France in Space #200 – 22 Mar 2002

1: LAST STEP FOR GALILEO

2: CREATION OF GALILEO SERVICES

3: SECOND PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT BETWEEN SPOT IMAGE AND JAPAN

4: A NEW ARIANE 4 TO TAKE OFF NEXT WEEK

5: GLOBAL MONITORING FOR ENVIRONMENT AND SECURITY

** 1: LAST STEP FOR GALILEO

On March 15 and 16, in Barcelona, Spain, Heads of State or government
officials, attending the European Council asked the Transport Council, due
to take place on March 25-26 in Brussels, to take the necessary decisions
regarding both the funding and launching of the Galileo program, developed
together with the European Space Agency (ESA) on a 50-50 fund sharing
basis. ” Space can do a lot for European citizens. Our global satellite
navigation system Galileo is now only a step away from taking wing and fly
high “, said Antonio Rodotˆ, ESA Director General, welcoming the
conclusions of the European Council, and echoing the appreciation expressed
by ESA Council, the governing body of the Agency. The European Council met
in Barcelona for its second annual Spring meeting to take stock of the
economic, social and environmental situation in the Union.
[ESA Press Release, 03/20/2002]

** 2: CREATION OF GALILEO SERVICES

On March 13, representatives of Eutelsat SA, FDC, Hispasat, Indra,
Kongsberg-Seatex AS, Septentrio, Telespazio and Thales, signed a Memorandum
of Understanding for the creation of Galileo Services. Galileo Services is
designed to be a major partner for the Galileo downstream technology and
business development (terminals, applications and services), and will
support the Galileo program. The objective is to foster an “end-to-end”
vision of the Galileo system in order to fully meet users’ and market’s
requirements. The new company will work to bolster the economic value of
the Galileo system, and intends to contribute to the development of
added-value services to fully capitalize on possible business potential.

[Thales Group Press Release, 03/18/2002]

** 3: SECOND PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT BETWEEN SPOT IMAGE AND JAPAN

Spot Image and ImageONE have signed a three-year channel partnership
agreement that gives ImageONE exclusive rights to sell SPOT satellite image
products and services to customers in the Japanese national security
market. Following a first agreement recently signed in the U.S., this
second channel partnership reflects Spot Image’s new business focus and
distribution strategy, and confirms the faith that the major geospatial
information companies have in SPOT as part of their business. ImageONE,
already a non-exclusive distributor of SPOT products in Japan for the last
two years, has been involved in the sector for a long time. In April 2002,
Spot Image will launch SPOT 5, that will provide very-wide-area 2.5-meter,
5-meter and 10-meter-resolution imagery, along with global digital
elevation models. Spot Image is the oldest commercial satellite imaging
company, having launched its first satellite in 1986.

[Spot Image Press Release and ImageONE Press Release, 03/07/2002]

** 4: A NEW ARIANE 4 TO TAKE OFF NEXT WEEK

On March 28, Arianespace will launch two Boeing-built satellites aboard an
Ariane 44L from the European spaceport in Kourou, French Guyana. JSAT-8
will operate from a geostationnary orbit of 154 degree East. JSAT
Corporation of Japan will operate the spacecraft for telecommunications
coverage over Japan, Asia, Oceania and Hawaii. The second payload, the
ASTRA 3A, will be positioned on a 23.5¡ East orbit for SES Astra. The
spin-stabilized Boeing 376 satellite will help SES ASTRA meet growing
demand for digital satellite services.

[Arianespace Press Release, 03/20/2002]

** 5: GLOBAL MONITORING FOR ENVIRONMENT AND SECURITY

On March 19, Antonio Rodotˆ, European Space Agency (ESA) Director General
and Philippe Busquin, Research Commissioner in charge of space policy,
opened the first meeting of the GMES Steering Committee in Brussels,
Belgium. The Steering Committee will support the implementation of the
joint ESA/EU action plan on Global Monitoring for Environment and Security
(GMES). The GMSE initiative aims at federating Europe’s activities in
satellite observation and remote sensing, in support of public policies.
GMSE, scheduled to be operational in 2008, targets improved use of Europe’s
existing and planned capabilities, infrastructures and development of
mechanisms for collecting and distributing data in support of European
policy goals in various fields, such as environment, development
cooperation, civil protection and the fight against fraud. As Rodotˆ
observed : “GMES has been identified, along with Galileo, as a priority
area for cooperation between ESA and the EU”.
[ESA Press Release, 03/19/2002]

[From Arianespace Press Release, ESA Press Release, ImageONE Press Release,
Spot Image Press Release, Thales Group Press Release]