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(31March2014) In anticipation of the launch for Sentinel-1A, the European Space Agency is pleased to announce the possibility for users to pre-register for online access to Sentinel data.

The free, full and open data policy adopted for the Copernicus programme foresees access available to all users for the Sentinel data products, via a simple pre-registration.

Following registration, the user will have the possibility to immediately download a test data set that simulates the data products that will be generated by Sentinel-1. Following launch, registered users will be granted early access to Sentinel-1 data samples, even before the full operational qualification of the products is completed.

Who needs to register:

Registration is open to all users via simple on-line self-registration accessible via the Sentinel Data Hub

Existing Copernicus/GMES users (e.g. members of the Copernicus/GMES Core Services and Downstream Services projects) already registered in the Copernicus Space Component Data Access need not register on this service, they are served via the existing access point.

Member States requiring data for national initiatives in the frame of the Sentinels Collaborative Ground Segment need not register on this service, they are served via the existing access point.

Technical information of all Sentinel missions together with detailed definitions of the users products can be found on Sentinel Online

Source
and EOportal

Version 2.0 of the “Data Warehouse Requirements” document is now available. This document presents the Copernicus requirements for space-based Earth Observation data for the period covered by the Copernicus Regulation.

It contains the requirements collected from Copernicus services and other users requesting Earth Observation data, whether financed by the Union or related to policies of the Union, like Union-financed research projects and the activities of Union agencies (EEA, EMSA, SatCen (previously EUSC), etc.).

The document is available in the library of this website.
(Source European Commission) and Copernicus.eu]=1196&tx_ttnews[backPid]=1&cHash=fae30f2c6a73d5c9199d221bb7bd0f7a

(Interview 31 March 2014 © ESA) Philippe Brunet is the Director of Aerospace, Maritime, Security and Defence Industries within the European Commission’s Directorate General Enterprise and Industry. In an interview, he discusses the wide range of benefits the Copernicus programme provides.

ESA: The EU is leading the Copernicus programme. What makes Copernicus so special compared to other Earth observation programmes worldwide?

Copernicus consists of a complex set of systems which collect data from multiple sources. These are mainly Earth observation satellites and in situ sensors. Copernicus processes these data and provides users with reliable and up-to-date information through a set of services related to environment and security.

This programme is unique because of the variety of the services it provides and of the technical characteristics of its observation satellites, the Sentinels. No other organisation or nation in the world has developed, or is developing, such an ambitious Earth observation programme.

The services address six thematic areas: land, marine, atmosphere, climate change, emergency management and security. Moreover, the family of the Sentinels will be placed in diverse orbits (e.g. low Earth and geo-stationary orbits) and will contain a variety of instruments (e.g. radar, Optical and altimeters). This diversity will provide the most comprehensive, frequent and reliable source of space-based Earth observation data in the world.

ESA: How does Copernicus fit into the overall EU policy framework?

Copernicus is a programme to be delivered under the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. It will benefit a wide range of Union policies and contribute to reaching the objectives of Europe 2020. In particular, this programme will support the development of an effective European space policy which provides the tools to address some of the key challenges the European Union has to face, notably in the areas of the environment and civil security. Copernicus also constitutes a cornerstone of EU industrial policy, and will generate significant economic and social benefits. The programme will boost research, innovation and the development of commercial applications (the so-called ‘downstream services’) in many different sectors, notably thanks to a full and open access to Copernicus observation data and information products.

ESA: Who will benefit from the programme and how?

The main users of Copernicus services are European policymakers and national, regional and local public authorities. They need relevant information to develop environmental legislation and policies or to take critical decisions in the event of an emergency, such as a natural disaster or a humanitarian crisis.

Moreover, the Copernicus services will support a wide range of applications which will bring socio-economic benefits, notably to European citizens. They include environment protection, management of urban areas, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, health, transport, climate change, sustainable development, civil protection and tourism.

Furthermore, Copernicus is a perfect example of a European initiative that can drive technological development and innovation, enhance industrial competitiveness, foster growth and create jobs. In particular, Copernicus will support an emerging European observation service industry mainly made up of SMEs and start-ups, which are the backbone of the European economy. In these times of economic difficulties, this European investment can only be welcomed!

ESA: The free and open Sentinel data policy raises high expectations in the user community. Do you expect this policy to change over time, or can users rely on a free supply of Sentinel data for their business plans?

