Germany
More Efficient Glass Coatings
Space technology also has a role to play in manufacturing. Technology originally developed to measure oxygen atoms outside space vehicles is now being used by glass manufacturers to produce energy-efficient windows. Oxygen is highly corrosive, so levels of this atom around the space station need to be carefully monitored.
2011 – United Kingdom Government Space Budget – Snapshot
Civil space activities in the United Kingdom (UK) are primarily funded through the United Kingdom Space Agency (UKSA), which became operational in April 2011, and the Technology Strategy Board (TSB). Space budgets for FY 10/11, which ran from April 2010 through March 2011, had not been published by the UKSA as of January 2012.
2011 – German Government Space Budget – Snapshot
The Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Germany’s national space agency, oversaw an authorized budget of €## million (US$## million) in 2011, excluding contributions made to ESA. This represents an increase of ##% from 2010. In addition to the DLR-only spending, Germany made €## million (US$## billion) in ESA contributions in 2011. Combined, the DLR authorization and ESA contribution total €## billion (US$## billion), representing approximately ##% of Germany’s 2011 budget of €## billion ($## billion).
2011 – French Government Space Budget – Snapshot
The French space agency, the Centre National d’Études Spatiales (CNES), operated on a government budget of approximately €## million (US$## billion) in 2011, excluding contributions made to ESA and EUMETSAT. This represented a ##% increase from the 2010 budget of €## million (US$## million). Government spending was supplemented by €## million (US$## million) in revenue from activities such as launch services for ESA. In 2011, France contributed €## million (US$## billion) to ESA programs and €## million (US$## million) to EUMETSAT.
2011 – Military Reconnaissance – Snapshot
The German Federal Armed Forces operate a ##-satellite LEO fleet called SAR-Lupe, which provides radar imagery with one-meter (3-foot) resolution for surveillance purposes.
2011- Land Imaging – Snapshot
Two major players in satellite-based Earth imagery are U.S. companies DigitalGlobe and GeoEye. Both companies provide imagery to widely used applications such as Google Earth. In August 2010, the U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) awarded 10-year contracts to the companies, valued at $## billion for GeoEye and $## billion for DigitalGlobe, under the agency’s EnhancedView procurement. The NGA specializes in mapping and imagery intelligence, and played a key role in the raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound in May 2011 by providing satellite imagery, geospatial and targeting analysis, and modeling support to plan the successful mission.
2011 – Government Space Budgets Overview Snapshot
Overall government investment in space remains strong and growing, although the effect of smaller budgets is being seen in some places, including the United States, where 2011 government space spending was below the 2010 level. While the United States remains responsible for ##% of global government space spending, other governments appropriate significant amounts. Some, such as Brazil, Israel, and Russia, are on the cusp or in the midst of major increases in government space appropriations. Government space programs accounted for approximately $## billion in spending during 2011, which represents ##% of the total global space economy.
2011 – Galileo – Snapshot
The European Union (EU) is developing a PNT system called Galileo. The Galileo constellation will consist of ## operational satellites and three in-orbit spares. In October 2011, the first ## Galileo in-orbit validation (IOV) satellites were launched, and ## more IOV spacecraft were scheduled to launch by mid-2012. The initial Galileo constellation is expected to be in place between 2014 and 2016. However, financing may be a concern. The EU has already approved contracts for ## additional satellites with OHB of Germany, but the number of additional satellites that can be ordered depends in part on the European Commission’s calculation of exactly how much money remains in the seven-year budget, with the next budget commencing in 2014.
Economy: Space Economy – TSR 2011
Less Stress with Smarter Bolts
Technology designed to ensure proper operation of rovers exploring Mars is helping improve manufacturing on Earth. When deploying a vehicle to explore space and other planets, it is critical that bolts are properly tightened to ensure reliable operation.