Spain aims at military-civilian satellites

Madrid (UPI) Jun 22, 2011 

Chacon stressed that the Paz satellite, which will be in orbit in 2013, will be able to detect the position of any ship in the world that could possibly become the victim of hijacking through an automatic AIS identification system.

Spain is on track to become the first European country to have a dual Earth observation system, radar and optical, for both civilian and military use.

Defense Minister Carme Chacon said radar technology installed on the satellite, which is totally of Spanish design and manufacture, will enable up to 100 images of the Earth's surface to be taken per day at a resolution of up to 1 yard.

In three years' time, this capacity will be joined by that of the Ingenio satellite and its optical technology.

"With the Paz and Ingenio satellites, our military will have their own observation systems, thus multiplying our autonomy in terms of obtaining information and better protecting the interests of Spain," she said.

Chacon made her remarks at a formal presentation of the Paz satellite this month.

The presentation ceremony took place at a facility of EADS CASA Espacio, and was attended by the Chief of Defense Staff Jose Julio Rodriguez; State Secretary for Defense Constantino Mendez; and the Secretary-General for Industry Teresa Santero.

Officials from Hisdesat and Astrium Espana were also in attendance.

The Paz satellite was ordered from Hisdesat by the Ministry of Defense at the end of 2007 under the National Earth Observation Plan to meet the operational requirements of the Spanish armed forces.

Raytheon's First-of-Its-Kind Space-Based Hyperspectral Sensor Marks Second Year on Orbit

Paris, France (SPX) Jun 21, 2011

"TacSat-3 has far exceeded expectations in both its superior imaging performance and in its operational service life," said Col. John Kress, Air Force Space Command, chief, Missile Warning, Missile Defense and Surveillance Operations. "The unique TacSat-3 hyperspectral imaging capability continues to provide valuable information to combatant commanders."

A groundbreaking space sensor built by Raytheon has completed its second year on orbit, exceeding its design life by 100 percent. The Advanced Responsive, Tactically Effective Military Imaging Sensor was launched aboard the Air Force Research Laboratory's TacSat-3 in May 2009.

Originally slated for a one-year experimental mission, ARTEMIS performed so well that the U.S. Air Force Space Command took control of TacSat-3 for operational use in June 2010.

ARTEMIS is a hyperspectral sensing system, operating in the visible to shortwave infrared wavelengths. Hyperspectral sensors capture light across a wide swath of the electromagnetic spectrum, providing unprecedented spectral detail. That spectral information produces a distinct "signature," which can be compared against the spectral signatures of known objects to rapidly identify potential areas of interest.

Since TacSat-3 operational acceptance, U.S. Air Force Space Command has improved the "sensor tasking to product dissemination" process for delivering actionable information to the warfighter. ARTEMIS produces approximately 100 hyperspectral imagery products per month, delivering key intelligence within hours after sensor tasking, 10 times faster than during the initial experimental phase.

Le Bourget contracts completeGalileo network

Paris, France (ESA) Jun 23, 2011

The first two of four Galileo In-Orbit Validation satellites are due for launch in August 2011. Credits: ESA - P. Carril.

As Europe prepares for October's launch of the first Galileo satellites, a worldwide ground network is being put in place. Contracts signed at the Paris Air and Space Show cover satellite control and the systems needed to generate Galileo services.

Europe's satellite navigation system will begin to take shape in space later this year, when the first two Galileo In-Orbit Validation satellites are launched by the first Soyuz flown from French Guiana.

But Galileo is more than just satellites in space: a complex terrestrial infrastructure will monitor the constellation and maintain Galileo navigation services.

Out of six Work Packages for Europe's satnav system to reach full operations, four are already in place. The remaining two were signed this afternoon during the Paris Air and Space Show at Le Bourget.

The signing ceremony was introduced by Laurent Wauquiez, French Minister for Economic Affairs, and Jean-Jacques Dordain, ESA Director General.

e2v to supply imaging sensors to equip Earth observation satellites

Le Bourget, France (SPX) Jun 23, 2011

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e2v has signed two contracts worth a total of 4M euros withThales Alenia Space, for the supply of imaging sensors to equip the High-Resolution (HR) optical imaging instruments for their
 Earth observationsatellites.

The first contract is for Gokturk, an Earth observation satellite system for the Turkish Ministry of Defence. It is derived from the Proteus platform (also developed by Thales Alenia Space) and will include a high-resolution optical instrument, similar to that used in the Pleiades program. The satellite launch is planned for 2013.

The second contract is for Seosat-Ingenio, the first Spanish Earth observation satellite and the first to be built by a consortium of industries from the Spanish space sector primted by Astrium.

This Spanish Earth observation satellite system will meet a growing need for data and provide Spain with full autonomy and independence in image capture for applications such as security land management, natural resource management, and to help with the response to natural catastrophes.

e2v has a strong heritage in providing imaging solutions to the global space market, utilising cutting edge technologies to deliver space qualified back-thinned devices with world leading Quantum Effieciency (QE) and Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) performance.

The sensors will be delivered over a 2 year period from July 2011.

Alberto Musazzi, V.P. Purchasing, Thales Alenia Space, Cannes says "The e2v CCD performance for optical high-resolution imaging instruments offers enhanced resolution."

