The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
Go to topic
European citizens and governments rely on satellites for a growing number of crucial tasks. Any shutdown of these systems would seriously affect an enormous range of commercial and civil activities, including travel, transportation, telecommunications, information technology and broadcasting, to name but a few. But today, Europe has no autonomous capability to watch for and warn of hazards to its vital satellites and ground infrastructure.
In 2009, ESA member states asked the Agency to embark on a new programme, known as Space Situational Awareness, or SSA. Now in its initial phase, SSA aims to develop Europe's own scanning, detection and warning capabilities against space weather, space debris and natural near-earth objects.
This programme provides a profile and latest updates on SSA developments in 2011.
More information via http://www.esa.int/ssa