ESA & EU Launch Ambitious ERS Satellite Program for Rapid Earth Observation
The European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Commission have joined forces to launch a new satellite program, European Resilience from Space (ERS). This ambitious project aims to provide high-resolution imagery with a revisit time of about 30 minutes, thanks to a constellation of radar and optical imaging satellites.
The ERS program has been approved by ESA member states, marking a significant step forward. The relationship between ESA and the European Commission has been described as 'perfect' and 'extremely strong', reflecting their successful history of cooperation, including the Galileo and Copernicus programs.
ESA plans to seek around one billion euros ($1.15 billion) for the first phase of ERS in late November. However, some ESA members have expressed concerns about the rush to develop the program and the lack of a detailed plan. The French space agency CNES has called for a 'phase zero' study period to determine user needs and requirements for ERS.
The European Commission will request funding for a later phase of ERS in its next multiannual financial framework starting in 2028. Despite some concerns, the ERS program is set to revolutionize Earth observation, providing high spatial and temporal resolution imagery. As of now, there are no reported concerns from specific states regarding the use of image data from the planned ERS satellite constellation.
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