Syllabus Section: Science and Technology (GS Paper III)

Importance: UPSC Prelims and UPSC Mains

Why in News?

European Space Agency (ESA) Council approved the Matosinhos Manifesto to accelerate the use of space in Europe.

About:

• Matosinhos Manifesto aims to tackle the unprecedented societal, economic and security challenges faced by Europe and its citizens.
• Manifesto lays down a vision for the European continent in terms of maintaining and expanding its activities in space.
• This resolution defines three “accelerators” to further advance Europe’s space ambitions.

• First accelerator is for the ESA to work towards the ‘Space for a Green Future’, so that people are better able to understand the current state of Earth and to develop scenarios and solutions for sustainable life here.

• This is in line with achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emission targets by the year 2050.

• Second accelerator ‘Rapid and Resilient Crisis Response’ aims to support governments to act decisively on crises facing Europe, from flooding and storms to wildfires.
• Third accelerator is ‘Protection of Space Assets’, whose objective is to safeguard ESA astronauts and assets from interference by space debris and space weather.

• Other than this, the council recognised two “inspirators” to reinforce European management in science, expertise growth and inspiration,

• An icy moon pattern return mission and
• Human space exploration.

European Space Agency (ESA)

• The ESA is an intergovernmental organisation that was formed in 1975
• The aim of the organisation is developing Europe’s space capabilities.
• The organisation has 22 member states — Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
• Slovenia, Latvia, and Lithuania are Associate Members.

Source: Indian Express