speakers-copernicus-commercial-satellite-data-and-european- new-space-copernicus
