Access Space Alliance logo. Photo: Access Space

ACCESS.SPACE Alliance, which represents the small satellite sector and its stakeholders, has called for support for the sector during the Covid-19 crisis. The organization said that since the Covid-19 virus has become a global pandemic, the New Space ecosystem faces challenges in its day-to-day operations such as cash flow constraints, difficulties in terms of workforce availability, and supply chain disruptions.

ACCESS.SPACE also noted that due to the current crisis, global telecommunications networks have been facing unprecedented strain leading to data speed disruption and service level degradation at a time when connectivity is critical to keep the economy running. “Although no major outages have occurred so far, the risk of such – whether by congestion or unavailability of workforce or spare parts – is growing as the pandemic spreads, calling for more disaster-resilient communication networks. Satellite-based communication networks by design are largely independent from terrestrial infrastructure and hence should play a greater role in disaster communication strategies supporting disaster mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery,” the Alliance said.

ACCESS.SPACE called for measures to counteract the crisis and anticipate long term consequences, including public support for Research, Development, and Innovation (RD&I). The Alliance also suggested tax measures, pan-European and national programs, administrative steps and workarounds, governmental measures, and public support measures.