Catalog

Technical programme

IAC-26 — 77th International Astronautical Congress

B1. IAF EARTH OBSERVATION SYMPOSIUM

The Earth Observation Symposium, organized by the International Astronautical Federation (IAF), covers all aspects of Earth observations from space, including observations related to the Earth’s environment, services to meet societal needs, and economic benefit. Aspects include programs, constellations, missions, and systems; microwave and optical sensors; land, oceanographic, atmospheric, geological, geophysical, societal, security, economic, and business domains; the associated science, ground data-processing, applications, and services; through all life cycle phases from research and technology through, planning, conceptualization, development, commissioning, operations, retirement and historical retrospective. Participation is encouraged from all sectors including institutional (including Government, Agencies, multi-lateral, non-Governmental, Academic) and Commercial.

Coordinator

Luís Ferreira
Airbus Defence and Space — Germany

Annamaria Nassisi
Thales Alenia Space Italia — Italy

Shimrit Tirosh Maman
Israel Space Agency — Israel

B1.1. International Ventures in Earth Observations

This session focuses in Earth Observation missions designed for international markets and applications, with emphasis on the role of international cooperation in achieving mission objectives. Contributions are welcome from governmental and agency programs, public–private partnerships, commercial initiatives, and academic or non-governmental organizations. Submissions are encouraged on the management, organizational, programmatic, and business-model aspects of cooperation. Presentations should share plans, status, and experiences—including challenges and risks—in organizing and managing international ventures. Case studies are particularly welcome where collaboration advances societal needs such as climate change mitigation, Earth system health, capacity building in emerging space nations, entrepreneurial and commercial growth, governmental policy, disaster response, media services, and security. The session also seeks insights on innovation and lessons learned in planning, governance, and management practices leading to successful outcomes. Areas of interest include: Space-based Earth Observation missions (single missions, constellations, and sustained programs), Systems (instruments, spacecraft, communications, data processing, archiving, distribution, and calibration/validation), Applications (value-added products and services benefiting society, business, and scientific or technological advancement). Papers with technical focus should be submitted to B1.2.

Co-Chair

Kyriaki Minoglou
European Space Agency (ESA) — The Netherlands

Cristian Bank
EUMETSAT — Germany

Rapporteur

Mukund Kadursrinivas Rao
Independent consultant — India

José Gavira Izquierdo
International Space Consultant — The Netherlands

B1.2. Earth Observation Systems

Focus is on innovative and new concept system solutions for Earth observations and how well they perform to meet user / mission objectives. Functional and technical description are encouraged. Papers covering all phases of the life cycle are requested including for systems envisioned, planned, recently launched, ongoing, and historical for single spacecraft missions and constellations, and for all categories of purposes including for scientific research, experimental demonstration, and operational / commercial Earth observation. All sources of missions are sought including governmental / agency programs, public / private partnerships, commercial, academic / non-governmental / non-commercial. Desired papers convey design features, technical performance, status of technical execution (concept study, concept design, preliminary design, detailed design, development, operations, retirement, historical), and technical challenges of the associated program, and highlighting unique / unprecedented features and the technical value they provide. Papers with a management / organization / programmatic / business model / cooperation focus should be submitted to B1.1

Co-Chair

Annamaria Nassisi
Thales Alenia Space Italia — Italy

Timo Stuffler
OHB System AG - Munich — Germany

Rapporteur

Doris Klein
DLR (German Aerospace Center) — Germany

Erick Lansard
Satellite Research Center, Nanyang Technological University (NTU) — Singapore, Republic of

B1.3. Earth Observation Sensors and Technology

First focus is on Earth Observation sensors and instruments including future concepts being proposed, developed, tested, or calibrated, and those in operations for all aspects of Earth observation. Driven by user and scientific requirements, particular emphasis is on instrument systems that make innovative measurements and deliver improved performance for science, operational or commercial applications. Second focus is on technologies for instruments, spacecraft and missions which enable innovation and advancement in sensor observations performance and capability. Capability advancement could be in coverage, resolution, onboard features such as processing, autonomy, adjustability/ adaptability, user commanding, or other technology that provides or is intended to provide improved utility to targeted and other users.

Co-Chair

Andrew Court
TNO — The Netherlands

Oana van der Togt
Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR) — The Netherlands

Rapporteur

Camilo Andres Reyes
— Colombia

Jeffrey Apeldoorn
ICEYE — Finland

B1.4. Earth Observation Data Systems and Technology

The focus is on the development and operations of Earth Observation-related data processing systems. The emphasis of the session is on the challenges of emerging information and web-based technology (e.g. Big Data, Cloud-based operations, internet of things, crowd sourcing) for acquisition, communication, processing, dissemination and archiving of data. The session also covers innovative methods for making data analysis ready, the extraction of information from these resulting large data sets (e.g. machine learning and artificial intelligence) and methods for making the information available timely to decision makers. This session also includes the evolving data processing infrastructure like federated Cloud systems and digital twin.