Bertrand De Monte, Marketing Manager of high performance imaging, at e2v said "e2v is delighted to sign this contract with Thales Alenia Space. It demonstrates how e2v's imaging solutions for Earth observation applications are well respected and add to more than 20 worldwide programmes running with our high performance imaging technology."

source:http://www.spacemart.com

Signing of EDA-ESA Administrative Arrangement

by Staff WritersParis (ESA) Jun 21, 2011

Signature of an Administrative arrangement between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Defence Agency (EDA) at the ESA pavilion at the Paris Air and Space Show, 20 June 2011. From left to right: Jean-Jacques Dordain, ESA Director General and Claude-France Arnould, EDA Chief Executive. Credits: ESA - S. Corvaja, 2011

ESA Director General Jean-Jacques Dordain met EDA Chief Executive Claude-France Arnould at the Paris Air and Space Show Monday to sign an Administrative Arrangement on cooperation between ESA and the European Defence Agency.

The conclusion of the Administrative Arrangement follows the invitation sent by the Head of the European Defence Agency (EDA), Baroness Ashton, to ESA's Director General to enter negotiations for the establishment of such an Arrangement and its approval by the EU Council and the ESA Council in May and June 2011, respectively.

"I am convinced that an increased dialogue and coordination between the space and defence communities is of mutual interest and will allow European space programmes to better support Europe's security and defence needs," said Mr Dordain.

"Reinforcing the cooperation between EDA and ESA will allow us to further develop the security dimension of the European Space Policy in coordination with other EU stakeholders."

The aim of the Arrangement is to provide a structured relationship and a mutually beneficial cooperation between ESA and EDA through the coordination of their respective activities.

The cooperation will in particular aim at exploring the added value and contribution of space assets to the development of European capabilities in the area of crisis management and the Common Security and Defence Policy.

Canadian Microbolometer Sensor Focusing on Oceans, Fires and Volcanoes

by Staff WritersLongueuil, Canada (SPX) Jun 14, 2011

In effect, the NIRST instrument will provide a new tool to monitor forest fires and measure timely the mass of fire released carbon from space. As a signatory to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Canada is committed to this process. Canada's sensor technology will make it possible for scientists to advance understanding of the impacts of forest fires and other natural or human induced changes on global environment.

Canada's Earth Observation Program reached new heights Friday with the successful launch of the 4th Argentinian Satelite de Aplicaciones Cientificas (SAC-D) aboard a Delta II rocket.

The New InfraRed Sensor Technology (NIRST) instrument, jointly developed by Canada and Argentina, will be put into low Earth orbit together with seven other instruments on this five-year international partnership mission.

The NIRST instrument will be used to retrieve temperatures of the surface of the ocean and the hot spots such as forest fires and volcanic activities.

The microbolometer sensors, which are the heart of the NIRST instrument, were designed and investigated through Research and Development activities at the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), and subsequently microfabricated and space qualified by the Quebec-based company INO.

Through an agreement between the Canadian Space Agency and Argentina's National Commission of Space Activities (CONAE), the NIRST instrument was selected for this Earth observation mission.

GMES operations another step closer

by Staff WritersParis, France (ESA) Jun 16, 2011

Jean-Jacques Dordain (left), Director General of ESA, and Heinz Zourek, Director General of the European Commission's DG Enterprise and Industry, signed in Paris an agreement confirming the transfer of funds to ESA for the initial operations of the space component for the GMES programme. Credits: ESA-S.Corvaja

Today, the European Commission has signed an agreement confirming the transfer of funds to ESA for the initial operations of the space component for the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security programme.

The agreement, which secures 104 million euros, was signed at ESA Headquarters in Paris by Heinz Zourek, Director General of the European Commission's DG Enterprise and Industry, and Jean-Jacques Dordain, Director General of ESA.

This agreement follows on from the EU Regulation that was adopted in October 2010 for the Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (GMES) programme. The additional funding demonstrates that the existing agreement has been working well and cements the trust the European Union has in ESA to execute its role in realising the GMES programme.

GMES is a unique endeavour that will provide decision-makers with access to accurate and timely information services to manage the environment, understand and mitigate the effects of climate change, and ensure civil security.

Since the success of GMES hinges largely on the provision of robust satellite data, ESA is tasked with coordinating the programme's space component. This includes developing, launching and operating five families of Sentinel satellites, and making the data from these dedicated missions and from other space agencies available for GMES services.

This transfer of funds to ESA, which has been appropriated from the EC's Seventh Framework Programme and GMES Initial Operations Programme, will bridge the gap until the next Multi-annual Financial Framework comes into play in 2014.

The first three Sentinel missions are designed to orbit in pairs, thereby offering maximum coverage of Earth's surface. This latest injection of funds will cover the costs for operating the first satellites until the new operational EU funds become available.

It will also provide initial funds that will allow the preparation of contracts for the launch of the second satellites that make up the Sentinel pairs.

source: http://www.spacedaily.com

Latest Trends and Developments in Outer Space Security

by Staff WritersLos Angeles CA (SPX) Jun 16, 2011

A busy little world.

The Space Security Index (SSI) is pleased to announce the release of the executive summary of Space Security 2011, the eighth annual report on developments that have an impact on the security and long-term sustainability of outer space.

"The Index provides a comprehensive summary of civil, commercial and military space activities in 2010, identified important trends, and analyzes their impact on space security," said Cesar Jaramillo, Project Manager for the report. It was produced by the Space Security Index, an international research consortium that aims to improve transparency with respect to space activities and to support the development of national and international policies that contribute to space security.

Funding and support for the SSI project comes from Secure World Foundation (SWF), The Simons Foundation, Project Ploughshares, the Institute of Air and Space Law at McGill University, and Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada. The goal of the Index is to provide a well-informed, unbiased perspective on the current status of space security.

"The Space Security Index is a unique source of information about civil, military, and commercial space activities," said Dr. Ray Williamson, Executive Director of Secure World Foundation. "The SSI has proven to be a valuable resource for our discussions of space security issues and the long-term sustainability of outer space in numerous forums. We support the SSI because it makes a difference," he said.