Tag Archives: Copernicus

IRIS2 (pronounced “iris square”) is the new EU secure satellite constellation project, which stands for Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity, and Security by Satellite. Touted as “the European Union’s answer to pressing challenge of tomorrow, offering enhanced communication capacities to governmental users, businesses, while ensuring high-speed internet broadband to cope with connectivity dead zones,“ IRIS2 is the result of a brilliant vision at the intersection of European “strategic autonomy,” orbital economy and policy, space industry majors, innovative startups, bureaucratic agendas, and a European Union space strategy for security and defense. Like many brilliant visions, it runs the risk of being eaten for breakfast by the tyranny of execution. Could it be different this time?

In the present era, the global landscape is shifting towards increased multipolarity. The world has been fractured in antagonizing spheres of political and economical hegemony, resulting in both competition and conflict. The Russo-Ukrainian war continues. China is broadening its economical and geopolitical influence through grand-investments and the support of evolving economies. The BRICS have doubled their members and a variety or regional alliances appear to take shape. Europe faces the task of adjusting to the evolving power dynamics.

Kuva Space, a Finnish hyperspectral satellite imagery company, has successfully raised 16.6 million euros ($17.6 million) in a recent Series A funding round. The startup, founded in 2016, aims to accelerate its satellite launches and expand its market reach, especially in the United States. The funding will be utilised to enhance Kuva Space’s AI analytics platform.

A European Space Agency (ESA) - funded study has reported the state of Antarctica's ice shelves, relying on information from the Copernicus Sentinel-1 and ESA’s CryoSat satellite missions. The study, which has been published in the journal Science Advances, is based on 100,000 satellite radar images to produce a major assessment of the ‘state of the health’ of Antarctica’s ice shelves.

The European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Commission have signed an agreement on the 21st of September to use space to help keep information secure. 

As a response to wildfires which have spread across Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Algeria, Tunisia, and Canada an updated version of ESA’s World Fire Atlas is now available. It provides a detailed analysis of wildfires across the globe. The European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) has reported that, as of 29 Jul 2023, more than 234,516 hectares of land across the European Union has been burned this year.

The European Union Agency for the Space Program (EUSPA), under the auspices of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of European Union, is organizing the 2023 edition of the EU Space Week. The event will hold from 7-9 November 2023, and it will bring together the EU Space community showcasing the latest updates on the EU Space Program. The event is also a unique opportunity to get an up-close look at how European businesses – and society in general – benefit from the EU Space Program.

ESA has conducted extensive work on In-Orbit Servicing (IOS), including as part of its Clean Space initiative for the removal and prevention of space debris. ESA Preparation invited industry partners to outline their vision of Europe’s first IOS mission, which could be launched as early as 2028. 

Our Space Café “33 minutes with Josef Aschbacher  – European Space Ambitions – ESA Agenda 2025, updates and goals” took place on the 7th July 2023. Josef Aschbacher earned both his Master’s degree and PhD in natural sciences from the University of Innsbruck. His impressive international career in the space sector spans over 35 years and encompasses work at the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Commission, the Austrian Space Agency, the Asian Institute of Technology, and the University of Innsbruck. 

Our Space Café “33 minutes with Dr Gilles Rabin – French-German Space: Of course, I still love you” took place on Tuesday, 28th March. Gilles is a distinguished economist and space advisor, currently serving at the French Embassy in Berlin. With an impressive career spanning over two decades, he has held key positions in urban planning, economic development, and innovation. His journey began at Bipe Conseil, followed by leadership roles in various urban communities including Nancy, Essone, Greater Lyon, and Nice Metropolis.  Gilles's expertise has been pivotal in advising ministers on decentralisation, SMEs, startups, and research. His tenure as Director of Innovation, Applications, and Science at CNES has further solidified his standing in the space sector.