PURPOSE: to establish a Framework for Space Surveillance and Tracking Support (SST).
LEGISLATIVE ACT: Decision No 541/2014/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a Framework for Space Surveillance and Tracking Support.
CONTENT: space debris has become a serious threat to the security, safety and sustainability of space activities. This Decision aims to establish an SST support framework with the aim of supporting the setting up and operation of services consisting of:
· assessing and reducing the risks to in-orbit operations of European spacecraft relating to collisions and enabling spacecraft operators to plan and carry out mitigation measures more efficiently;
· reducing the risks relating to the launch of European spacecraft;
· surveying uncontrolled re-entries of spacecraft or space debris into the Earth's atmosphere and providing more accurate and efficient early warnings;
· seeking to prevent the proliferation of space debris.
The actions supported by the SST support framework, include the establishment and operation of a sensor function consisting of a network of Member State ground-based and/or space-based sensors, including national sensors developed through ESA, to survey and track space objects and to produce a database thereof.
The SST support framework should promote the evolution of the networking of Member State SST assets for SST service provision. SST service provision should benefit all operators, public and private, of space-based infrastructures.
The SST support framework shall compliment the actitivites carried out under programmes such as Horizon 2020, Copernicus and Galileo. It should contribute to ensuring the peaceful use and exploration of outer space.
The operation of SST services should be based on a partnership between the Union and the Member States and use existing as well as future national expertise and assets, including those developed through ESA.
Member States should retain ownership and control over their assets and should remain responsible for their operations, maintenance and renewal. The SST support framework should not provide financial support for the development of new SST sensors.
The Commission and the Member States should promote and facilitate participation by the greatest number of Member States in the SST support framework, subject to compliance with participation criteria. All Member States which comply with the criteria shall designate a national entity to represent them. The designated national entities shall constitute a consortium and conclude an agreement laying down the rules and mechanisms for their cooperation in the implementation of the actions.
The Commission shall monitor the implementation of the SST support framework. By 1 July 2018, the Commission shall forward a report concerning the achievement of the objectives of this Decision.
ENTRY INTO FORCE: 16.06.2014.