Industry Committee MEPs voted today in favour of plans to establish a space surveillance and tracking support programme for the period 2014 to 2020. The new programme will help EU Member States combine their space surveillance capacities and offer services to locate and monitor the space 'debris' (man-made litter left in space) and alert satellite operators of collision risks.
"The proposed programme seeks to contribute to building up an independent European capability of space surveillance and tracking (SST) aimed at preventing and monitoring the growing risk of collision between space infrastructures and other spacecraft or space debris. The need for SST is shared at international and national levels, both from public authorities and the industry as a whole depending on space infrastructures. This is also of particular relevance for ensuring the long-term availability of European space assets, like the satellites from Galileo and Copernicus", explains rapporteur Amelia Andersdotter (Greens/EFA, SE)
An autonomous space surveillance and tracking system
Some EU Member States have national systems, radars or telescopes that could be used for monitoring satellites and space debris, but all in all European satellite operators almost completely depend on United States SST information. However, with increasing space activities, the US will no longer be able to meet the information needs of an increasing number of spacecraft operators.
MEPs say the SST support programme shall contribute to ensuring the long-term availability of European and national space infrastructure facilities and services essential for the safety and security of the economies, societies and citizens in Europe, by equipping the European Union with an autonomous space surveillance and tracking system.
Budget
The amount of EU funding for the SST programme for the period from 2014-2020 should be set at EUR 70 million (in current prices) and drawn from the Internal Security Fund, as well as the Copernicus, Galileo, Egnos and Horizon 2020 programmes under the EU's next Multi-annual Financial Framework, say MEPs.
Next steps
After the approval of the report in the Industry Committee (with 41 votes in favour and 1 against), MEPs will start negotiations with EU member states in order to reach an informal deal on the new rules governing the SST programme.
Background
In Europe there are today limited capacities to monitor and survey satellites and space debris as well as re-entry of space objects into the Earth's atmosphere. Furthermore, there are no proper services to issue collision warnings for satellite operators.
It is estimated that up to 600,000 objects larger than 1 cm orbit the Earth, and at least 16,000 larger than 10 cm. An object larger than 1 cm hitting a satellite will damage or destroy sub-systems or instruments on board, and a collision with an object larger than 10 cm will destroy the satellite. Space debris also poses a risk to ground-based infrastructures and citizens' security when it falls out of orbit and re-enters the Earth's atmosphere.
Without being aware, European citizens rely on space technologies when they use their mobile phones, make financial transactions, take an airplane, watch the weather forecast, or look for the nearest restaurant in their cars. Space-based systems are essential for addressing societal challenges and the implementation of major policy objectives in areas such as environment, climate change, agriculture, transport, development, or security.
Further information