Space Situational Awareness in Europe: The Fractures and the Federative Aspects of European Space Efforts

Abstract

Space is a strategic sector, integral to virtually every facet of life in Europe, thus protection of this vital European space infrastructure is critical. No European organization, however, is able to provide a sufficiently independent assessment of the space environment. Efforts, therefore, are being pursued to develop an integrated Space Situational Awareness (SSA) capability in Europe. This article reviews the undertaking of SSA in Europe and the roles played by the European Union (EU) and the European Space Agency (ESA). It examines some of the obstacles ESA has faced in implementing its SSA efforts, challenges which range from budgetary limitations to the refusal of member states to share their military facilities, with the result being that ESA focuses on space weather and near-Earth objects rather than the more controversial and national security aspects of SSA, space surveillance and tracking (SST). The article also assesses the European Commission’s proposal for establishing a SST support program and coordinating European states’ SST assets while the national European governments—namely, their respective military authorities—retain control of SST sensor and processing functions.

Notes

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2. SPASEC included participation from EU member states; European Commission Directorate General and Services (European Anti-Fraud Office, Energy and Transport, Enterprise, Environment, Information Society, Joint Research Centre, Justice, Freedom and Security, Research, Humanitarian Aid Office, External Relations); European Space Agency (ESA); national space agencies: Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI), British National Space Centre (BNSC), Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnologico Industrial (CDTI), Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES), Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR); Eumetsat; EU Satellite Centre; Eurocontrol; OCCAR (Organization for Joint Armament Co-operation); Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) advisory council; European Capability Action Plan (ECAP) Space Assets Group; Common European Priority Area (CEPA 9: Satellite Surveillance & Military Space Technology); Eurospace; NAVOBS (network of SME’s); European Satellite Operators Association (ESOA); Secretariat General of the Council (Observers); European Defense Agency (Observers).

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