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SUMMARY:Earth Observation Architectural Challenges 2040–2060 Workshop
DTSTART:20260928T110000Z
DTEND:20260930T110000Z
DTSTAMP:20260707T175500Z
UID:indico-event-664@indico.esa.int
CONTACT:events-eopf@esa.int
DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Craig Donlon (European Space Agency)\n\nA strategic 
 workshop to help shape the future of Europe's Earth Observation system\n\n
 Introduction\nEarth Observation (EO) is entering a period of structural ch
 ange. Climate pressure\, geopolitical instability\, rapid advances in AI a
 nd digital technologies\, a growing commercial space domain\, and evolving
  user expectations are challenging the EO ecosystem of today. Together\, t
 hese drivers are transforming both the demand for information and the way 
 that information must be generated\, trusted\, delivered and used.\nEurope
 ’s Earth Observation capability is world-class. However\, the assumption
 s underpinning today’s EO architecture are already being stressed by:\n\
 nIncreasing demand for timely\, trusted\, decision-ready information\nGrow
 ing dependence on AI-driven prediction\, data assimilation and automated a
 nalysis\nRising complexity across institutional\, commercial\, scientific\
 , operational and security domains\nGreater exposure to systemic risks\, d
 ependencies and disruption\nPressure on financial resources and shifting p
 olitical and programme priorities\n\nIncremental evolution is no longer su
 fficient. The challenge ahead is not only to add new missions\, but to ens
 ure that satellites\, ground segment\, data infrastructure\, services\, in
 terfaces and governance evolve coherently as a system-of-systems architect
 ure capable of meeting the challenges anticipated for 2040–2060.\nA firs
 t workshop in 2025 considered the European Earth Observation Ecosystem as 
 a system-of-systems. Its results helped shape the ESA Earth Observation Ec
 osystem Reference Architecture Blueprint 2025 Edition.\nWhat will we do in
  this workshop?\nThe 2026 workshop will stress test and challenge the assu
 mptions underpinning the Blueprint\, and explore how the European EO ecosy
 stem may need to evolve in the 2040–2060 timeframe.\nUsing structured sc
 enario-framing narratives\, participants will work through four steps:\nSc
 an — What is changing?Identify the major drivers shaping EO\, including 
 climate change\, AI\, geopolitics\, markets\, technology\, security needs 
 and evolving user expectations. Explore how these drivers affect what Euro
 pe needs to observe\, and how observations may need to be made\, processed
  and delivered.\nAssess — What do those changes imply?Explore how these 
 drivers affect future information needs\, observing-system requirements\, 
 data architectures\, service models and institutional roles. Identify wher
 e today’s assumptions may no longer hold.\nStress test — What are the 
 implications for the EO ecosystem?Use contrasting future scenarios to expo
 se gaps\, vulnerabilities\, trade-offs\, dependencies and emerging opportu
 nities in the current system. Test the resilience of today’s EO architec
 ture against future conditions that may place very different demands on mi
 ssions\, constellations\, data systems\, services and governance.\nShape 
 — What needs to be done\, and why?Identify priorities\, architectural op
 tions and strategic actions for Europe. The results will help shape the 20
 26 edition of the ESA EO Reference Architecture Blueprint.\nThis process i
 s intended to move the discussion from reactive evolution towards proactiv
 e system architecture design.\nScenarios are not predictions. They are too
 ls to test robustness\, reveal choices early\, and explore options while t
 hey remain open.\nExpected outcomes\nThe workshop will deliver:\n\nFour st
 rategic scenarios for Earth Observation in 2040–2060\nA shared view of t
 he key EO drivers of change\, architectural challenges\, risks and opportu
 nities\nIdentification of priorities and strategic options for EuropeInsig
 hts into implications for missions\, constellations\, data systems\, servi
 ces\, interfaces and governance\nA strengthened shared understanding acros
 s the European EO community of the architectural choices ahead\nInput to t
 he next edition of the ESA EO Reference Architecture Blueprint\n\nWho shou
 ld attend?\nThe workshop is designed for a broad cross-section of the EO e
 cosystem\, including:\n\nSpace agencies\, EU institutions and national pro
 grammes\nMission planners and architecture teams\nScientists and research 
 organisations\nIndustry and system integrators\nCommercial and New Space a
 ctors\nAI\, data and downstream service providers\nPolicy users\, operatio
 nal services and security communities\n\nYour role\nThis is not a passive 
 event. Participants are expected to contribute their expertise to challeng
 e assumptions\, test alternative futures\, and identify what would need to
  change — and why.\nThe value of the workshop will come from combining i
 nstitutional\, scientific\, technical\, commercial and user perspectives i
 nto a common architectural view of Europe’s future EO capability.\n\nhtt
 ps://indico.esa.int/event/664/
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LOCATION:ESTEC-ERASMUS 
URL:https://indico.esa.int/event/664/
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