The principle of full, free and open access to data will enable innovative business initiatives of all sizes to flourish and therefore will support job creation and economic growth in Europe. This principle is enshrined in the Copernicus Regulation which covers the period 2014-2020. As such, it has received the support of the European Parliament and of the European Union Member States. They are conscious, as the Commission is, of the necessity to provide stable conditions in order for businesses to foster and to invest.

We cannot prejudge on the future developments but I expect that no modifications to this principle will be brought for European companies.

ESA: Now that the first satellite specifically developed for Copernicus is set for launch, what are you most looking forward to in the future of the programme?

The completion of the space component is a priority. This is necessary to get the full benefits of the Copernicus programme. I am therefore looking forward to the next launches which will put in orbit satellites with diverse orbits and instruments.

Over the next three years, seven Copernicus-dedicated satellites, the Sentinels, are planned to be launched. The programme must continue to meet evolving users’ needs and expectations. The Copernicus space component will therefore have to be updated and a second generation of Sentinels designed. The role of ESA will be critical here.

Philippe, a native of France, took up his position as Director of Aerospace, Maritime, Security and Defence Industries in January 2013. His responsibilities include the implementation of Copernicus, with services based on Sentinel data offered on a full, open and free-of-charge basis, and the development of civil and military synergies in security and defence matters to render the defence industry competitive and underpin a credible and effective Common Security and Defence Policy.

Source
Editor’s note:This is one in a series of interviews with a few of the key people that are involved in the Copernicus programme and Sentinel-1 mission. Please check back as the list will be added to over the coming weeks.

CASIS, the nonprofit organization managing research in the U.S. National Laboratory aboard the International Space Station (ISS), has issued a request for proposals in the field of remote sensing until 21 February 2014.


The request specifies: “CASIS is confident that this Request for Proposals will attract both experienced and new-to-space investigators for the development and deployment for testing (for 90 days or less) of sensors or instrumentation for remote sensing or for the utilization of existing hardware for remote sensing on the ISS U.S. National Laboratory. Proposals should seek to use the National Lab for development of sensors and/or use of existing hardware for studies of Earth, Earth’s atmosphere, and astronomy and planetary science with the goal of benefiting life on Earth. CASIS will support this process through grant funding, facilitation of service-provider interactions and flight coordination to and from the International Space Station U.S. National Laboratory.”

The U.S. National Laboratory on the ISS is part of the U.S. segment of the Space Station and was created to increase the utilization of this unique research environment by other U.S. Federal entities and the private sector. As the ISS is orbiting Earth in a relatively low altitude of 140 miles or 400 km, it is in an ideal position to provide remote sensing services for the benefit of humankind. It covers 90% of the Earth’s population and can provide improved spatial resolution and variable lighting conditions compared to the sun-synchronous orbits of typical Earth remote-sensing satellites.

Read more at CASIS

Source

The S2G2M2 project is launching a call for Expression of Interest for “Copernicus and GNSS Business and innovation” experts and for Innovative Mobile Service Companies.

Interest parties can register online through the following link

S2G2M2 stands for Sustainable Services for GMES (now named Copernicus) and GNSS in Mobile and Mobility. This EU-funded project aims at supporting innovative mobile service providers to benefit from the European satellite navigation systems (Galileo and EGNOS) and data derived from the European Earth observation programme Copernicus.

Read more about the S2G2M2 project

Source EBN and Copernicus.info

(December 2013) By Debra Werner, SpaceNews. SAN FRANCISCO — In an era of flat budgets, the NASA Earth Science Division’s growing role in offering sustained observations of various phenomena including ozone profiles and incoming solar energy is likely to diminish available funding for core missions, said Mike Freilich, head of NASA’s Earth Science Division.


“We were given a $40 million plus-up to begin this job in 2014 and no additional funds beyond that,” Freilich said Dec. 11 at the American Geophysical Union conference here. “So this responsibility will be coming out of the core.” NASA’s 2013 Earth Science budget totaled $1.65 billion.

In its 2014 budget blueprint sent to Congress in April, the White House assigned NASA the task of providing sustained observations of solar irradiance, ozone profiles and Earth’s radiation budget, which previously were the responsibility of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In addition, the White House directed NASA to work with the U.S. Geological Survey to develop plans for the next two decades of sustained land imaging, carrying on work performed by the Landsat Earth-imaging constellation.

The handoff of those responsibilities was a vote of confidence in NASA and its capabilities, Freilich said, but it will be difficult to carry out “in a budget that is not growing.”

