In an era of increasing reliance on space-based services, space is essential for the strategic autonomy of the EU and its Member States. Economies, citizens, and public policies here on Earth increasingly depend on services and data in and from space. The Space Situational Awareness component of the EU Space Programme is instrumental for providing reliable information on the space environment and for helping to ensure the uninterrupted functioning of space-based services.
Space Situational Awareness (SSA) is an essential component of the EU Space Programme. By providing comprehensive knowledge and understanding about space hazards, SSA plays a key role in ensuring the safety and security of the European economies, societies and citizens who rely on space-based services for communication, navigation and observation applications.
Space Situational Awareness subcomponents
Space rocks such as comets and asteroids approach the Earth and enter the Earth’s atmosphere regularly. The EU supports activities that help to study and track those space rocks to better understand possible risks.
Geomagnetic storms and solar flares can harm satellite electronics in space and impact electricity grids on Earth. Understanding the effects of space weather is key to mitigate the risks associated with them.
The SST subcomponent protects satellites from collisions in space, monitors their re-entries into Earth’s atmosphere, and assesses in-orbit fragmentations
Space Situational Awareness (SSA) provides accurate information on the space environment, ensuring uninterrupted space services for EU citizens. Essential for strategic autonomy, SSA takes a holistic approach to monitor main space hazards: collisions, fragmentation, re-entry, space weather, and near-Earth objects.