The logo of the European Space Agency is seen at the International Astronautical Congress in Bremen, Germany, on October 1, 2018. File Photo by Focke Strangmann/EPA-EFE
The European Commission and the European Space Agency signed contracts with industrial companies to bring a space communication constellation of nearly 300 satellites into reality, providing secure communications and commercial applications.
The Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite, or IRIS2, will provide fast and secure communications without the need of thousands of additional satellites. Advertisement
“Launched by European rockets, the IRIS2 constellation will promote European autonomy, resilience, and competitiveness,” the European Space Agency said in a statement. “It will ensure uninterrupted access to secure governmental connectivity services and provide high-end commercial services.”
The ESA said while the constellation builds on ongoing programs like its climate observation with Copernicus and civilian navigation program Galileo.
“As the third EU flagship space program, IRIS will be a strategic asset for the EU in support of its sovereignty,” the statement said.
European Union Defense and Space Commissioner Andrius Kubilius at the signing ceremony cited the need for such a system with undersea communications being cut recently and the ability of Russia to jam navigational signals.
He suggested that the European Union must have its own system and not totally rely on satellite systems from the United States or privately by SpaceX’s Starlink while not mentioning them by name. Advertisement
“We are under threat,” Kubilius said, according to SpaceNews.com. “Our communications are under threat. IRIS2 will give us the ability to connect even in a hostile environment. We cannot afford to be too dependent on countries and companies from outside the European Union.”
