euractiv.de
euractiv.fr
euractiv.es
euractiv.it
euractiv.pl
euractiv.bg
euractiv.cz
euractiv.gr
euractiv.ro
euractiv.sk
Space
Scientists, space agencies race to be the first ‘climate cop’
Est. 5minScientists from the United States, Japan, and China are racing to perfect satellite technology that could one day measure greenhouse gas emissions from space, potentially transforming the winner into the world's first climate cop.
European ministers approve new Ariane 6 rocket
Est. 3minEuropean nations approved funding for a new Ariane 6 space rocket on Tuesday (2 December), pooling their resources in a single, simplified version to tackle growing international competition.
European Space Agency achieves landmark encounter with comet
Est. 3minThe European Space Agency landed a probe on a comet yesterday (12 November), a first in space exploration and the climax of a 10-year-odyssey, but an anchoring system problem may hamper planned investigations into the origins of Earth and the solar system.
Commission reports setback for Galileo project
Est. 2minThe European Commission who had called an “historic milestone” the launch of two satellites of the Galileo program, an EU replica of the US global positioning satellite system, Monday (25 August) asked the agencies responsible to provide full details over their failure to put them into orbit.
Rate of Arctic summer sea ice loss is 50% higher than predicted
Est. 7minSea ice in the Arctic is disappearing at a far greater rate than previously expected, according to data from the first purpose-built satellite launched to study the thickness of the Earth's polar caps.
‘Galileo’ brand thrown out of orbit
Est. 4minThe trademarks of the Galileo satellite system are under sustained legal challenge from a US headquartered company and the Commission is considering renaming the project’s commercial arms as a result, EURACTIV has learned.
Galileo navigation satellites launched
Est. 3minA Russian Soyuz rocket blasted off from French Guiana on Friday (21 October) bearing the first two satellites in Europe's Galileo global positioning system, a much-heralded mission which may generate €90 billion in economic and social benefits over two decades and will redraw commercial competition in space.
EU to launch first two Galileo satellites
Est. 4minThe first two satellites of the EU’s Galileo programme for global satellite navigation will be launched on Thursday (20 October) from Europe’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guyana.
Brussels on mission to boost EU’s role in space exploration
Est. 4minThe European Commission will propose on Monday (4 April) to strengthen the EU's space policy with the aim of increasing the bloc's capability "to pursue independent missions".
Galileo needs two billion euros extra
Est. 3minEurope's biggest space programme, Galileo, needs a further €1.9 billion euros to make the satellite navigation system operational, the European Commission said yesterday (18 January).
EU cuts deal to set up banking watchdogs
Est. 5minEU negotiators reached agreement yesterday (2 September) on a package of measures to beef up supervision of the bloc's banks, giving new EU watchdogs a mandate to overrule national authorities and ban risky financial products that were widely blamed for the world's worst recession in decades.
European satellite on mission to study melting ice caps
Est. 3minThe European Space Agency (ESA) has launched a satellite dedicated to studying how climate change is affecting the Earth's ice.
German, French firms win Galileo money
Est. 3minGermany's OHB Technology is to provide 14 satellites for the EU's Galileo navigation system, while Arianespace of France will put them into orbit in order to build a European rival to the US GPS system by 2014.
Europe tries to relaunch space policy
Est. 3minThe European Union is stepping up its efforts to catch up with other global powers on space policy after the temporary collapse of its flagship project for satellite navigation, Galileo.
Auditors slam EU over Galileo
Est. 3minThe European Commission's leadership and management skills have been found wanting by a Court of Auditors report into the EU's much-delayed Galileo satellite navigation project. The report, published on 29 June, also blames individual countries for defending their commercial interests throughout the programme.
Ministers ask EU to guarantee access to space
Est. 2minIn a resolution adopted this morning (26 September), European ministers responsible for space underlined the strategic importance of guaranteeing the continent's political and technological independence on space and unveiled their ambition to make Europe one of the world's leading space powers.
EU 27 eye increased EU action on space
Est. 3minAll member states are politically committed to promoting more EU action on space, the French Presidency said after a two-day informal meeting of the bloc's ministers for space. But the issue of where the money for this increased ambition will actually come from will only be discussed later.
Galileo a step closer to orbit
Est. 3minThe path for the EU's satellite navigation system to become operational by 2013 has been cleared after member states agreed implementation rules outlining a timetable and industrial tendering plan as well as a clear division of roles and responsibilities between the three EU institutions.
Galileo takes shape
Est. 2minThe EU's satellite navigation system is finally taking shape after representatives of member states and Parliament struck a deal on the project's institutional architecture.
EU to launch Galileo despite Spanish opposition
Est. 3minEuropean ministers in charge of transport have agreed on the division of aerospace industrial work for Galileo. Spain, disappointed about not getting to host one of the system's ground control centres, voted against the long-awaited deal but lost out to a qualified majority.
2008 budget deal heralds shift in EU policy
Est. 2minFor the first time, the EU will be spending more on competitiveness than agriculture. After a conciliation meeting last Friday, the Council and Parliament reached an agreement on the 2008 budget, securing an extra €2.7 billion for the EU's two flagship projects - Galileo and the European Institute of Technology.
Galileo comes one step closer to reality
Est. 3minA new plan for industrial tendering for the troubled satellite navigation system, tabled by the Commission, is expected to find support at a meeting of EU transport ministers later this week after Germany said its concerns over tendering rules have been met.
Commission to fine-tune Galileo funding proposal
Est. 2minAfter an exchange of views on the financing of Galileo, the Council has asked the Commission to re-examine its funding proposal before the EU's 2008 budget council next week.
EU ministers back Galileo, delay financing issue
Est. 2minEU member states have reiterated their political support for Galileo, the European satellite radio navigation programme, but still disagree over financing the project, which will be decided upon in December.