Happy birthday to us, all of us!
But how did it all start?
EUSPA’s journey began on 2004 when the European GNSS Supervisory Authority (GSA) was established as a Community Agency. This move followed the European Council’s recognition of the strategic importance of independent European satellite positioning and navigation programme, EGNOS and Galileo.
In 2010, with the adoption of the Regulation (EU) No. 912/2010 , the authority was restructured into an agency of the EU, becoming the European GNSS Agency (GSA), moving its HQ to Prague in 2012.
EUSPA: a new era
On 12 May 2021, EUSPA was born, following the new EU Space Regulation and the growing role of space in supporting EU priorities. This meant that the scope of the GSA included new responsibilities and a broader mission with the full spectrum of EU Space activities.
2021 also saw the Security Accreditation Board of the EU Space Programme (SAB) taking on the role of accrediting the security of all EU Space components.
Currently, the Agency is providing safe and secure European satellite navigation services, advances the commercialization of Galileo, EGNOS, and Copernicus data and services, engages in secure SATCOM such as GOVSATCOM and IRIS2 and operates the EU SST Front Desk.
What does it mean for the users?
Fast forward to 2024, let’s see what it means in practice! We have prepared a list of our favourite EUSPA and EU Space Programme moments throughout these 20 years.
”At the heart of our work is a commitment to support an innovative and competitive EU Space sector, ensuring that space continues to drive innovation-based growth in Europe. We are dedicated to delivering services and applications that not only meet the challenges of today and tomorrow for EU citizens and companies but also enhance security. Our focus on security ensures that the EU Space sector remains resilient and capable of addressing emerging threats, safeguarding both our infrastructure and the people who rely on it,” says EUSPA Executive Director Rodrigo da Costa.
As we embark on the next chapter of our journey, we remain focused on linking EU Space to the users and improving the lives of European citizens, strengthening the Union’s strategic autonomy, and fostering sustainable growth.
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