The GSA takes centre stage in Prague

02 February 2012

Representatives of the European Union, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European GNSS Agency (GSA) discussed their future roles in Europe's GNSS programmes, Galileo and EGNOS, as high representatives of the Czech Republic and the European GNSS Agency signed an accord that will see the GSA moved to Prague.

Carlo Des Dorides. ©Peter Gutierrez

The Galileo Applications Congress in Prague drew experts from around Europe and around the world to discuss new technologies and new services that will transform the way we work and play, but the event also took place against a backdrop of key changes in how Europe's flagship GNSS programmes are governed.

Taking stock

"This is a good moment to take stock of where we are and where we are going with Galileo," said GSA Executive Director Carlo Des Dorides. "The focus is on the future, with an expanded mission for our Agency. What we can say now is that the future is bright; the market for new GNSS technologies and services – many of which you will hear about during this congress – will continue to grow, in spite of the current difficult economic conditions."

Under the European Commission proposal for a new GNSS governance arrangement, the GSA would be charged with the commercialisation and exploitation of Galileo and EGNOS services, as well as the operation of the Galileo security monitoring centres to be deployed in the UK and France. The Commission itself would provide the policy framework and political support, while ESA would provide the engineering competence. And while some details still need to be clarified, including how the interfaces between these three bodies would operate, most opinions seem to be moving quickly into line with the proposal.

ESA Director General Jean-Jacques Dordain said the measure of Galileo's success will not be in the number of satellites placed in orbit but in the quality of its services. "The very existence of the GSA as the service provider is a key to this success," he said. "Working to support the GSA, therefore, will also be ESA's objective, and we are committed to seeing this happen."

Czechs in space

As a land-locked country, the Czech Republic has a long and proud history of looking to the sky for new opportunities. Already active in the 18th century, in the age of the hot-air balloon, Czechs quickly became a major influence in European aircraft manufacturing after the end of World War I.

The first man in space from any current EU Member State was Czech cosmonaut Vladimír Remek. In 1978, Remek, now a Member of the European Parliament, became the first non-American, non-Russian to travel into space, spending six days on board the Salyut 6 orbital station. 1978 also saw the first Czech satellite, Magion1, reach its orbit.

In 2008, the Czech Republic became the first former Communist-bloc country to join the European Space Agency.

Today, the country's state-of-the-art aerospace industry is closely linked to its engineering and defence industries, with more than 500 mechanical-engineering companies, several technical universities and secondary schools, and a new generation of highly skilled technicians.

Carlo des Dorides and Pavel Dobeš make it official. © AKVS

"The Commission is focused on delivering benefits to citizens," said Paul Weissenberg, Deputy Director-General of the European Commission's DG Enterprise and Industry. "The value of space now lies in the applications, and that means the customer gets the service. It is 'service before technology'. In agriculture, in aviation, in transport, the value of the satellite is in what it can do for these sectors."

EGNOS for Czech aviation now

With EGNOS already operational, Weissenberg cited the importance of putting it to work, including in the Czech Republic. "The Czechs have an excellent track record in our EU research programmes. In many areas now you are really full participants, but we would also like to see you receiving the benefits of our GNSS programmes, for example by implementing EGNOS-based landing procedures at more Czech airports."

Finally, Weissenberg underlined the importance of the European GNSS programmes in the political arena. "Galileo is now more than a space project – it is a credibility test, for the EU, for ESA, and for the GSA. If any one of us fails, we all fail.

"And," he added, "Galileo is more than just a space project – it is a global challenge, part of a growing worldwide network, whose benefits will be felt not just by European citizens but by people in every country."

It's official

In line with the Union's policy of spreading its official Agencies throughout the Member States, 'bringing Europe to Europe', the GSA will move its offices to Prague in 2012. In a high-profile ceremony, in the presence of Czech Prime Minister Petr Nečes and European Commission Vice-President Antonio Tajani, GSA Executive Director Carlo des Dorides and Czech Minster of Transport Pavel Dobeš sealed the agreement, signing the documents that will bring the GSA to its new home in the ‘Golden City’.

All agreed that the event was a momentous occasion for European GNSS, with the GSA now set to consolidate its new role as a major player in making Galileo a success for Europe.

Mr. Tajani also took the occasion to congratulate young David Markarjanc, winner of the Galileo children's drawing competition for the Czech Republic, who will now enjoy the honour of having a Galileo satellite named after him.