https://spacewatch.global/tag/copernicus/ AN INDEPENDENT PERSPECTIVE ON SPACE Mon, 20 Apr 2026 10:40:13 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://spacewatch.global/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SpaceWatchGlobal-Sign-90x90.png https://spacewatch.global/tag/copernicus/ 32 32 https://spacewatch.global/2026/04/space-symposium-2026-350tb-day-copernicus-economy-europes-speed-problem-with-josef-aschbacher/ Mon, 20 Apr 2026 06:30:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=73115 At Space Symposium 2026, Laura Todd spoke with Josef Aschbacher, Director General of the European Space Agency, about Europe’s role in the global space ecosystem and the changes required to remain competitive.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/02/spacewatchgl-interview-espis-recipe-for-strategic-relevance-with-hermann-ludwig-moeller/ Wed, 18 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=71312
Written by Tamara Blagojevic
At the 18th European Space Conference in Brussels, Herrmann Ludwig Moeller, Director of the European Space Policy Institute, joins Tamara Blagojevic of SpaceWatch.Global to examine Europe’s evolving space landscape — and to explain how ESPI has grown into a key policy voice beyond the traditional space bubble.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/12/the-copernicus-sentinel-6b-satellite-returns-first-data-images-after-launching-last-month/ Wed, 17 Dec 2025 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=69858 Copernicus Sentinel-6B, launched last month, has reached its orbit and delivered its first set of data, which show variations in sea level in the North Atlantic Ocean. This data underlines how the mission will continue to strengthen the long-term reference record of sea levels, a key parameter of climate change. The image is a combination of altimeter data from both the Sentinel-6 sea-level tracking satellites: Sentinel-6B and its twin, Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, which was launched in 2020. The image shows the Gulf Stream current in the North Atlantic Ocean, off the eastern coasts of the US and Canada.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/06/dlr-turns-to-satellites-and-ai-to-tackle-europes-escalating-wildfire-crisis/ Thu, 12 Jun 2025 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=65736 The German Aerospace Center (DLR) has launched a new initiative to harness satellite data for enhanced wildfire detection, analysis, and response coordination. Announced this week, the program brings together scientific expertise, remote sensing technology, and government collaboration to address the escalating threat of wildfires driven by climate change across Europe and beyond.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/06/europe-records-driest-spring-in-decades-as-copernicus-flags-climate-extremes/ Thu, 12 Jun 2025 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=65738 The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), operated by ECMWF on behalf of the European Commission, has published its latest monthly climate bulletin, revealing that May 2025 was the second-warmest on record globally, and that parts of northwestern Europe experienced the driest spring in recorded history.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/06/e-geos-to-deliver-satellite-based-geospatial-platform-for-romes-smart-city-and-digital-twin-initiatives/ Wed, 11 Jun 2025 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=65717 Reflecting the growing convergence of space technologies and urban governance, e-GEOS—a joint venture of the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and Telespazio (Leonardo Group)—has been selected to provide advanced geoinformation services for Roma Capitale.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/06/from-partnership-to-policy-canada-reaffirms-strategic-role-in-esas-evolving-space-agenda/ Tue, 10 Jun 2025 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=65677 In a reaffirmation of long-standing transatlantic collaboration, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and the European Space Agency (ESA) have renewed their cooperation agreement through 2030, signaling not only operational continuity but deeper strategic alignment in an increasingly competitive and contested space environment. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/06/from-climate-vigilance-to-strategic-autonomy-airbus-ships-metop-sg-a1-for-ariane-6-launch/ Mon, 09 Jun 2025 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=65680 The first MetOp Second Generation (MetOp-SG A1) weather and climate monitoring satellite, built by Airbus Defence and Space, has left Toulouse en route to the Guiana Space Centre for launch aboard Europe’s Ariane 6. Scheduled for liftoff in August 2025, the mission marks a critical milestone not only in European meteorological capabilities but in the region’s pursuit of sovereign, dual-use space infrastructure amid intensifying climate challenges and geopolitical fragmentation.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/03/ssc-wins-additional-ground-station-contracts-for-copernicus/ Thu, 20 Mar 2025 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=64511 SSC has received several additional satellite ground station contracts from ESA for Copernicus, EU’s Earth Observation program. The new contracts include ground station support from both Punta Arenas, the US and Canada.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/12/vega-c-returns-to-flight-with-sentinel-1c-launch/ Fri, 06 Dec 2024 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=62792 The third Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellite launched into orbit yesterday on a Vega-C rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. Sentinel-1C aims to extend its predecessors' legacy by delivering high-resolution radar imagery to monitor Earth’s changing environment. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/12/andrius-kubilius-sets-strategic-priorities-as-eu-commissioner-for-defence-and-space/ Mon, 02 Dec 2024 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=62609 Andrius Kubilius, former Prime Minister of Lithuania, has been taken office as the European Union's Commissioner for Defence and Space.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/09/sentinel-2c-launches-aboard-final-vega-rocket-launch/ Thu, 05 Sep 2024 06:00:59 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=56853 The third Copernicus Sentinel-2 (Sentinel-2C) satellite launched today, 5 September at 03:50 CEST aboard the final Vega rocket from Europe’s spaceport in French Guiana, subsequently separating from the Vega rocket at approximately 04:48 CEST. . The Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission provides high-resolution optical imagery for various applications including land, water and atmospheric monitoring]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/01/spacewatchgl-opinion-iris2-the-elephants-in-the-room/ Wed, 24 Jan 2024 09:00:14 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=53336 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?]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/01/spacewatchgl-opinion-beyond-hegemony-rethinking-partnerships-in-a-multipolar-world/ Wed, 17 Jan 2024 09:00:05 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=53189 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.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2023/11/kuva-space-secures-17-6-million-in-series-a-funding/ Fri, 03 Nov 2023 07:00:44 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=52071 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.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2023/10/esa-satellites-observe-antarctic-ice-shrinking/ Fri, 13 Oct 2023 06:00:20 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=51719 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.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2023/09/esa-works-with-eu-on-secure-connectivity/ Fri, 22 Sep 2023 06:00:52 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=51264 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. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2023/08/esas-world-fire-atlas-update-due-to-recent-wildfires/ Fri, 04 Aug 2023 06:00:31 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=50360 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.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2023/07/euspa-is-organizing-the-eu-space-week-2023/ Fri, 28 Jul 2023 06:00:14 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=50256 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.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2023/07/esa-moves-ahead-with-in-orbit-servicing-missions/ Fri, 21 Jul 2023 06:00:45 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=50136 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. ]]>