2 minute read
Dr. Josef Aschbacher
New Developments in the Space Sector
BY DR. JOSEF ASCHBACHER
Director General European Space Agency
There is a lot of innovation happening in the Space sector. We are pushing the technology frontier — from launchers, Earth Observation, and telecommunications to quantum communication and navigation. Artificial intelligence (AI) on board satellites is going to be the future. That’s why this term is called cognitive cloud computing — with AI and machine learning (ML) on the one hand and systems of interconnected satellites on the other — thereby building a mesh of network capabilities and then transmitting the data down to individual users. All of this basically amounts to personalization of acquisition, processing, and dissemination.
On the ground we’re using geospatial data to build a Digital Twin Earth, a simulation of our planet on a big computer. Again, we can apply AI on different models, and combine Earth Observation with socioeconomic data and information to gain valuable insights. In this way we can study climate change, assess its impact on people, and analyze what if scenarios.
New opportunities Today, quantum gravimetry is emerging as a concrete technology process, and it is quite exciting. It works on the ground and on airplanes and uses cold atom interferometers to provide higher gravimetry measurement precision, based on a new measurement technology, with accuracies by a facto 10-100 better than from today’s satellites. Just imagine measuring changes to gravity from Space with such accuracy; it can open up so many new applications in different domains.
On the launchers side, more and more small launchers are being established. They are very flexible in terms of launch schedules, masses, and orbits. In Europe, we have more than a handful of projects in the pipeline and are expecting maiden flights of small launchers in a year’s time. These launch systems are complementary to our classical launchers, such as Vega, which will have its maiden flight in May this year. We will also have the Ariane 6 flight. Together, these developments are going to create many new opportunities.
The green push We have recently defined three new accelerators and two inspirators. One of the accelerators is called Space for Green Future, which is aimed at implementing the Green Deal. There are many equations that need to be examined, starting with the transition towards low carbon emissions of energy, cars, and traffic, to the use of modern methods in agriculture and forestry. Several domains will be impacted by a carbon neutral or carbon friendly economy that is currently being built.
A survey was conducted in Europe recently and 90 percent of the respondents, especially young people, were in favor of taking serious measures in terms of policy and technology implementation to protect our planet. To do that you require a two-pronged approach: make changes on the ground and monitor what’s happening where, so that the policymakers have the right decision-making tools at their disposal. Space will play a critical role in this process.
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