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Source

On 05 December 2013 a new proposal call for ‘TanDEM-X Intermediate DEM’ products was launched by DLR.

The call is related to the scientific utilisation of the Digital Elevation Model (DEM) products of the TanDEM-X mission of the first global coverage (IDEM). Your proposal must be submitted to a web form provided on the TanDEM-X Science Service System home page, available at: https://tandemx-science.dlr.de

The data for this proposal call will be delivered free of charge for all approved proposals.
The due date for this proposal call is 12 March 2014.
If you have any questions concerning this call for proposals, please contact the TanDEM-X Science Coordination team at: tandemx-science@dlr.de.
For more information click here
Source “EOportal” and DLR

Coordinating an alliance of the world’s leading industry trade associations, the Society of Satellite Professionals International announced today the launch of a global campaign to change the global conversation about satellite.

Called the Industry Message Summit, the effort aims to focus attention on the industry’s striking contributions to human welfare, safety and prosperity around the world. The alliance of industry associations, including the European Satellite Operators’ Association (Brussels), Global VSAT Forum (London) and Satellite Industry Association (Washington, DC), will drive the rebuilding of the “satellite brand” in support of the industry’s growth.

“This alliance has set a big goal: to refresh the image of one of the world’s most essential technologies, which has such profound impact at the human level,” said SSPI executive director Robert Bell, adding that the project will have both a short-term and long-term impact. “In the short term, we plan to make a contribution in the run-up to the WRC 2015 negotiations regarding spectrum allocations. Longer term, our priority is to change how we, as a global industry, view ourselves and collectively determine how to communicate our vitality and economic and social significance to those who benefit from it.”

During the past half-century, the satellite industry – once recognised by the words “Live via satellite” on every TV screen – has become almost invisible, except to its global base of current customers. While the world’s TV programming, business information, scientific data, weather information, safety, security and humanitarian traffic crosses the world’s satellite network, the contribution of that network to business, government and human welfare is unrecognised. Only in natural disaster, such as the Philippine typhoon, or in support of war does the word “satellite” appear relevant to the general media.

For more information click here

Source: SSPI and EO portal

European Union Member States are showing mixed progress towards three climate and energy targets for 2020, even though the EU as a whole could reduce greenhouse gases emissions by 21% in 2020 with the set of national measures already adopted. These findings come from new European Environment Agency (EEA) assessments.

EEA’s report ‘Trends and projections in Europe 2013’ considers EU progress in meeting greenhouse gas emission reduction, renewable energy and energy efficiency targets. The European Union reduced emissions between 1990 and 2012 by approximately 18 % – so it is already close to the target of 20 % emissions reduction by 2020.

The EU was also on track towards its common target for renewable energy consumption – renewables contributed 13 % of final energy consumption in 2011, which should increase to 20% by 2020. The collective primary energy consumption of the EU is expected to decrease towards the political objective by 2020, although more policies are needed at Member State level.

While the assessment of Member State progress shows overall relatively good progress towards climate and energy targets, no single Member State is on track towards meeting all three targets. Equally, no Member State is underperforming in all three areas.

Hans Bruyninckx, EEA Executive Director, said: “EEA’s latest analysis confirms that renewable energy and energy efficiency are having a significant effect on bringing down emissions. We must keep building on this success – to achieve the emissions cuts demanded by science, Member States must ensure that they are not making choices today that become obstacles to a low carbon future.”

Source

Horizon 2020 is coming, bringing new topics and rules for space research. COSMOS, the European Network of National Contact Points for Space, offers you the chance to receive authoritative information and excellent networking opportunities to prepare for Space in Horizon 2020.

In cooperation with different partners a series of events will be organised in several attractive locations all over Europe. The Tour started on 20 September 2013 in Vilnius, Lithuania and will continue until March 2014. Choose your favourite location and be part of it!

The main topics addressed during events will be:

  • GNSS / Galileo
  • Earth Observation / Copernicus
  • Protection of European assets from and in space
  • Space Technology
  • Space science
  • International cooperation
  • Participation of SMEs
  • Outreach

Participants in events will get:

  • First-hand information on future EU Space funding under Horizon 2020
  • Pre-organised as well as spontaneous matchmaking opportunities via face-to-face meetings (for detailed info see “How it works”)
  • Short presentations on project ideas & competencies of potential partners
  • European-wide participation

For more information, please visit the event website

Language: English
Costs: Free of charge