ESA' uploads: Copernicus and Hydron

Translated by Alessandra Fumagalli 

The European Spatial Agency, founded in 1975, is an intergovernmental body, which coordinates spatial projects of 22 Member States, like Norway, Switzerland and Sweden. Slovenia and Canada are involved as associates, contributing to specific projects. The ESA is made up of two old European spatial organizations: the European Space Research Organization (ESRO) and the European Launcher Development Organization (ELDO).

Although it is not a European Union Agency, the ESA collaborates with European institutions, alienating its policies with the Union’s. Its main mission is to promote the exploration and the pacific exploitation of space. It also develops technologies and advanced services for the Earth’s observation, contributing to a sustainable and innovative future for Europe and the world. 

Copernicus program and its new missions

In October, the ESA gave an important update about its activities, announcing, on October, 17th, important progresses on its Copernicus Program, which is the European Union’s Earth observation program, managed with the European Commission. In particular, the progresses are visible in the six expansion’s missions Sentinel, which are represented by a group of satellites, called Sentinel, which are specialized in specific monitoring activities in the following areas: 

• climate change;
• food security;
• water resource’s management;
• natural and land resources monitoring
• safeguard of the Arctic.

Thanks to these satellites’ net, the program collects fundamental data to face these global challenges. 

In particular, as far as the climate change fight is concerned, there are three developing satellites, CO2M-A/B/C. These satellites aim at observing greenhouse gasses and verifying if the Member States are respecting the Paris Agreement’s goals. 

As far as agriculture is concerned, two satellites are going to be launched, LSTM-A/B. They are equipped with infrared sensors, which will give precious data about the Earth surface temperature, essential to predict drought and manage the water resources. 

As far as food security, the program involved is CHIME (Copernicus Hyperspectral Imaging Mission for the Environment), and it involves the launch of two satellites with two infrared spectrometers, able to improve agriculture and biodiversity management. 

CRISTAL program (Copernicus Polar Ice and Snow Topography Altimeter) will give a total view of the changes in the arctic regions, using an advanced radar and a radiometer. 

To conclude, Copernicus L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (ROSE-L) program will focus on the continuous monitor of weather conditions and the carbon cycle. It will be made with a new radar, called ROSE-L, able to give high resolution spatial images (5-10 meters) and a 40 square meters antenna, which is the biggest one. 

With these developments, it’s clear that EAS is reinforcing its ability to monitor the Earth, facing in a stronger way climate and environmental challenges of our time. 

HYDRON: the future of optical telecommunications 

There is other news: on October 16th, ESA announced the launch of another project, called HYDRON, developed together with Kepler Communications, which is a Canadian satellite telecommunications supplier. The project involves creating a ring of ten satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), laying the foundational support for communications between third-party satellites and ground users through the optical communication. 

HYDRON’s objective is clear: giving ultra-rapid connections among satellites and Earth nets, facing the “bottlenecks”, which are the limits and restrictions that traditionally jeopardize the data transmission in the radiofrequency communication systems, which are already overloaded due to the growing competition of a limited radio spectrum. Optical communication technologies are a promising solution, because they exploit light impulses, generated by laser or LED, used to codify and transfer data at a very high speed over long distances. 

Optical communication advantages are numerous: significantly wider bandwidth, less electromagnetic interference, and a higher level of security. The optical fibers, in particular, are used for the higher speed telecommunications nets, like the one used with the Internet.

This advanced system will not only give important advantages for the monitor of the four interested areas of  Copernicus Sentinel Expansion project, but will also favor a solid partnership with the Canadian companies, encouraging commercialization, creating new workplaces and promoting the know-how exchange. 

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