Tireless explorers, the human race has not stop to traveling and discovering far and unknow places such as the Ocean and Space. The link between the two was not immediately founded, the two being considered as opposite. A hundred years of exploration can be counted for the Ocean while there is only 66 years of exploration for the other. However the link between the two is obvious: the ocean reach for the space, and the space study the ocean.
The two entities have much in common. First of all, by their physical characteristics, these areas are hardly accessible, a non-breathing space, deep, wide, largely unknown to us (only 10% of the ocean is known to date) and subject to atmospheric pressure.
Satellites, observers from space
Since 1970, satellites have been a tool for observing the oceans. The European Earth observation programme, Copernicus, uses data from the satellites of EUMETSAT (European Organisation for the Exploration of Meteorological Satellites) in collaboration with the ESA (European Space Agency), which operates the Sentinel-3 to -6, CryoSat-2, … Thanks to these instruments, the Copernicus Marine Service uses these techniques such as
- spectroradiometers: measuring light
- Infrared radiometer: measures radiation
- Microwave radiometer: measures energy
- Satellite altimeter: measures topography
- Scatterometer: measures the Earth’s surface
- Synthetic aperture radar: takes two or three dimensional images
These instruments can measure a wide range of variables. For example, Copernicus studies sea ice cover, chlorophyll mineral and organic content, sea surface temperature, rainfall rates, wave height, atmospheric water liquid and vapour content, salinity, wind and many other factors.
The CNES (National centre of space study), a French institution, the NASA or ISRO, many others have launched their satellite to study the ocean. In fact, the AQUA satellite is the second spatial engine of the Earth Observation System of Systems (EOS) program.
All these data are of great importance for oceanographers and help to understand many aspects of this ecosystem, but above all to prevent environmental disasters. At the CNRS in Paris, scientists have explained the importance of space for ocean life by observing the quantity of phytoplancton in an interview granted to Space For Our Planet. Invisible from the Earth, but visible from space, phytoplankton make up the forests of the oceans, essential for marine life as they are at the bottom of the food chain and help absorb CO2. As they could disappear one day, specialists are studying the conditions and places where they exist and how to protect them. Temperature, salinity and sea level are some of the data used by the CNRS thanks to the CNES satellites.
Other satellites are designed to make it easier and safer for ships to cross the oceans. The Galileo satellite, a European initiative, is on the verge of becoming a revolutionary navigation system capable of pinpointing the user’s position within a few metres. Galileo is actually a constellation of 30 satellites, a project that began almost 20 years ago. The European Union will emancipate itself from Russia and the United States, which own the GLONASS and GPS systems. This new tool can also be a lifesaver for the safety of life at sea.
“Ariane 6 on board“
From the space to the ocean, but also from the ocean to the space, many ways unite to two area. The French space adventure takes place in French Guiana, in Kourou. Located near the equator line, France launches its rocket, Ariane, easier to propel from the earth. The hybrid cargo, La Canopée, makes its way across the Atlantic from Bordeaux to Kourou. Designed by the naval architect VPLP and operated by the French company Alizés, it transports Ariane’s 6 rocket struts, fuel and the upper floor. Since 2018, La Canopée has been the Ariane Group’s official shipping agent, transporting 5,000 tonnes of material. Five Ariane 6 launches are planned for 2025, and while La Canopée will be transporting the rocket, Ariane 6 will be carrying parts of the Galileo constellation.
With its unique architecture, La Canopée is a remarkable vessel, but also proof that the time of the sailing boat is not over. Four masts, 36 metres long, this vessel also has a great impact on emissions, saving 30% of fuel per year, it represents an ecological and economic interest.
On March 6 Arianespace successfully launched with Ariane6 the CSO-3 satellite. Arianespace guarantees independent access to space for France and Europe, meeting a strategic priority.
International cooperation
Most of these examples are multilateral cooperation, between countries or organisations. The SARAL-AlctiKa satellite is an oceanographic mission operated by France (CNES) and India (ISRO). The very famous SWOT satellite, which places an altimeter 891 kilometres above the Earth. SWOT will monitor lakes and rivers and measure water levels, which will “radically improve the hydrodynamic models used to estimate river flows”.
There are many examples of cooperation. The Treaty of Lisbon, signed in 2007 by the 27 member states of the European Union, defines space as a shared competence and promotes joint initiatives and technical research. In addition, in 2016, the European Commission adopted a space strategy for Europe and allocated €10.3 billion to the space sector, including Copernicus.
However, Jean Andouze a french astrophysicist alerted about regulations for space as it exists for sea as new private actors, such as Space X , play a huge part in the aerospace market. He also alerted about the space saturation and the augmentation of waves.
