Observing the Earth

Taking the pulse of our planet from space

Earth observation is key to understanding and monitoring environmental issues and climate change, attaining sustainable development goals such as the food and freshwater needs of a growing global population, keeping up with demand for precise information to match today’s pace of life, building a resilient society and a strong European economy, and more.

ESA’s FutureEO programme is the epitome of research, development and innovation in Europe. It allows essential research to be carried out into new satellite measuring techniques and cutting-edge science missions such as the Earth Explorers. These developments pave the way for operational missions such as the Copernicus Sentinels, continuously feeding key public information services with data for decades. FutureEO also allows the development of world-class metrological missions in partnership with Eumetsat, the data from which form the heart of weather forecasts on which the public relies. The programme’s forward-looking approach – pioneering ground-breaking new missions and embracing disruptive technologies such as SmallSats and artificial intelligence – ensures that investments will further maximum return, particularly in downstream sectors. It has been estimated that every €1 invested in FutureEO leads to GDP growth of €3.8 in ESA Member States. The terabytes of free data and information services delivered every day through the EU-led Copernicus programme, for which ESA implements space component including the state-of-the-art Sentinel missions, support the implementation of European policies, help improve lives and benefit the economy.

Facts and figures about this proposal [ Download PDF ]