https://spacewatch.global/tag/european-union-eu/ AN INDEPENDENT PERSPECTIVE ON SPACE Wed, 13 Aug 2025 08:31:24 +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/european-union-eu/ 32 32 https://spacewatch.global/2025/08/ariane-6-launches-metop-sga1-satellite-to-polar-orbit/ Wed, 13 Aug 2025 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=67081 Metop-SGA1 carrying the EU’s Copernicus Sentinel-5 mission has successfully lifted off on an Ariane-6 rocket in Kourou, French Guiana. As the first satellite in the EUMETSAT Polar System – Second Generation (EPS-SG) program, the launch marks a major step toward delivering more precise forecasts and earlier warnings to help protect lives and property from extreme weather.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2020/11/european-council-adopts-principles-for-space-economy/ Mon, 16 Nov 2020 07:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=28268&preview=true&preview_id=28268 European Council adopts principles for space economy]]> https://spacewatch.global/2020/06/start-up-with-copernicus-innovative-earth-observation-solutions-wanted/ Thu, 04 Jun 2020 05:00:08 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=23169 Do you have an early-stage business idea that could benefit from an enriching environment and a fresh perspective? This is your moment! The Copernicus Accelerator 2021 is growing its community of Earth observation innovators.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2020/06/celebrating-space-history-forty-five-years-of-the-esa-convention/ Wed, 03 Jun 2020 05:00:05 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=23100 After celebrating the 50th anniversary of the European space cooperation in 2014, ESA now marks 45 years since the signing of the Convention for the creation of a single European Space Agency on 30 May 1975.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2020/05/spacewatch-global-opinion-we-need-a-strong-eu-space-programme-to-jump-start-the-economy-after-covid-19/ Mon, 18 May 2020 11:00:04 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=22594 As the coronavirus pandemic causes changes in citizens‘ daily lives across Europe and beyond, we clearly understand there are many areas of the global economy which will now need our joint effort to improve after the pandemic declines.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2020/05/pressure-grows-to-scrap-proposed-uk-global-navigation-satellite-system/ Thu, 14 May 2020 05:00:51 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=22493 Senior British civil servants are reportedly urging government ministers to abandon plans to build the UK’s own global navigation satellite system (GNSS), arguing that the proposed £5 billion project is “unaffordable” amid the economic devastation being wrought by the Coronavirus pandemic.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2020/05/airbus-wins-contract-to-supply-eu-with-satellite-communications/ Thu, 14 May 2020 05:00:37 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=22482 Airbus has won the new satellite communications framework contract for military and civil missions of the European Union and its member states. This four-year framework contract was awarded by the European Defence Agency (EDA) and is estimated to be worth tens of millions of euros.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2020/05/spacewatchgl-perspectives-on-irans-satellite-launch-seyed-hossein-mousavians-iranian-view/ Mon, 11 May 2020 13:00:39 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=22335 On 22 April 2020 Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) successfully launched a small satellite - the Noor-1 (Farsi for 'Light') - on a previously unseen satellite launch vehicle called the Qased.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2020/05/airbus-sentinel-6a-gets-an-earful/ Fri, 08 May 2020 05:00:48 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=22308 Earth observation satellite Sentinel-6A is currently getting an earful.Airbus space engineers are ‘bombarding’ the latest satellite for the European environment and security programme ‘Copernicus’ with sound in a dedicated chamber at the Space Test Centre of Industrieanlagen-Betriebsgesellschaft mbH (IABG) in Ottobrunn, near Munich.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2020/05/spacewatchgl-opinion-europe-has-the-potential-to-lead-the-way-in-space-exploration-policy/ Thu, 07 May 2020 13:00:40 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=22295 By Ioana BratuIn February 2020, the European Commission issued the White Paper on Artificial Intelligence (AI) – a European Approach to Excellence and Trust (White Paper). The document follows a series of draft initiatives about what concerns European AI policies..]]> https://spacewatch.global/2020/04/spacewatchgl-opinion-nato-and-outer-space-what-now/ Sun, 26 Apr 2020 11:00:40 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=21880 This content is for members only. Visit the site and log in/register to read.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2020/04/eu-project-galactic-develops-supply-chain-for-alexandrite-laser-crystals/ Mon, 06 Apr 2020 05:00:43 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=21251 In the EU project “High Performance AlexandriteCrystals and Coatings for High Power Space Applications” (GALACTIC), Laser Zentrum Hannover (LZH) aims to develop a solely European supply chain for space-qualified high-performance laser crystals made of Alexandrite with the partners Optomaterials S.r.l. (Italy) and Altechna Coatings UAB (Lithuania). These laser crystals are to be used in earth observation satellites in space.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2020/03/eu-agency-for-cybersecurity-calls-for-experts-in-artificial-intelligence-cybersecurity/ Fri, 27 Mar 2020 06:00:10 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=20998 This content is for members only. Visit the site and log in/register to read.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2020/03/eus-farming-by-satellite-prize-2020-launched-on-16-march/ Mon, 23 Mar 2020 06:00:44 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=20811 The Farming by Satellite Prize rewards young innovators exploring the use of satellite technologies to improve agriculture and reduce environmental impact. Applications for the 2020 Prize opened 16 March 2020.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2020/03/coronavirus-impact-nitrogen-dioxide-emissions-drop-over-italy/ Tue, 17 Mar 2020 06:00:00 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=20671 New data from the Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite reveal the decline of air pollution, specifically nitrogen dioxide emissions, over Italy.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2020/03/esa-and-the-european-commission-preorder-four-more-ariane-6-launches/ Mon, 16 Mar 2020 06:00:59 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=20600 The European Space Agency (ESA) announced that it has finalized its preorder for four more launches on Ariane 6, along with an initial payment.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2020/03/uks-proposed-sovereign-gnss-system-on-hold-due-to-debate-on-requirements/ Mon, 09 Mar 2020 06:00:45 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=20161 The proposed sovereign Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) announced by the British government after the decision to leave the European Union (EU), and the subsequent lockout of the British space industry from the EU's Galileo GNSS programme, is reportedly on hold due to intensive debates between British polticians and officials over the UK's GNSS requirements and what a sovereign system should look like.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2020/03/cnes-president-participates-in-inaugural-aerospace-europe-conference-aec2020/ Tue, 03 Mar 2020 06:00:50 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=19989 The Centre national d'études spatiales (CNES) President, Jean-Yves Le Gall, attended the first edition of the Aerospace Europe Conference (AEC2020), held 25-28 February 2020  in Bordeaux. ]]> https://spacewatch.global/2020/03/esa-head-jan-woerner-announces-he-will-step-down-in-july-2021/ Tue, 03 Mar 2020 06:00:02 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=20138 After several months of speculation, the Director General of the European Space Agency (ESA) Jan Woerner announced on 28 February 2020 that he will not seek another term as head of the space agency and will step down from his position in July 2021.]]> https://spacewatch.global/2020/02/finland-needs-its-own-space-research-centre-according-to-government-report/ Fri, 21 Feb 2020 06:00:33 +0000 https://spacewatch.global/?p=19537 Finland must increase its investments in the business and technologies of space, according to a report commissioned by the Finnish Prime Minister's Office.]]>