Memorandum 117
Submission from Satellite Observing Systems
(SOS)
— Satellite Observing Systems (SOS)
is one of the very few UK commercial companies certainly the longest
serving providing value-added marine products from satellite observations.
— When it comes to marine environmental
monitoring there is a very strong case for breaking the mould.
We have been doing things the same way for too long.
— The current GMES programme proposes,
yet again, a series of single satellite missions. We are all too
familiar with their performance. Certainly, their observations
will add to the climatological type of date bases that are essential
to detecting slow, long-term trends; but, they will contribute
little or nothing to the future needs of both DEFRA and commercial
marine operations for near real-time information on impending
threats.
— There are also substantial societal
benefits to be derived from building on this country's world lead
in the manufacture of small satellites that would complement the
sparse coverage of these GMES single missions. Leading on a system
with the capacity to warn emerging nations of the next impending
disaster would do nothing to harm this country's Image abroad.
— The Disaster Monitoring Constellation
pioneered by SSTL to monitor over land is the first in the world.
By attracting investments from other nations It has been a commercial
success for this country. It may be argued that the need for an
international maritime surveillance system is even stronger.
— Many people in space now support
the case for creating a modest national programme to complement
our subscription to ESA missions. Developing relatively low-cost
small satellites to form the cornerstone of a system that permits
more reliable monitoring of our marine environment must count
as a strong candidate.
January 2007
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