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Summary

The inaugural European Satellite Day 2012 (TM) : Mayday! - A Day without Satellites took place on 27th September at the Committee of the Regions in Brussels.

More than 185 delegates participated, and heard from a number of top-level speakers on the vital roles that satellites play in a wide range of different sectors. Further information regarding the event is below, and you can also view photos by clicking on the link above.

Speakers include

Paul Weissenberg

Deputy Director General, DG Enterprise & Industry

European Commission

Claus Sørensen

Director-General of DG ECHO

European Commission

Jean-Claude Thébault

Director General

Bureau of European Policy Advisers

Elisabetta Gardini

Member

European Parliament

Michel de Rosen

Vice-Chair

ESOA & CEO, Eutelsat

More information

Bringing together top-level speakers, and also offering an exhibition and live demonstration area, the inaugural European Satellite Day 2012^TM has the theme of Mayday! - A Day without Satellites, and will provide attendees with the opportunity to experience first hand the many innovative and vital roles that satellites play in the everyday lives of EU citizens everywhere.

By sharing critical satellite applications and putting them in the context of key policy objectives linked to the EU 2020 strategy, the event will highlight the ever growing dependence that Europe has on this invisible infrastructure, and highlight the disastrous impact that would be had if ever we had the misfortune to experience just one day without satellites.

Some of the fundamental applications and uses of satellites that will be showcased include:

- The importance of global information availability through media broadcasting anytime anywhere

- The reliance on weather forecasting and the longer term understanding of climate change thanks to meteorological satellites

 - The criticality of satellite communications when disaster strikes to support emergency response and relief efforts when terrestrial systems are destroyed or overloaded

 - The vital role that satellite plays in synchronising power grids and financial markets worldwide

- The indispensable communications ability delivered by satellite for ships on the high seas & for secure communications

- Delivering equal access to services and opportunities through satellite broadband in remote / difficult to reach regions

- The positive impact that satellites are making on communications in developing nations
 

The main conference will then be followed in the afternoon by a highly interactive discussion session, where participants will be invited to provide their thoughts on 'Working together to achieve the full benefits of satellite and space technologies'.

For more information, please contact Anne-Lise Simon on anne-lise.simon@forum-europe.com or +44 (0) 2920 783 023.