Last week we celebrated World Space Week, an event promoted by the United Nations to celebrate each year on an international scale the contributions of space science and technology to the improvement of the human condition.
Barely 60 years have passed since the first Earth ship, Sputnik, was launched into space on October 4, 1957, kicking off the space age. In these six decades, space activity has led us to explore our solar system like never before, it has given us amazing images of distant galaxies, it has made us dream of man landing on the Moon and it has inspired us as a result of the international collaboration to achieve great common goals, such as the International Space Station.
But, beyond the scientific achievements and the great fascination that space exerts, space technologies have a great impact on our daily life, although sometimes we are not fully aware of it, making it easier, safer and more sustainable. Indeed, the space sector has a key and growing role in areas such as communications, transport, the environment, energy, agriculture, defense and security.
of life on our planet is an issue that concerns us all. We do not have a “planet B”, so we must strive to care for the only home we have. Satellites provide us with very powerful tools to understand how the dynamics of the Earth are changing, climate change, deforestation, the balance of ocean ecosystems, etc., providing us with reliable and objective data that allows us to preserve the planet.
The recent ones in La Palma have highlighted, once again, the great utility of satellites as an ally in the face of natural catastrophes. The satellites of the European Copernicus program have provided us with images that have allowed us to observe the evolution of the lava flow on a daily basis and assess the damage in the affected areas, and have also provided us with measurements of the emissions of polluting gases produced by the volcano, being able to detect and follow plumes of sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere.
Beyond the profound impact of satellites on our lives and on caring for the planet, it also has an important role as an economic engine and a vector of transformation. In Spain we have a leading space industry, the fifth in Europe by size, which participates prominently in the main European space programs and the European Space Agency, as well as in programs from other countries around the world, both institutional and commercial. . Exports represent more than 80% of the total turnover of companies in the sector, a reflection of the competitiveness of our industry on the global scene, turnover that has increased by 70% in the last 10 years thanks to the drive and dynamism of the sector, according to data from TEDAE.
Our companies develop their own technology and have demonstrated their ability to lead complete space systems. of the excellence of the Spanish space industry: in 33 years of activity in Spain, we have participated in more than 600 satellites, probes and space vehicles for operators and space agencies around the world. We have recently made a significant investment in a clean room for satellite integration at our headquarters in Tres Cantos, which illustrates the commitment and commitment to the development of first-rate space activities in Spain, with capabilities within the reach of few countries. world level.
The space sector is also a source of quality job creation. In Spain we have highly qualified professionals, with a high percentage of university graduates in the sector (over 70%), mostly in STEM disciplines, followed by workers with professional training (close to 25%).
In line with the theme of World Space Week for 2021, “Women in space”, I would like to conclude this forum by highlighting the importance of continuing to advance the participation of women in space activity. Women currently represent 24% of all professionals in the sector in Spain (31% in the case of Thales Alenia Space, with the aim of continuing to increase it). The work of associations such as Women in Aerospace Europe (WIA-E), whose local group in Madrid was recently created, helps promote and encourage interest in space among young women, giving visibility to our excellent professionals so that they serve as a mirror for the future generations. Space is a sector with a present and a future that is worth betting on.
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