The European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is a
space agency
This is a list of government agency, government agencies engaged in activities related to outer space and space exploration.
As of 2022, 77 different government space agencies are in existence, 16 of which have launch capabilities. Six govern ...
, managing the
European Union Space Programme
The European Union Space Programme is an EU funding programme established in 2021 along with its managing agency, the European Union Agency for the Space Programme, in order to implement the
pre-existing European Space Policy established on 22 M ...
as one of the
agencies of the
European Union
The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of member states that are located primarily in Europe. The union has a total area of and an estimated total population of about 447million. The EU has often been des ...
(EU). It was initially created as the ''European Global Navigation Satellite Systems Supervisory Authority'' (GSA) in 2004, reorganised into the ''European Global Navigation Satellite Systems Agency'' (also GSA) in 2010, and established in its current form on . EUSPA is a separate entity from the
European Space Agency
, owners =
, headquarters = Paris, Île-de-France, France
, coordinates =
, spaceport = Guiana Space Centre
, seal = File:ESA emblem seal.png
, seal_size = 130px
, image = Views in the Main Control Room (1205 ...
(ESA), although the two entities work together closely.
Overview
EUSPA aims to ensure that essential public interests are properly defended and represented in connection with
satellite navigation
A satellite navigation or satnav system is a system that uses satellites to provide autonomous geo-spatial positioning. It allows satellite navigation devices to determine their location (longitude, latitude, and altitude/elevation) to high pr ...
programmes of the Union:
Galileo
Galileo di Vincenzo Bonaiuti de' Galilei (15 February 1564 – 8 January 1642) was an Italian astronomer, physicist and engineer, sometimes described as a polymath. Commonly referred to as Galileo, his name was pronounced (, ). He was ...
and
European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service
The European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) is a satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS) developed by the European Space Agency and EUROCONTROL on behalf of the European Commission. Currently, it supplements the GPS by repor ...
(EGNOS). The aim of the former is to provide a modern European alternative to the established American system,
GPS
The Global Positioning System (GPS), originally Navstar GPS, is a Radionavigation-satellite service, satellite-based radionavigation system owned by the United States government and operated by the United States Space Force. It is one of t ...
.
EUSPA provides safe and secure European satellite navigation services while promoting the commercialization of
Galileo
Galileo di Vincenzo Bonaiuti de' Galilei (15 February 1564 – 8 January 1642) was an Italian astronomer, physicist and engineer, sometimes described as a polymath. Commonly referred to as Galileo, his name was pronounced (, ). He was ...
,
EGNOS
The European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) is a satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS) developed by the European Space Agency and EUROCONTROL on behalf of the European Commission. Currently, it supplements the GPS by rep ...
, and (
Copernicus
Nicolaus Copernicus (; pl, Mikołaj Kopernik; gml, Niklas Koppernigk, german: Nikolaus Kopernikus; 19 February 1473 – 24 May 1543) was a Renaissance polymath, active as a mathematician, astronomer, and Catholic canon, who formulated ...
) data and services. It also coordinates the EU's forthcoming governmental satellite communications programme (GOVSATCOM). EUSPA is responsible for the security accreditation of all the EU Space Programme components. By fostering the development of an innovative and competitive space sector and engaging with the entire EU Space community, EUSPA contributes to the
European Green Deal
The European Green Deal, approved 2020, is a set of policy initiatives by the European Commission with the overarching aim of making the European Union (EU) climate neutral in 2050. An impact assessed plan will also be presented to increase the ...
and digital transition, the safety and security of the Union and its citizens, while reinforcing its autonomy and resilience.
History and funding
![European Union Agency for the Space Programme-EUSPA 02](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ae/European_Union_Agency_for_the_Space_Programme-EUSPA_02.jpg)
Established in 2004 as the European GNSS Supervisory Authority (GSA), reorganised in 2010 into the European GNSS Agency (also GSA), and based in
Prague
Prague ( ; cs, Praha ; german: Prag, ; la, Praga) is the capital and largest city in the Czech Republic, and the historical capital of Bohemia. On the Vltava river, Prague is home to about 1.3 million people. The city has a temperate ...
,
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic, or simply Czechia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Historically known as Bohemia, it is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the southeast. The ...
, since 1 September 2012, the agency was initially responsible for managing and monitoring the use of the
Galileo programme funds and dealing with any matters relating to satellite radio-navigation.
In June 2018, the
European Commission
The European Commission (EC) is the executive of the European Union (EU). It operates as a cabinet government, with 27 members of the Commission (informally known as "Commissioners") headed by a President. It includes an administrative body o ...
proposed to transform the European GNSS Agency into the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA), aggregating and consolidating the agency's role for
Galileo
Galileo di Vincenzo Bonaiuti de' Galilei (15 February 1564 – 8 January 1642) was an Italian astronomer, physicist and engineer, sometimes described as a polymath. Commonly referred to as Galileo, his name was pronounced (, ). He was ...
