China and Europe will evaluate Earth observation knowledge to assist environmental safety and the inexperienced transition
A technician checks the Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) at a workshop of the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 4, 2024. The SMILE is a joint mission between the CAS and the European Space Agency (ESA) that goals to deepen the understanding of the Sun-Earth connection. PHOTO: Xinhua
China and Europe have developed mature Earth observation capabilities and are more and more capable of complement one another by combining their satellite tv for pc knowledge and scientific experience, a European Space Agency (ESA) senior official has mentioned.
Rune Floberghagen, head of ESA’s Department of Climate Action, Sustainability and Science, advised Xinhua in an unique interview in Dublin on Tuesday night that China and Europe have each developed robust Earth observation capabilities and are more and more complementing one another.
“We all have strong assets in space,” he mentioned, including that the 2 sides have additionally developed a shared ambition to make use of their knowledge and experience for the good thing about the planet. “We are complementing each other, and using this information together is really a powerhouse.”
Floberghagen was in Dublin for the 2026 Dragon 6 Mid-term Symposium. Launched in 2004 by China’s Ministry of Science and Technology and ESA, the Dragon Program helps joint Earth observation analysis utilizing Chinese, European and third-party satellite tv for pc knowledge.
Scientific cooperation constructed on belief
Floberghagen mentioned this system has performed a elementary function in creating Earth science cooperation between China and Europe over the previous 22 years.
“It has created hundreds of scientific projects that we have run together,” he mentioned. European and Chinese scientists have labored toward widespread objectives and produced data necessary for understanding the planet and the challenges it faces.
“Without this program, this type of working together between China and Europe would not have happened,” he mentioned.
Beyond scientific outcomes, this system has helped researchers construct long-term skilled and private ties. “Trust is really the key word here,” Floberghagen mentioned.
Scientists share knowledge, info and analysis strategies, and learn the way their companions analyze knowledge and method scientific issues, he mentioned.
“We are, as we say, in the same boat, in a rough ocean,” he mentioned. “The planet’s challenges do not really know borders. They do not care about geopolitical borders or country borders. They follow the laws of physics.”
China’s rising capabilities in Earth observation
Floberghagen mentioned China has made “tremendous” progress in Earth observation and developed robust capabilities throughout a variety of devices and measurements.
He famous that Earth observation covers not solely optical cameras and radar, but additionally measurements of atmospheric composition, sea degree, vegetation, forests, land high quality and agricultural circumstances.
He mentioned Europe had shared a few of its early experience in Earth observation applied sciences and data-processing strategies with China, which had used that data to construct its personal capabilities quickly. The relationship has since grow to be more and more reciprocal, as Chinese and European missions present measurements at totally different occasions and from totally different devices.
“You give your part, Europe gives its part, and together that is actually quite a wonderful thing,” he mentioned.
Having visited China a number of occasions, Floberghagen mentioned he was additionally impressed by the nation’s capacity to show technological selections into sensible purposes.
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“What impressed me the most in China is that when a decision is taken to implement something, it happens relatively quickly,” he mentioned. “The decision is really a decision, and it happens according to plan.”
Satellite and remote-sensing knowledge can be utilized by firefighters, flood responders and different frontline personnel, he mentioned, however area specialists and emergency responders should higher perceive one another’s wants.
“You need to bring these two worlds together,” he mentioned.
The Dragon Program has up to now targeted largely on scientific analysis, knowledge high quality and analytical strategies, however its emphasis is shifting.
“What we are seeing is an evolution into practical application,” he mentioned. “I expect that this will become a bigger part of Dragon in the future.”
New applied sciences and younger scientists
Looking forward, Floberghagen mentioned China and Europe would work collectively on new observation applied sciences and measurements which have solely not too long ago grow to be potential from area.
“What I expect from the Dragon collaboration is that we together look into new capabilities that we are now putting into space, new measurements that the world has never seen before,” he mentioned.
Potential analysis areas embody adjustments in atmospheric carbon dioxide, the well being of vegetation and forests, photosynthesis and the evolution of the biosphere. The two sides will evaluate knowledge from new devices and discover purposes supporting environmental safety and the inexperienced transition.
Young scientists may even stay an necessary a part of this system.
“Young scientists are overall very focused on preservation of the planet, on green values,” Floberghagen mentioned.
He mentioned ESA hopes to create extra alternatives for European researchers to work in China and for Chinese researchers to realize expertise in Europe.