Space foundations
Developing cutting-edge technologies to harness the potential of space sciences is one of the main goals of DG Enterprise and Industry's space foundations work programme. Space sciences are vital to the understanding of the structure of the universe, planet Earth and the Solar System. They also give insights into new approaches to bio-medicine and life and physical sciences.
The work programme on space foundations focuses on 'upstream' research to prepare European space science missions and on 'downstream' research to make optimum use of scientific data.
Research is essential to sustain the competitiveness of the European space industry. It is necessary in particular for the development of enabling technologies for the long-term implementation of the European space programmes, including critical space technologies for European strategic non-dependence.
With a view to preparing a new generation of advanced space transportation systems, innovative propulsion concepts are needed to reduce certain costs, particularly those for space transportation. Research in this area is aimed at novel techniques and consolidating new technologies such as heliothermic propulsion, the new generation of solid, electric and cryogenic propulsion and associated components and technologies.
The purpose of these critical technologies is to ensure that Europe can rely on a technical and industrial capacity for accessing space, in particular in the area of manufacturing satellites and launchers.
The work programme will support research into reducing the vulnerability of space assets. Space assets, and their associated ground facilities, are sensitive to external events that can endanger their proper functioning, such as space debris, hostile laser or anti-satellite systems, jamming, viruses, natural or man-made electro-magnetic disturbances. These events may have transient effects that can be recovered or have permanent effects leading to the non-functioning of the asset and consequently of its expected services.
