https://spacewatch.global/tag/eu/ AN INDEPENDENT PERSPECTIVE ON SPACE Fri, 30 Jan 2026 11:08:22 +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/eu/ 32 32 https://spacewatch.global/2026/01/spacewatchgl-opinion-next-generation-uk-milsatcom-capability/ Fri, 30 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=70736
Written by John Yates
The United Kingdom’s (UK) Skynet 6 satellites are obsolete before they have even been launched. So, what should the next generation of British Military Satellite Communications (MILSATCOM) satellites look like? The four Skynet 5 satellites were launched into Geostationary Orbit (GEO) between 2007 and 2012. Assuming a typical design life of 15 years, the first would have exceeded its design life from 2022 and the remainder from 2027, to be replaced by the Skynet 6 satellites. Commercial satellites often remain in use beyond their design life, but that is not a desirable scenario for satellites used in potentially critical situations, such as MILSATCOM.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/01/spacewatchgl-opinion-how-geopolitics-is-reshaping-the-baltic-space-ecosystem/ Wed, 28 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=70704
Written by Ieva Sipola
The Baltic States are among Europe’s most digitally advanced and agile countries, yet they remain largely absent from discussions about Europe’s space achievements. Despite small populations and constrained budgets, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have been quietly building space capabilities that are becoming increasingly relevant as the region navigates a tough geopolitical environment. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/01/luxembourg-greenlights-a-second-govsat-satellite-towards-national-eu-and-nato-security-efforts/ Fri, 23 Jan 2026 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=70632 Luxembourg's Chamber of Deputies has authorized the financing for the acquisition, launch and operation of a EUR 301 million GovSat-2 satellite, intended for government and military communications, as well as to acquire satellite capabilities. GovSat-2 takes the current and future needs, technological developments and, above all, the present space context marked by an increase in threats into account, thereby offering more communication capabilities and better protection against hostile attacks such as high-altitude nuclear explosions and interference attacks.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2026/01/spacewatchgl-opinion-europes-space-defence-autonomy-partnership-or-strategic-dependence/ Thu, 22 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=70334
Written by K.-P. Ludwig
The strategic trajectory of the United States is becoming increasingly explicit as the current administration advances into its second term. Washington’s security focus is shifting decisively toward the Indo-Pacific and a long-term competition with China, a shift underscored by recent punitive measures such as the strict sanctioning of Venezuelan oil exports, including those destined for Chinese markets. Within this framework, Europe is no longer viewed by the US as “a security beneficiary” but as a region expected to assume greater responsibility for its own defence. These are blunt words, but in practice they mean that European NATO members are expected to function as semi-autonomous pillars within a U.S.-led deterrence architecture.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/12/spacewatchgl-opinion-clearing-the-air-the-early-science-and-big-unknowns-of-spaces-atmospheric-footprint/ Thu, 18 Dec 2025 09:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=69554
Written by Novi Dewan
Every object we launch must eventually return: burning, melting, vaporising into particulates that join the upper atmosphere. Until recently, these processes were largely unstudied. At the Summit, the “Clearing the Air” spotlight talk and panel revealed how early we still are: the evidence is intriguing, the mechanisms uncertain, and the need for scientific collaboration undeniable.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/10/espi-ac25-george-freeman-on-europes-space-power-potential-and-uk-cooperation/ Thu, 30 Oct 2025 17:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=68711 In this interview, Torsten Kriening, Publisher of SpaceWatch.Global, speaks with George Freeman, MP, former UK Minister for Science, Research and Innovation, about Europe’s space ambitions, the UK’s position, and the importance of collaboration in a changing geopolitical landscape.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/06/look-up-secures-e50-million-towards-deploying-space-surveillance-radar-network/ Mon, 16 Jun 2025 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=65801 Look Up has completed a €50 million funding round combining equity, bank debt, and public grants with ETF Partners leading the round. Leadwind, KFund’s early growth fund and the EIC Fund also joined the round as new shareholders, while MIG Capital, Karista, and Expansion reaffirmed their support after participating in Look Up's 2023 seed round]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/05/eu-member-states-appoint-andre-denk-as-new-eda-chief-executive/ Tue, 06 May 2025 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=65168 EU Member States have appointed General André Denk as the new Chief Executive of the European Defense Agency (EDA), upon recommendation of the Head of the European Defense Agency / High-Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas. André Denk’s mandate will officially start on 16 May 2025.