he EU Space Week, the go-to event for the EU Space community, will take place from 7 to 9 November 2023 in Sevilla, Spain. From policymakers and entrepreneurs to investors and users, it will be a central hub for anyone interested in current – and future – trends of the EU’s Space Programme. The three-day event is packed with plenaries, panel discussions, award ceremonies and high-level keynote addresses.
The event is jointly organised by the European Commission and the EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) in collaboration with the Spanish Presidency of the EU Council.
The EU Space Programme
The European Union’s Space Programme, adopted in 2021, sets an ambitious agenda for a more dynamic, innovative and resilient EU Space ecosystem. It offers innovative space technology, data and services indispensable in the lives of Europeans, and addresses an increasing range of EU ambitions and priorities.
The EU Space Programme consists of several flagship components:
- Copernicus is the Earth observation component of the European Union’s Space programme, looking at our planet and its environment to benefit all European citizens. Copernicus services address six thematic areas: land, marine, atmosphere, climate change, emergency, and security, supporting a wide range of applications.
- EGNOS: the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) is Europe’s regional satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS) that is used to improve the performance of GPS and Galileo in the future.
- Galileo: Europe’s Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), providing improved positioning and timing information with significant positive implications for many European services and users.
- GOVSATCOM: the EU Governmental Satellite Communications (GOVSATCOM) programme aims at providing secure and cost-efficient communications capabilities to security and safety critical missions and operations managed by the EU and its Member States, including national security actors and EU Agencies and institutions.
- SSA: Space Situational Awareness (SSA) means a holistic approach towards the main space hazards, including collision between satellites and space debris, space weather phenomena, and near-Earth objects.
- IRIS2: Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite, the new sovereign multi-orbit satellite constellation focused on government services, will provide secure satellite communication for Europe.