Spanish citizens will be able to experience the latest space technology and applications, including Galileo and EGNOS, when the European Space Expo visits Madrid. You may not realise it, but space tech is making a major impact on your daily life – and this free exhibition shows you exactly how and why!
The latest venue for the European Space Expo sees the popular interactive exhibition ‘splash down’ on the banks of the Manzanares River in Madrid from 12 to 18 February.
This free exhibition has already been a big hit in seven European cities with its ‘hands on’ approach to demonstrating space technologies and their benefits. And, of course, the critical role of the European Union in space and space-based technologies is highlighted with Galileo and EGNOS taking starring roles!
The exhibition can be found on the Explanada de Puente del Rey in Madrid – part of a recent green redevelopment of the riverside in the heart of the Spanish capital. The easiest way to get there is by metro and the closest station is Estacion Principe Pio.
EGNOS for Aviation
The exhibition coincides with the World Air Traffic Management (ATM) Congress taking place from 12 to 14 February close to Madrid airport. EGNOS is playing an increasing role in the aviation sector following its certification for civil aviation in early 2011. EGNOS is improving air safety, benefiting airports and airlines, and contributing to lower overall emissions.
The EGNOS team will be participating at the Congress both as an exhibitor and an organiser of a workshop on the contribution of EGNOS to the evolving European ATM environment on 13 February.
In an interactive forum in the Aviation Arena, early adopters will show how EGNOS, the European Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS), has allowed them to gain major operational benefits. SBAS is one of the enabling technologies for a successful implementation of ambitious ATM modernisation projects in Europe and the USA and also one of the enabling technologies allowing Performance Based Navigation (PBN).
Speakers from the European GNSS Agency (GSA) and the EGNOS service provider, ESSP, will explain how SBAS improves the vertical accuracy of the existing GPS signal, leading to significant reductions in delays, diversions and cancellations at airports with an SBAS approach procedure. The next version of EGNOS will further improve on this performance and extend the system’s coverage.
Approach procedures with vertical guidance (APV) should be available on all runways by 2016. As EGNOS is one of two technologies that can enable the design of an APV, this ATM session will also provides insight to existing and planned roll out of such procedures in Europe.
Space Expo European Tour
The EU Space Expo will be touring across Europe visiting over 20 cities in two years. Visitors to the Expo can see, touch and experience the wide range of innovative technologies and services that space already provides for them. An increasing number of innovative applications rely on space technologies to help optimise transport, increase efficiency in agriculture and fisheries, protect the environment or improve security, and much more.
EU experts are on hand to present some specific examples and, of course, GSA is demonstrating the current and future benefits of today’s EGNOS initiative and tomorrow’s Galileo satellite navigation systems.
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