European Union Agency for the Space Programme

EUSPA operates the Galileo and European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) services with the aim to provide a European alternative to the already established and advanced American, Russian and Chinese systems e.g. GPS, Glonass and BeiDou.

EUSPA provides safe and secure European satellite navigation services, advances the commercialization of Galileo, EGNOS, and Copernicus data and services, engages in secure satellite communications (GOVSATCOM{{Cite web |date=2020-10-07 |title=GOVSATCOM |url=https://www.euspa.europa.eu/european-space/govsatcom |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=www.euspa.europa.eu |language=en}} and IRIS2{{Cite web |title=IRIS² - European Commission |url=https://defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu/eu-space-policy/iris2_en |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu |language=en}}), and operates the EU SST{{Cite web |title=EU SST – EU Space Surveillance and Tracking |url=https://www.eusst.eu/ |access-date=2023-12-14 |language=en-GB}} Front Desk. EUSPA is responsible for the security accreditation of all the EU Space Programme components. By fostering innovation in the space sector and above and collaborating with the EU Space community, EUSPA contributes to the European Green Deal and digital transition, enhances Union safety and security, and strengthens autonomy and resilience.{{Cite web |date=2011-08-20 |title=About EUSPA |url=https://www.euspa.europa.eu/about/about-euspa |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=www.euspa.europa.eu |language=en}}

Although providing increased position and timing precision, Galileo and EGNOS have faced disruption in the continuity of service between 2023 and 2024, due to the retirement of the Ariane 5 rocket, the only European medium-lift orbital launch vehicle. This caused major delays in the launches of the remainder of the Galileo first-generation satellites.{{Cite web |last=Posaner 1 Cerulus 2 |date=17 April 2023 |title=EU turns to Elon Musk to replace stalled French rocket |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-elon-musk-replace-stalled-france-rocket-galileo-satellite/ |website=POLITICO}}

Established in 2004 as the European GNSS Supervisory Authority (GSA), reorganised in 2010 into the European GNSS Agency (also GSA), and based in Prague, Czech Republic, 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 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, EGNOS, the Earth Observation constellation of Copernicus and a new Governmental Satellite Communication (GOVSATCOM) initiative.{{Cite web|url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/advocate-general-eu-court-has-no-say-on-croatia-slovenia-border-row/|title = Advocate General: EU Court has no say on Croatia-Slovenia border row|date = 12 December 2019}}[http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-18-4023_en.htm Questions and Answers on the new EU Space Programme], European Commission Press Release Database. In December 2020, the European Commission welcomed the political agreement between the European Parliament and the Council on the EU Space Programme.{{Cite web|title=Commission welcomes the political agreement on the European Space Programme|url=https://ec.europa.eu/defence-industry-space/commission-welcomes-political-agreement-european-space-programme-2020-12-16_en|access-date=2021-06-01|website=ec.europa.eu|language=en}} On 28 April 2021, the European Parliament approved the update of the EU Space Programme regulation paving the way to the creation of the European Union Agency for the Space Programme.{{Cite web|date=2021-04-28|title=MEPs approve update of the EU's space programme {{!}} News {{!}} European Parliament|url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20210427IPR02929/meps-approve-update-of-the-eu-s-space-programme|access-date=2021-06-01|website=www.europarl.europa.eu|language=en}} 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.{{Cite web|last=Pons|first=Juan|date=2021-05-04|title=Ursula von der Leyen gets the EU Space Agency off the ground with 14.8 billion euros|url=https://atalayar.com/en/content/ursula-von-der-leyen-gets-eu-space-agency-ground-148-billion-euros}} It entered force on 12 May 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gsa.europa.eu/newsroom/news/gsa-euspa-space-transforming-business-and-economy|title = From GSA to EUSPA: Space transforming business and the economy|date = 27 November 2019}}

