The telecommunications satellite developed under ESA’s SmallGEO Partnership Project has just passed three years of service in orbit. ESA initiated the SmallGEO Partnership Project in response to the market demand for smaller, lighter and more versatile geostationary telecommunications satellites.

The ESAIL microsatellite for tracking ships worldwide – developed under ESA’s Partnership Projects programme – has been launched aboard an Arianespace Vega from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. The launch took place at 02:51 BST (03:51 CEST) on 3 September.

After 12 years as director of Telecommunications and Integrated Applications (TIA) and 7 years as head of the European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications (ECSAT), Magali Vaissiere will be retiring from ESA at the end of August. during her time here, Magali has been instrumental in the formation of ECSAT and has led ESA’s initiatives supporting the competitiveness of European and Canadian industry in the worldwide commercial telecommunications market. this includes the development of new technologies and working practices, and the incorporation of space assets into new commercially sustainable products and services. 

How do you create a success story with a small company? Project SCouP demonstrates how a two-person team with the support of ESA’s ARTES Advanced Technology programme delivered a real-life ‘Scoop’ – creating a European first using shape memory alloy technology.

The ESA Council met today in its 290th session and took some important decisions regarding the Executive’s senior management.

ESA’s 22 Member States approved the Director General’s proposal to appoint Elodie Viau as Director for Telecommunications from 1 September 2020, succeeding the current director, Magali Vaissiere.

The role of telecoms in any emergency setting is fundamental and there is a growing demand for wireless broadband data transmission during crisis operations. ARTES Core Competitiveness have recently co-funded the project ‘Mobile Ad hoc NETworks (MANETs) with satellite access for public safety operations’ with German safety and security specialist IABG, to enhance MANET services using satellite access.

Space-enabled tests are underway to empower healthcare workers, civil protection volunteers and members of the emergency services to help other people.

As the immediate crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic fades in Europe, extensive testing systems are needed to enable the vital economic recovery.

Commercial flight trials that use satellite-enabled communications to reduce the environmental impact of flying are scheduled to commence once normal traffic levels resume.

The ESAIL microsatellite for tracking ships worldwide – developed under an ESA Partnership Project – has completed its accommodation on Vega’s new dispenser for small satellites and is ready for launch.