Co-Chair

Ana-Mia Louw
Simera Sense — South Africa

James Graf
Jet Propulsion Laboratory — United States

Rapporteur: Agnieszka Lukaszczyk
Andart Global — Poland

B1.5. Earth Observation Societal and Economic Applications, Challenges and Benefits

The focus of the session is on generating information and delivering applications and services using Earth Observations data for meeting sustainable development challenges, addressing socio-economic benefits, and delivering commercial services. Presentation of analyses, methods, algorithms, processors, case studies and results from developing and operating applications and services (e.g., including consideration of investment cost, economic return, and societal benefits, especially leveraging innovative approaches), are encouraged. Optimized application satellite constellations, that emphasize the socio-economic aspects of these collective systems rather than focusing on individual techniques or single satellites are also encouraged.

Co-Chair

Na Yao
Qian Xuesen Laboratory of Space Technology, China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) — China

Michael Kern
ESA — France

Rapporteur

Masami Onoda
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) — Japan

Luís Ferreira
Airbus Defence and Space — Germany

B1.6. The Future of Maritime Protection: An Integrated View on Earth Observation, Advanced Systems, and Policy

This session offers a comprehensive and forward-looking view on the topic of maritime protection, leveraging the latest advancements in Earth Observation (EO) technologies, space-based data, policy and applications. This session will encompass a combination of preventive measures, policy perspectives, and sophisticated monitoring technologies vital for safeguarding coasts and oceans. Throughout the session, industry experts will present the capabilities of next-generation EO, highlighting how the integration of advanced data analytics and intelligent systems is enabling new and effective solutions. The discussion will cover the latest innovations used to: i) Prevent pollution incidents and support a rapid response; ii) Monitor marine biodiversity and delicate ecosystems; iii) Enhance safety and rescue operations at sea; iv) Improve monitoring and surveillance against various coastal threats, v) manage fisheries, marine reserves and mammal populations. The session will also delve into the international regulations and policies that govern the use of EO data, promoting a framework for the responsible and sustainable management of marine resources and protecting both economic and environmental interests. This integrated approach—from technology and systems to policy and applications—provides a complete picture of the evolving landscape for a secure maritime future.

Co-Chair

Krystal Azelton
Secure World Foundation — United States

Mariel Borowitz
Georgia Tech Space Research Institute — United States

Rapporteur

Chen Xiaoli
Beijing Institute of Space Mechanics & Electricity, China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) — China

Alexandra Jercaianu
Nara Space — Korea, Republic of

B1.7. Earth Observations to Address Earth’s Environment and Climate Challenges

The IPCC reports on climate change articulate the major global environmental challenges that require vast and sustained measurement and information systems to monitor key climate parameters and inform decision makers and enable potential mitigations. Global governmental agencies, commercial and public/private partnerships are investing in creating systems and applications for environmental monitoring and prediction, and climate monitoring and change mitigation. This session focuses on the latest major findings in climate research and the systems being used to address the climate challenges, Earth Observations science, weather, oceanography, and land monitoring. Presentation of algorithms, processing chains and services especially leveraging innovative approaches, are encouraged. Optimized application satellite constellations, which do not focus on individual techniques or single satellites and describe the environmental / climate aspects of these collective systems, are also encouraged.

Co-Chair

Ole Morten Olsen
Norwegian Space Agency (NOSA) — Norway

Patrick Castillan
Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES) — France

Rapporteur

Shimrit Tirosh Maman
Israel Space Agency — Israel

Harry A. Cikanek
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) — United States

B1.IP. Interactive Presentations - IAF EARTH OBSERVATION SYMPOSIUM

This session offers a unique opportunity to deliver your key messages in an interactive presentation on any of the subjects of Earth Observation addressed in the classic Sessions. The presentation will be displayed on a digital screen in a dedicated location and available for view by all Congress attendees for the entire Congress week. In addition, one afternoon is dedicated exclusively for the attendees to view the Interactive Presentations, and the author will be assigned a specific ten-minute slot to personally present the topic and interact with the attendees present. The Interactive Presentation may take advantage of all electronic display capabilities, such as: PowerPoint charts, embedded hot links, pictures, audio and video clips etc. An award will also be presented to the author of the best Interactive Presentation in the B Category at a special ceremony. An Abstract that follows the standard format must be submitted by the deadline for standard IAC abstracts.

Co-Chair

Oana van der Togt
Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR) — The Netherlands

Harry A. Cikanek
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) — United States

Bernard Foing
ILEWG "EuroMoonMars" — The Netherlands

Parag Vaze
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Jet Propulsion Laboratory — United States

Masami Onoda
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) — Japan