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/04/auc-formally-inaugurates-the-african-space-agency-in-cairo-egypt/ Tue, 22 Apr 2025 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=64991 The African Space Agency (AfSA) has been formally inaugurated on Sunday 20 April 2025 at its permanent headquarters in Egypt’s Space City, Cairo, at the sidelines of the 2025 NewSpace Africa Conference in Egypt. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/03/au-and-eu-set-to-organize-7th-african-union-european-union-summit/ Thu, 27 Mar 2025 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=64583 The AU and EU will be organizing the 7th AU-EU Summit in Africa later this year, within the auspices of their year-long celebration marking the 25th anniversary of AU-EU partnership]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/03/esa-council-finalizes-strategy-2040-amidst-other-decisions/ Fri, 21 Mar 2025 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=64517 The 332nd meeting of the ESA Council took place at the European Space Agency’s headquarters in Paris on March 19 and 20, 2025. The Council reached several decisions and finalized ESA's Strategy 2040, which will guide activities for the coming Council at the Ministerial level in November. ]]> 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/2025/02/eic-selects-71-companies-in-accelerator-funding-round/ Thu, 20 Feb 2025 07:00:31 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=64067 EIC has selected 71 companies for funding, combining grants and equity, following the 2024 EIC Accelerator cut-off in October. EIC made these selections from among 1211 submitted proposals, out of which it has invited 431 to the jury interviews. It has consequently been the most competitive funding round since the launch of the Accelerator under Horizon Europe.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2025/02/esa-and-eu-selects-ghgsat-as-a-copernicus-contributing-mission/ Mon, 03 Feb 2025 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=63708 GHGSAT has been designated as a Copernicus Contributing Mission (CCM) by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Commission. Through the CCM program, data on methane emissions from GHGSAT’s satellite constellation will support the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) in its mission to provide consistent and accurate information on air pollution and greenhouse gases globally.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/12/sateliot-gets-eib-funding-for-iot-satellite-network-rollout/ Thu, 05 Dec 2024 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=62777 The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed a €30 million loan with Spanish company Sateliot to co-finance the rollout of its constellation of over 100 LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellites, which will provide Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity worldwide.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/11/oq-technology-wins-eu-horizon-project-for-6g-rd-and-satellites/ Wed, 27 Nov 2024 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=62511 The European Union, through the EU Horizon Program, has selected OQ Technology and its AMAZING-6G project among the 16 selected projects for Horizon's 2024 call. The projects will support 301 beneficiaries from 25 countries in developing and deploying next-generation network infrastructure, platforms, and services.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/11/iris%c2%b2-concession-contract-awarded-to-spacerise/ Fri, 01 Nov 2024 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=62075 The European Commission has awarded SpaceRISE Consortium the concession contract to develop, deploy and operate the European Union's secure connectivity satellite system: IRIS² (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite)]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/10/eurospace-announces-marco-fuchs-as-new-president/ Thu, 24 Oct 2024 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=61868 The Council of Eurospace has announced the appointment of Marco Fuchs as President, succeeding Jean-Marc Nasr. Eurospace is the professional association of the European space industry, which promotes the ambitions and concerns of the sector to European institutional players (ESA, European Union etc.)]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/09/defense-and-space-okapiorbits-ceo-kristina-nikolaus-on-expanded-services/ Fri, 20 Sep 2024 07:00:28 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=61249 Kristina Nikolau, Co-Founder and CEO of OKAPI: Orbits shares the latest developments]]> https://spacewatch.global/2024/07/cospar-launches-space-innovation-centre-in-cyprus/ Mon, 01 Jul 2024 06:00:38 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=55887 The Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) is proud to announce the inauguration of the COSPAR International Space Innovation Centre, in Nicosia, Cyprus. This landmark event, held during a five-day summit, marks the culmination of a joint dedicated efforts over the past few years between the COSPAR Panel on Innovative Solutions (PoIS) Impact Group and the Cyprus Space Exploration Organisation (CSEO).]]>