Space research benefits life on Earth

And space can provide the tools to address many of the global challenges that face society in the twenty-first century. Exploring the Universe, and sending satellites and humans into space will be vital for helping us to improve positioning and timing systems along with global environmental monitoring.

The search for life on other planets is probably the most intriguing part of space research and it occupies many of our top researchers. But why? As Dr. Seth Shostak noted at the European Commission's recent Innovation, a microbe from another planet will reveal unparalleled knowledge about our own biology. Efforts to find life on other planets are also providing innovative solutions for life on earth. The EU-funded MASE project will use a former mine in the UK as a Mars-like environment to test technologies for use in the search for life on the Red Planet. In doing so, it will gain new insights into technologies to improve mining safety and profitable mineral extraction.

Much of our space research involves the satellites that are now so vital to the functioning of modern European society. The recently concluded SAFETRIP project developed satellite applications for emergency handling, traffic alerts, road safety and incident prevention. The ELSA project meanwhile is working to ensure that European satellites continue feeding us the information that fuels much of our infrastructure. It is developing a levitating sphere with reduced mass and greater reliability than conventional systems to ensure our satellites maintain orientation during orbit.

- Extraterrestrial life may exist on moon of Saturn

- Former potash mine to help find life on Mars

- Dr. Seth Shostak: 'We are going to find life in space this century'

- Measuring the universe to catch a glimpse of our past

- Satellite applications for emergency handling, traffic alerts, road safety and incident prevention

- New sensor technology to enable future space exploration missions and on-orbit satellite servicing

- Decoding the stars

- More robust satellite navigation

- European-African satellite cooperation

- Levitation - keeping satellites upright and on target