This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/science-environment-13867554
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Europe joins up space and defence | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
By Jonathan Amos Science correspondent, BBC News, Paris | By Jonathan Amos Science correspondent, BBC News, Paris |
Two European organisations - one concerned with space, the other with defence - have signed an agreement on closer co-operation. | |
The European Space Agency (Esa) and the European Defence Agency (EDA) penned their accord at the Paris Air Show. | The European Space Agency (Esa) and the European Defence Agency (EDA) penned their accord at the Paris Air Show. |
The pair hope closer ties can help them avoid duplication and reduce the cost of space activity where they have shared interests. | The pair hope closer ties can help them avoid duplication and reduce the cost of space activity where they have shared interests. |
These areas include satellite remote-sensing and communications. | These areas include satellite remote-sensing and communications. |
Although both organisations include many of the same states in their membership (EDA is part of the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy), they are actually separate legal entities. | Although both organisations include many of the same states in their membership (EDA is part of the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy), they are actually separate legal entities. |
One obvious example of overlap concerns Esa's desire to develop a Space Situational Awareness (SSA) programme. | One obvious example of overlap concerns Esa's desire to develop a Space Situational Awareness (SSA) programme. |
This will use radar and other technologies to track and catalogue the precise movements of all bodies moving in orbit - from spacecraft to asteroids. | This will use radar and other technologies to track and catalogue the precise movements of all bodies moving in orbit - from spacecraft to asteroids. |
It is a priority for Esa because it frequently has to shift its satellites to avoid a collision with a piece of debris, of which there are now thousands of items floating above Earth. | It is a priority for Esa because it frequently has to shift its satellites to avoid a collision with a piece of debris, of which there are now thousands of items floating above Earth. |
But European armed forces also have an intelligence interest in knowing what is moving overhead - for example, others' spy satellites - and they already deploy radar capability to ascertain such information. | But European armed forces also have an intelligence interest in knowing what is moving overhead - for example, others' spy satellites - and they already deploy radar capability to ascertain such information. |
"There is a need to define civilian requirements and that is clearly to be done by the European Space agency, but also to see what would be more security[-orientated] requirements, and particularly in the military field. That is something that requires co-operation between us," EDA chief executive Claude-France Arnould told BBC News. | "There is a need to define civilian requirements and that is clearly to be done by the European Space agency, but also to see what would be more security[-orientated] requirements, and particularly in the military field. That is something that requires co-operation between us," EDA chief executive Claude-France Arnould told BBC News. |
The agreement signed at Le Bourget should make it easier to exchange technical and catalogue data. | The agreement signed at Le Bourget should make it easier to exchange technical and catalogue data. |
She cited other areas where "synergies" existed - such as the safe introduction into civilian airspace of unmanned aerial vehicles using satellite communications; and in the development of space technologies that gave Europe industrial independence. | She cited other areas where "synergies" existed - such as the safe introduction into civilian airspace of unmanned aerial vehicles using satellite communications; and in the development of space technologies that gave Europe industrial independence. |
Cooperation in the defence sphere is a delicate issue for the European Space Agency. | Cooperation in the defence sphere is a delicate issue for the European Space Agency. |
Its convention states that it must only engage in activities that have "exclusively peaceful purposes". A country like Switzerland, which maintains absolute neutrality, would not be part of Esa if this declaration were broken. | Its convention states that it must only engage in activities that have "exclusively peaceful purposes". A country like Switzerland, which maintains absolute neutrality, would not be part of Esa if this declaration were broken. |
"Obviously, I could not sign this agreement if it was not consistent with the convention of Esa," said the space agency's director general, Jean-Jacques Dordain. | "Obviously, I could not sign this agreement if it was not consistent with the convention of Esa," said the space agency's director general, Jean-Jacques Dordain. |
"I invite you to read the Esa convention; you will not find the adjective 'civilian'. Nowhere is it written 'civilian' - just 'for peaceful purposes'. | "I invite you to read the Esa convention; you will not find the adjective 'civilian'. Nowhere is it written 'civilian' - just 'for peaceful purposes'. |
"So as long as we are working for peaceful purposes - and Madame Arnould has mentioned a list of topics that are only for peaceful purposes - then I think that we are entitled to work on all these aspects." | "So as long as we are working for peaceful purposes - and Madame Arnould has mentioned a list of topics that are only for peaceful purposes - then I think that we are entitled to work on all these aspects." |
Mr Dordain said there were checks in place to ensure technologies developed within the agency were not simply passed over to be used in weaponry. | Mr Dordain said there were checks in place to ensure technologies developed within the agency were not simply passed over to be used in weaponry. |
Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk | Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk |
Previous version
1
Next version