{{Main|European Union Space Programme#EU/ESA Space Council}}

The initial aim of the European Union (EU) was to integrate the European Space Agency (ESA) as agency of the EU by 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.esa.int/esapub/br/br268/br268.pdf |title=Agenda : A Document by the ESA Director General and the ESA Directors – October 2006 |website=Esa.int |access-date=2016-02-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100307032637/http://www.esa.int/esapub/br/br268/br268.pdf |archive-date=2010-03-07 |url-status=live }} While the EU and its member states fund together 86% of the budget of ESA, it is not an EU agency. 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.{{cite web|url=https://spacenews.com/esa-and-eu-mend-relations/|date=22 January 2021|title=ESA and EU mend relations|website=Space News|access-date=10 April 2021}} The EU, though, has shown an interest in expanding into new areas, hence the proposal to rename and expand its satellite navigation agency (the European GNSS Agency) into the EU Agency for the Space Programme. The proposal drew strong criticism from ESA and many ESA and EU member states, as it was 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 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 Josef 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 is officialized in the Financial Framework Partnership Agreement (FFPA). Whereas ESA's focus will be on the design and development of technical elements of the EU space programs, EUSPA will handle the operational elements of those programs.

{{anchor|GNSS Service Centre}}

The European GNSS Service Centre (GSC) is an integral part of the European GNSS infrastructure, which represents the interface between the Galileo system and the users of the Galileo Open Service (OS) and the Galileo Commercial Service (CS).

The GNSS Service Center is located in Madrid, in the facilities of the Spanish National Aerospace Institute (INTA),{{Cite web |url=http://www.gsc-europa.eu/about-the-gsc/the-european-gnss-service-centre |title=Informationen zum European GNSS Service Centre |access-date=23 July 2021 |archive-date=24 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224110240/http://www.gsc-europa.eu/about-the-gsc/the-european-gnss-service-centre |url-status=dead }} 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.File:GSC_instalaciones.jpg

The European GNSS Service Center was inaugurated in May 2013 by vice-president of the European Commission Antonio Tajani, 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", the then Commissioner for Transport.{{Cite web |url=http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/newsroom/cf/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=6628&lang=en |title=New Global Navigation Satellite System service centre in Spain to help European businesses access data |access-date=23 July 2021 |archive-date=6 July 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130706024706/http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/newsroom/cf/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=6628&lang=en |url-status=dead }}

On 17 March 2011, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by the Vice President of the EC Antonio Tajani and the Spanish Minister of Transport José Blanco López. 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 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).{{cite web|title=Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/413 of 18 March 2016 determining the location of the ground-based infrastructure... |url=https://www.euspa.europa.eu/sites/default/files/implementing_decision_eu_2016_413_galileo_centres.pdf|date=19 March 2016|publisher=European Union|access-date=22 January 2023}}

File:GSC_servicios_galileo.jpg

The centre provides the following services:

1. The GSC offers basic services for the user community via a web portal and a user help desk.{{Cite web|url=https://www.euspa.europa.eu/news/european-gnss-service-centre-open-help-users|title=The European GNSS Service Centre is open to help users|date=17 May 2013|website=www.euspa.europa.eu}} A special website www.gsc-europa.eu is made available to Galileo users to answer questions.
2. Distribution of timely service information: information about the system, system status and other messages for users.
3. Support for service provision: exchange of R&D and industry knowledge of individual market segments.
4. Provision of current information and performance reports regarding the program status
5. Application and product developers with access to market experts in key segments.
6. Provision of basic services for the user community via a web portal and a user help desk.
7. Exchange of R&D and industry knowledge per market segment.
8. Information about the program status and ICD documents (Interface Control Document).
9. Access to market experts in key segments.

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.

{{reflist}}

• [https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/696/oj Regulation (EU) 2021/696 establishing the Union Space Programme and the European Union Agency for the Space Programme]

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Category:European space programmes

Category:INTA facilities

Category:Organizations based in Prague