European Space Agency (ESA) Director General Josef Aschbacher and Norwegian Minister of Industry and Trade Cecilie Merseth signed a letter of intent on Wednesday to promote the possibility of establishing a new centre. ESA’s Arctic Space Centre It is based in Tromsø, north of the Arctic Circle. “It’s inevitable Arctic region It is facing changes, just like the entire planet, but I believe that space can have a positive impact on the world environment And in the inhabitants of the Arctic region,” said Simonetta Chile, Director of Earth Observation at the European Space Agency.
“There is huge potential for ESA’s Arctic Space Center to bring benefits to Norway, the entire Arctic region and the rest of Europe,” added Chile. In this sense, the North Pole is a Scientific ecosystem Important, in addition to being important from an economic and geopolitical point of view, says the European Space Agency in a statement. It is also an area where climate change is particularly evident Heating rates Up to four times that of the rest of the planet.
In this sense, space technologies and services can help monitor and mitigate climate change, while at the same time contributing to climate change mitigation. sustainable developmentCivil security and energy management in the region, ESA highlights. Tromsø already hosts the mission control center for the Arctic Weather Satellite (AWS) launched in August 2024, demonstrating how constellation In polar orbit could improve short-term weather forecasts in North Pole And at the global level.
In addition, other science and technology organizations operate in Tromsø, such as the Arctic Council Secretariat, the Norwegian Polar Institute, the Norwegian Arctic University Campus, the ESA Arctic PhiLab and one of ESA’s four business incubation centers in Norway, as well as Many research and development institutes Working in marine biotechnology, medicine, space meteorology and sustainability. ESA and Norway, through the Norwegian Space Agency (NOSA), will now form a joint working group Experts To study the possibilities of the European Space Agency’s Arctic Space Center.
The working group will report on the proposed purpose of the centre, in addition to… Priorities The themes, governance model, and implementation schedule before the end of the year 2026. Depending on the evolution of its operational scope, ESA’s Arctic Space Center is expected to work specifically in the areas of Earth observation, navigation and telecommunications, and to cooperate closely with stakeholders throughout the Arctic region.
Norway It has been part of the European Space Agency since 1987 and participates in a wide range of agency programmes. Although it is not a member of the European Union, it participates in it CopernicusThe European Union Earth Observation Programme, and in Galileo, the Global Navigation Satellite System in Europe, through an addendum to the European Economic Area Agreement. The German city of Bremen, in northern Germany, hosted the conference ESA Ministerial Council.