More than 1 million pieces of space debris larger than 1 cm are orbiting the Earth. With 50 000 new satellites expected to be launched over the next decade, this number will increase – as too will the risk of collision in space. Such a collision could severely damage a satellite, or even destroy it, either of which would result in significant disruptions to space-based services that we all rely on every day.
The Space Situational Awareness (SSA) component of the EU Space Programme are Europe’s eyes on Earth to keep Galileo, EGNOS, Copernicus, GOVSATCOM and in the future IRIS² satellites and the services they provide on Earth safe.
The Space Traffic Management (STM) initiative promotes an EU contribution to safeguard access to space and operations in space for generations to come in light of increasing space activities.
Space Situational Awareness (SSA) provides comprehensive knowledge and understanding about space hazards, thereby ensuring the safety and security of the European economies, societies and citizens who rely on space-based services for communication, navigation and observation applications.
The EU approach on Space Traffic Management (STM) aims to maintain space as a resource for future generations by keeping space operations safe, space orbits usable, and space accessible for decades to come while strengthening the competitiveness of the EU industry.