Copernical Team
Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS)
The Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) was formed in 1982 by the major space agencies of the world to provide a forum for discussion of common problems in the development and operation of space data systems. It is currently composed of eleven member agencies, twenty-eight observer agencies, and over 140 industrial associates.
Since its establishment, it has been actively developing Recommendations for data- and information-systems standards to promote interoperability and cross support among cooperating space agencies, to enable multi-agency spaceflight collaboration (both planned and contingency) and new capabilities for future missions. Additionally, CCSDS standardization reduces the cost burden of spaceflight missions by allowing cost sharing between agencies and cost-effective commercialization.
UK Space Agency
The UK Space Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and at the heart of UK efforts to explore and benefit from space.
It was established on 1 April 2010 to replace the British National Space Centre and took over responsibility for government policy and key budgets for space exploration, and represents the United Kingdom in all negotiations on space matters. It brings together all UK civil space activities under one single management.
RAL Space
RAL Space at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) is part of the Science and Technology Facilities Council.
RAL Space work alongside the UK Space Agency (UKSA) who co-ordinate UK civil space activities. RAL Space has around 200 staff who are dedicated to supporting the programmes of the Council and those of the other research councils; as well as undertaking a large number of contracts for agencies, industry and other commercial customers.
RAL Space provide research and technology development, space test facilities, instrument and mission design, and studies of science and technology requirements for new missions.
Andrews Space
Andrews Space is an aerospace company based in Seattle, USA. It was founded in 1999 to develop space systems.
Andrews Space provides aerospace services for commercial, civil, and military clients. The company is an integrator of aerospace systems and developer of advanced space technologies.
Committee on Space Research (COSPAR)
The Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) is a world-wide organisation promoting scientific research in space on an international level.
COSPAR was established in 1958 by the International Council for Science .
Among COSPAR's objectives are the promotion of scientific research in space on an international level, with emphasis on the free exchange of results, information, and opinions, and providing a forum, open to all scientists, for the discussion of problems that may affect space research.
These objectives are achieved through the organization of symposia, publication, and other means. COSPAR has created a number of research programmes on different topics, a few in cooperation with other scientific Unions.
Hamtec Consulting
Hamtec Consulting Ltd is a British Limited company which has brought together qualified associate consultants with a wide range of experience, ability and knowledge. The company was formed in 2009, specifically to provide dedicated and focused consultancy and technical engineering services to the aerospace community.
Multi-functional Satellite Augmentation System (MSAS)
Multi-functional Satellite Augmentation System (MSAS) is a Japanese SBAS (Satellite Based Augmentation System), i.e. a satellite navigation system which supports differential GPS (DGPS) designed to supplement the GPS system by reporting (then improving) on the reliability and accuracy of those signals.
A similar service is provided in North America by Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), and in Europe by European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS).
It is operated by the Japan's Government.
Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS)
The Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) is an air navigation aid developed by the Federal Aviation Administration to augment the Global Positioning System (GPS).
The goal is to improve the GPS signal accuracy, integrity, and availability. Essentially, WAAS is intended to enable aircraft to rely on GPS for all phases of flight, including precision approaches to any airport within its coverage area.
WAAS uses a network of ground-based reference stations, in North America and Hawaii, to measure small variations in the GPS satellites' signals in the western hemisphere. Measurements from the reference stations are routed to master stations, which queue the received Deviation Correction and send the correction messages to geostationary WAAS satellites in a timely manner (every 5 seconds or better). Those satellites broadcast the correction messages back to Earth, where WAAS-enabled GPS receivers use the corrections while computing their positions to improve accuracy.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) calls this type of system a satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS).
Similar service is provided in Asia, notably Japan, by the Multi-functional Satellite Augmentation System (MSAS), and in Europe by European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS).
European GNSS Agency (GSA)
As an official European Union regulatory authority, the European GNSS Agency (GSA) manages public interests related to European GNSS(*) programmes.
The Agency's strategic objectives include the achievement of a fully operational GALILEO system. This includes the laying of foundations for a fully sustainable and economically viable system and its security.
(*) GNSS: Global Navigation Satellite Systems
EGNOS
The European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) is a satellite based augmentation system developed by the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Commission and EUROCONTROL.
The EGNOS system provides additional signals to users of satellite navigation services, broadcast through geostationary satellites, guaranteeing the integrity of satellite navigation so that it can be used in support of safety-of-life services such as civil aviation.
It supplements the GPS, GLONASS and Galileo systems by reporting on the reliability and accuracy of the positioning data. The official start of operations was announced by the European Commission on 1 October 2009.
According to specifications, horizontal position accuracy should be better than seven metres. In practice, the horizontal position accuracy is at the metre level. The EGNOS system consists of three geostationary satellites and a network of ground stations.
The system started its initial operations in July 2005, showing outstanding performances in terms of accuracy (better than two metres) and availability (above 99%); and it was certified for use in safety of life applications in March 2011. An EGNOS Data Access Service is also available since July 2012.
Similar service is provided in North America by the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), and in Asia, notably Japan, by the Multi-functional Satellite Augmentation System (MSAS).