,
EGNOS
The European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) is a satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS) developed by the European Space Agency and EUROCONTROL on behalf of the European Commission. Currently, it supplements the GPS by rep ...
, the Earth Observation constellation of
Copernicus
Nicolaus Copernicus (; pl, Mikołaj Kopernik; gml, Niklas Koppernigk, german: Nikolaus Kopernikus; 19 February 1473 – 24 May 1543) was a Renaissance polymath, active as a mathematician, astronomer, and Catholic canon, who formulated ...
and a new
Governmental Satellite Communication
A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a state.
In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive, and judiciary. Government is a ...
(GOVSATCOM) initiative. In December 2020, the
European Commission
The European Commission (EC) is the executive of the European Union (EU). It operates as a cabinet government, with 27 members of the Commission (informally known as "Commissioners") headed by a President. It includes an administrative body o ...
welcomed the political agreement between the
European Parliament
The European Parliament (EP) is one of the legislative bodies of the European Union and one of its seven institutions. Together with the Council of the European Union (known as the Council and informally as the Council of Ministers), it adopts ...
and the
Council
A council is a group of people who come together to consult, deliberate, or make decisions. A council may function as a legislature, especially at a town, city or county/shire level, but most legislative bodies at the state/provincial or natio ...
on the EU Space Programme. On 28 April 2021, the
European Parliament
The European Parliament (EP) is one of the legislative bodies of the European Union and one of its seven institutions. Together with the Council of the European Union (known as the Council and informally as the Council of Ministers), it adopts ...
approved the update of the EU Space Programme regulation paving the way to the creation of the European Union Agency for the Space Programme. The regulation creates the European Union Space Agency for Space Programme, defines its competences and functioning, as well as a budget of 14 872 million euros within the multiannual financial framework 2021–2027, the highest amount ever committed by Brussels for space programmes. It entered force on 12 May 2021.
EU's relationship with ESA
The initial aim of the
European Union
The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of member states that are located primarily in Europe. The union has a total area of and an estimated total population of about 447million. The EU has often been des ...
(EU) was to make the
European Space Agency
, owners =
, headquarters = Paris, Île-de-France, France
, coordinates =
, spaceport = Guiana Space Centre
, seal = File:ESA emblem seal.png
, seal_size = 130px
, image = Views in the Main Control Room (1205 ...
(ESA) an
agency of the EU by 2014. While the EU and its member states fund together 86% of the budget of ESA, it is not an
EU agency
The agencies of the European Union (formally: ''Agencies, decentralised independent bodies, corporate bodies and joint undertakings of the European Union and the Euratom'') are bodies of the European Union and the Euratom established as juridica ...
. Furthermore, ESA has several non-EU members notably the United Kingdom which had
left the EU while remaining a full member of ESA. ESA is partnered with the EU on its two current flagship space programs, the
Copernicus series of Earth observation satellites and the
Galileo satellite navigation system, with ESA providing technical oversight and, in the case of Copernicus, some of the funding.
The EU, though, has shown an interest in expanding into new areas, whence the proposal to rename and expand its satellite navigation agency (the
European GNSS Agency
The European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is a space agency, managing the European Union Space Programme as one of the agencies of the European Union (EU). It was initially created as the ''European Global Navigation Satellit ...
) into the EU Agency for the Space Programme. The proposal drew strong criticism from ESA, as it's perceived as encroaching on ESA's turf.
In January 2021, after years of acrimonious relations, EU and ESA officials mended their relationship, with the EU Internal Market commissioner
Thierry Breton
Thierry Breton (; born 15 January 1955) is a French business executive, politician, writer and the current Commissioner for Internal Market of the European Union.
Breton was vice-chairman and CEO of Groupe Bull (1996–1997), chairman and CEO o ...
saying "The European space policy will continue to rely on ESA and its unique technical, engineering and science expertise,” and that “ESA will continue to be the European agency for space matters.
If we are to be successful in our European strategy for space, and we will be, I will need ESA by my side." ESA director Aschbacher reciprocated, saying "I would really like to make ESA the main agency, the go-to agency of the European Commission for all its flagship programs." ESA and EUSPA are now seen to have distinct roles and competencies, which will be officialized in the Financial Framework Partnership Agreement (FFPA).
Whereas ESA's focus will be on the technical elements of the EU space programs, EUSPA will handle the operational elements of those programs.
The European GNSS Service Centre (GSC), Madrid
The ''European GNSS Service Centre (GSC)'' is an integral part of the European GNSS infrastructure, which represents the interface between the
Galileo system
Galileo is a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) that went live in 2016, created by the European Union through the European Space Agency (ESA), operated by the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA), headquartered in Pra ...
and the users of the
Galileo Open Service
Galileo di Vincenzo Bonaiuti de' Galilei (15 February 1564 – 8 January 1642) was an Italian astronomer, physicist and engineer, sometimes described as a polymath. Commonly referred to as Galileo, his name was pronounced (, ). He was ...
