N° 8–2013: Call for Media: Inauguration of ESA’s Space Weather Coordination Centre
25 March 2013
Media representatives are invited to the inauguration of ESA’s Space Weather Coordination Centre, the first such centre to be opened under the Agency’s Space Situational Awareness programme.
The new Space Weather Coordination Centre will serve as the central access point to a portfolio of European space weather expertise. Located at the ‘Space Pole’ in Brussels, the Space Weather Coordination Centre (SSCC) includes the first European space weather helpdesk and, through this, rapid access to expert support on solar weather, ionospheric weather, the geomagnetic environment and the orbital radiation environment. This is made possible by networking and building on key European assets and expertise.
The SSCC is a dedicated control room where operators monitor the Sun, the space environment and the Earth environment for early detection of possible effects of space weather phenomena on economically vital infrastructures and activities, including gas/oil drilling, electric power distribution and navigation. This will reduce costs and improve reliability and information for citizens.
The media briefing is being organised by the European Space Agency in cooperation with the Solar-Terrestrial Centre of Excellence and will be held at Space Pole, Meridian Room, Ringlaan/Av. Circulaire 3, 1180 Brussels, on 3 April 2013, 10:30–13:00 CET.
Doors open at 09:45 CET.
Registration
Media representatives wishing to attend the event are requested to register at http://www.esa.int/ssa_sscc_register
Programme
10:30
Welcome and introduction
Ronald Van der Linden, Director General, Royal Observatory Belgium
10:35
Detecting Space Hazards: Strategic objectives of the SSA Programme
Thomas Reiter, ESA Director of Human Spaceflight and Operations
10:45
Space Weather Services: a Belgian Priority
Philippe Mettens, Chairman, Belgian Science Policy Office
10:55
Overview of ESA’s SSA Programme
Nicolas Bobrinsky, ESA Head of Space Situational Awareness Programme
11:05
Space Weather – Impact on critical Infrastructures and Services
Juha-Pekka Luntama, ESA Head of SSA Space Weather Activities
11:15
Profile of the SSA Space Weather Coordination Centre
Michel Kruglanski, Solar-Terrestrial Centre of Excellence
11:25
Open Q&A
11:35
Formal Inauguration ESA’s SSA Space Weather Coordination Centre
VIP photo
11:45
End of formal programme
Media opportunities for individual interviews
12:00
Light buffet lunch
End of programme
About the European Space Agency
The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space.
ESA is an intergovernmental organisation, created in 1975, with the mission to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space delivers benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
ESA has 20 Member States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, of whom 18 are Member States of the EU.
ESA has Cooperation Agreements with eight other Member States of the EU and is discussing an Agreement with the one remaining (Bulgaria). Canada takes part in some ESA programmes under a Cooperation Agreement.
ESA is also working actively with the EU, for the implementation of the programmes Galileo and Copernicus.
By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, ESA can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country.
ESA develops the launchers, spacecraft and ground facilities needed to keep Europe at the forefront of global space activities.
Today, it launches satellites for Earth observation, navigation, telecommunications and astronomy, sends probes to the far reaches of the Solar System and cooperates in the human exploration of space.
Learn more at www.esa.int
For further information:
ESA Media Relations Office
Email: media@esa.int
Tel: +33 1 53 69 72 99
Fax: +33 1 53 69 76 90
Jocelyne Landeau-Constantin, ESA/ESOC Corporate Communications Office
Email: esoc.communication@esa.int
Tel: +49 6151 90 2516