"We are opening a new era in Earth observation from Space, as it is the first time that Europe has the ability to receive a continuous flow of information about what is happening on the planet with applications in environmental management and security," says Volker Liebig, director of Earth observation programs at the European Space Agency (ESA), referring to the "Copernicus" program.
Artist's impression of the first satellite of the Copernicus program, Sentinel-1A
This is the largest continuous Earth observation program to date with radar, to which the member states of the European Union will have access. Greece will be the first country with which ESA will sign a relevant cooperation agreement on Monday, May 12. The head of the Earth observation program, speaking exclusively to “NEA” a few days before visiting Athens, likened the upcoming changes in Earth observation to those caused by meteorological satellites in meteorology. “Satellite images for weather forecasting are now an everyday occurrence all over the world. With the “Copernicus” program, we will have a similar source of information with many applications, essential for solving important problems on the planet.”
The first samples of such information have already reached ESA. The images taken in the second week of its orbit by the first satellite of the program "Sentinel 1A", launched on April 3, are, according to Mr. Liebing, "an impressive example of its capabilities". Its operational orbit with a steady data flow will begin in the coming months.
The timetable. The Sentinel 1A mission is the first of seven missions to be launched by 2016 and will form the core of the programme, which is funded by ESA member countries and EU member states. The missions will aim to provide operational information to adequately support decision-making centres on the environment and security. Sentinel 1A will be able to provide images in near real time. Sentinel 1B will follow in 2015, which together with the first satellite will cover the planet once every six days.
"Later, satellites will cover the planet once every three days, providing information in an extremely short period of time and with a resolution of centimeters. In the case of an earthquake, for example, reliable images will be provided very quickly on the displacement of the ground and the extent of the damage, thus giving valuable information to seismologists and facilitating crisis management," points out the head of ESA's Earth observation programs for 10 years, excluding, however, the possibility of predicting an earthquake via satellites. Important information will also be provided in the case of border security, especially maritime security, an issue that concerns countries such as Greece that are gateways for illegal immigrants to Europe. "Coastal surveillance services will be able to locate ships and boats that have not given a signal," he concludes.
The future. “The range of applications is constantly increasing,” the German scientist claims. We are not only talking about obtaining information on damage after natural disasters, sea level and temperature, air quality and other climate parameters. but also about applications in agriculture, tourism, urban development planning, and the protection of natural and cultural heritage. The range of applications will be discussed extensively for the first time at a two-day conference (May 12-13) in Athens. Mr. Liebig claims that the program will contribute to the creation of 80,000 new jobs by 2030, while 1 euro of investment corresponds to 10 euros of economic growth. “The investments will contribute to the recovery of the European economy, giving impetus to emerging areas of science and technology in public and private bodies,” he points out.