(OS) and the
Galileo Commercial Service
Galileo di Vincenzo Bonaiuti de' Galilei (15 February 1564 – 8 January 1642) was an Italian astronomer, physicist and engineer, sometimes described as a polymath. Commonly referred to as Galileo, his name was pronounced (, ). He was ...
(CS).
The GNSS Service Center is located in Madrid, in the facilities of the
Spanish National Aerospace Institute (INTA),
in Torrejón de Ardoz.
The GSC acts as an interface between the Galileo system and the open service users as well as between the commercial service providers and / or users. It also provides users with CS service performance assessment and notifications. The GSC sets up a competence center for OS and CS service aspects, which are accessible to users via the user help desk and the web portal. The information is provided by a communication platform, an electronic library with Galileo and GNSS reference documentation as well as by the ad hoc provision of specific Galileo information. The GSC supports the Open Service and Commercial Service and their applications.
History
The European GNSS Service Center was inaugurated in May 2013 by vice-president of the European Commission
Antonio Tajani
Antonio Tajani (; born 4 August 1953) is an Italian politician, journalist and former Italian Air Force officer, who has served as Deputy Prime Minister of Italy and Minister of Foreign Affairs since 22 October 2022. He served as President of the ...
,
Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship and the
Spanish Minister of Development Ana Pastor. The center itself was named as a tribute to the former Vice President of the EC "
Loyola de Palacio
Ignacia de Loyola de Palacio y del Valle Lersundi (16 September 1950 – 13 December 2006) was a Spanish politician. She was among the first women to rise to political prominence in Spain during the early years of reconstituted democracy. She ...
", the then Commissioner for Transport.
On 17 March 2011, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by the
Vice President of the EC Antonio Tajani
Antonio Tajani (; born 4 August 1953) is an Italian politician, journalist and former Italian Air Force officer, who has served as Deputy Prime Minister of Italy and Minister of Foreign Affairs since 22 October 2022. He served as President of the ...
and the Spanish Minister of Transport
José Blanco López
José Blanco López (born 6 February 1962), also known as Pepe Blanco, is a Spanish socialist politician. He was the deputy general of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) and was the Minister of Public Works and Transport from 2009 to 2 ...
. This letter of intent outlined the conditions and requirements for hosting the GNSS Service Center (GSC) in Spain and for conducting a Spanish study to prepare the center. The GSC deployment agreement was published in the
Official Journal of the European Union
An official is someone who holds an office (function or mandate, regardless whether it carries an actual working space with it) in an organization or government and participates in the exercise of authority, (either their own or that of their s ...
on 23 February 2012, which stated that the global network of ground stations as part of the Galileo program included six centers and one station. The GSC is one of these six ground stations (MCC, GSMC, GSC, GRC).
Area of responsibility
![GSC_servicios_galileo](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fb/GSC_servicios_galileo.jpg)
The goals of the center are:
# Providing companies and users with general information: The GSC offers basic services for the user community via a web portal and a user help desk.
A special website www.gsc-europa.eu is made available to Galileo users to answer questions.
# Distribution of timely service information: information about the system, system status and other messages for users.
# Support for service provision: exchange of R&D and industry knowledge of individual market segments.
# Provision of current information and performance reports regarding the program status
# Application and product developers with access to market experts in key segments.
# Provision of basic services for the user community via a web portal and a user help desk.
# Exchange of R&D and industry knowledge per market segment.
# Information about the program status and ICD documents (Interface Control Document).
# Access to market experts in key segments.
GNSS Service Center (OS and CS) at FOC
The GSC acts as an interface between the Galileo system and the open service users as well as between the commercial service providers and / or users. It also provides users with CS service performance assessment and notifications. The GSC sets up a competence center for OS and CS service aspects, which are accessible to users via the user help desk and the web portal. The information is provided by a communication platform, an electronic library with Galileo and GNSS reference documentation as well as by the ad hoc provision of specific Galileo information. The GSC supports the Open Service and Commercial Service and their applications.
See also
*
Agencies of the European Union
The agencies of the European Union (formally: ''Agencies, decentralised independent bodies, corporate bodies and joint undertakings of the European Union and the Euratom'') are bodies of the European Union and the Euratom established as juridica ...
*
European Space Agency
, owners =
, headquarters = Paris, Île-de-France, France
, coordinates =
, spaceport = Guiana Space Centre
, seal = File:ESA emblem seal.png
, seal_size = 130px
, image = Views in the Main Control Room (1205 ...
*
European Union Satellite Centre
The European Union Satellite Centre (EU SatCen; previously EUSC) is the agency of the European Union (EU) that supports the EU's decision-making in the field of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), including crisis management mission ...
*
European Union Space Programme
The European Union Space Programme is an EU funding programme established in 2021 along with its managing agency, the European Union Agency for the Space Programme, in order to implement the
pre-existing European Space Policy established on 22 M ...
References
External links
Regulation (EU) 2021/696 establishing the Union Space Programme and the European Union Agency for the Space Programme
{{authority control
European space programmes
INTA facilities
Organizations based in Prague