Modern space technology has become an indispensable infrastructure for many services: weather forecasting, climate research, television, telecommunications, navigation, air traffic management, environmental and ecosystem monitoring, and disaster management are unimaginable without satellites.
Space activities are a rapidly growing economic sector. Globally, around USD 70 billion in public funding is invested in space activities each year. The aggregated revenues from all space-based services amount to approximately USD 370 billion annually. Of this, USD 130 billion is generated by ground equipment/receivers and USD 123 billion by services. In 2019 alone, 386 satellites were launched. New markets have emerged beyond the traditional procurement activities of established space agencies such as NASA, ESA, ROSCOSMOS and JAXA. The trends of globalisation (with an increasing number of countries engaging in space activities), commercialisation, capital market acceptance and the emergence of new industry leaders are shaping current and future developments under the heading of “New Space”.
Space research has unique advantages over Earth-based activities:
- Owing to their unparalleled altitude and orbit around the Earth, they enable a global perspective on the planet.
- With no distorting atmosphere, they provide an unobstructed view beyond Earth towards the solar system and the universe.
- Space offers an environment of microgravity and extreme conditions (vacuum, radiation, extreme cold, extreme heat), enabling, among other things, the development of advanced materials that cannot be produced on Earth, the study of life in space, and serving as a crucial driver of technological innovation.
- As the “final frontier”, space presents a unique challenge and a great source of inspiration for humanity.
- It offers a long-term perspective on abundant resources such as solar energy and extraterrestrial materials.
Austria’s space science and technology capabilities are in demand in both the traditional and New Space sectors.
The FFG, through its Aeronautics and Space Agency (ALR), serves as Austria’s docking point to the international space community. It represents Austria’s interests within the European Space Agency (ESA), the EU, EUMETSAT and the United Nations. Its mission is to plan and coordinate Austrian space research and technological development at both national and international levels.
The FFG also acts as the National Contact Point (NCP) for European research and innovation programmes. This role is anchored in the Division for European and International Programmes. Its key responsibility is to support applicants from academia and industry who participate in these programmes. Of particular importance is Horizon Europe, the EU’s central funding programme. The topic of space is covered under Horizon Europe: Cluster 4 “Digital, Industry and Space”.