Wrapping Up 2024: An Unforgettable Year for EUSPA
As we bid farewell to 2024, we celebrate another year of EUSPA achievements. And what a year it’s been!
The occasion of our 20th anniversary gave us time to reflect on all the incredible milestones so far. 2024 was no exception and below is just a taster of some of your main highlights this year!
Galileo Keeps Growing
Today Galileo provides the world’s most accurate and secure positioning and timing information, while the Galileo High Accuracy Service is more precise than any other GNSS, including GPS and BeiDou.
This year, saw the continued growth of Galileo. We had two successful launches, bringing the total number of operated satellites in orbit to 32.
Adding to this, we inaugurated a new Galileo Sensor Station in Bonaire, strengthening our global infrastructure and ensuring seamless service delivery worldwide.
Watching Over Earth: Copernicus Shines Bright
Copernicus had its own launch with the Sentinel-1C satellite, securing its role as the world’s most comprehensive EO data, including for environmental monitoring, disaster management and security. As a result, Europe now owns a 41% share of the global EO market.
New Services for Safer Futures
This year, we expanded our EGNOS portfolio with the launch of the EGNOS Safety of Life Assisted Service for Maritime Users (ESMAS). Maritime users now have an enlarged coverage area and enhanced navigation solutions, even in areas where other services fall short.
With end-users at the centre of our work, the EU Space Programme is always evolving, offering services that contribute to the safety and well-being of European citizens. One such service is the upcoming Galileo Emergency Warning Satellite Service (EWSS), which will disseminate alert messages directly to the population of areas threatened by a looming natural or manmade disaster.
Sparking Innovation and Opportunity
2024 was all about empowering the next generation of space pioneers. We finalised the consortium responsible for implementing the GOVSATCOM Hubs, published our latest EO and GNSS Market Report, and launched the CASSINI Challenges.
We also continued expanding the EU Space Academy Learning Platform portfolio, which provides the business and technical skills you need to build ground-breaking new apps and disruptive business solutions using the power of EU Space. We will be speaking about entrepreneurship a lot more in 2025, so stay tuned!
A New Digital Frontier
Our achievements didn’t stop there - our revamped, multilingual website went live earlier this year! We wanted to create a user-friendly website based on accessibility and diversity, making it easier than ever to connect with us. The results speak for themselves: over 850,000 visits this year alone. Thank you for making it a success!
Security in Space: A look to the future?
As the security gatekeeper of the EU Space Programme, we supported the European Commission in improving European competitiveness, autonomy, and security in space. EUSPA, this year, has been operating the EU Space Surveillance and Tracking (SST) Front Desk, procuring the GOVSATCOM Hub, and supporting the preparation of the IRIS2 programme. And our commitment for the security in space continued with the development of the EU Space Information Sharing and Analysis Centre (EU Space ISAC). This is a network of EU companies from the space sector who are willing to develop their expertise to better prevent, tackle and mitigate security-related challenges, including cybersecurity. The initiative was specifically designed to promote collaboration, raise awareness, and share information and best practices among members to strengthen their resilience and protection against security threats.
Looking Ahead to 2025
As we reflect on an incredible year, we’re already gearing up for 2025. With ambitious goals and a clear vision, we’re ready to keep innovating, collaborating, and ensuring European Union’s space programme continues to benefit citizens and businesses alike.
Here’s to another year of excellence and achievements. Bring on 2025—the future is bright, and we’re reaching for the stars!
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