Expo shines light on space activities

For the first time, Dublin is playing host to the European Space Expo, which aims to reveal how space improves our everyday lives.

The travelling exhibition, which opened at Trinity College Dublin yesterday and runs until Sunday, shows how space activities and applications have a direct impact on planet Earth.

“Over 30,000 applications rely on space technologies that can help optimise transport, increase efficiency in agriculture and fisheries industries, protect our environment and improve our security,” said an Expo spokeswoman.

“Visitors of all ages can see, touch and experience the wide range of innovative technologies and services that space offers,” said Alicia O’Rourke of the European Commission, which is part funding the exhibition.

“It’s a fantastic, enriching exhibition, and it is free. There are lots of interactive games for children but people of all ages will love it. It is a very special event.”

The expo will highlight the many positive benefits created by investment in space.

Antonio Tajani, EU commissioner for industry and entrepreneurship, said: “EU investment in space is crucial for the provision of services essential to our modern lives. This exhibition is a great opportunity for visitors to explore the wide range of applications available thanks to the EU satellite navigation (EGNOS and Galileo) and Earth observation programmes (Copernicus).”

Galileo and Copernicus are complementary systems making use of satellite technologies. With Galileo, Europe has moved a step closer to having its own smart satellite navigation system.

From 2014, the new satellites constellation will enable improved early services, ranging from more precise in-car navigation to effective road transport management, search and rescue services and more secure banking transactions.

Copernicus uses data collected by satellites to study climate change and tackle environmental issues. It also has security applications, such as border surveillance.

Sean Sherlock, minister for research and innovation, expressed his delight that “Dublin now joins a growing fraternity of major European cities in hosting this event, giving the public the opportunity to see some of the exciting achievements for Europe, and indeed Ireland, in the space sector”.

The exhibition is timed to coincide with the ninth European Intelligent Transport Systems Congress, which is taking place in Dublin’s Convention Centre.

The market for global satellite navigation applications will reach €240bn by the end of the decade, with about 7% of gross domestic product — equal to €800bn in Europe — reliant on satellite navigation services.

Independent studies have shown that Galileo could contribute up to €90bn to the European economy in its first 20 years.

Currently, the European space manufacturing industry is worth €5.4bn per year and employs a highly qualified workforce of more than 31,000 people.