BELSPO’s "Space Research and Applications" department manages the Belgian contributions to the international space programmes in the framework of the European Space Agency (ESA) and of other intergovernmental organisations (EUMETSAT, ECMWF, ESO...), as well as in the framework of bilateral agreements. In this context, it is also in charge of the follow-up of the space activities and programmes of the European Union. Finally, the Department manages specific national R&D programmes mainly in the domain of Earth Observation.

EUBelgium24
Belgian EU Presidency

Calendar of Belspo meetings
Belgium holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2024, from 1 January to 30 June.
Research, Innovation and Space : priorities of the Belgian Presidency.

Space in Belgium

Belgian space strategy • Belgian space Law • Key initiatives • Space actors in Belgium • Who does what in BELSPO? • Space activities by theme.

Belspo programmes and initiatives

BELSPO manages a number of national programmes and initiatives: the Earth Observation Research Programme STEREO • the Centre of Image Processing (CvB) • Terrascope • the Pléiades4Belgium portal.

European Space Agency (ESA)

Belgium is a founding member of ESA as an intergovernmental organisation. BELSPO represents Belgium and defends the Belgian interests in the framework of ESA (Belgian Delegation).

Space in the European Union

BELSPO is in charge of the follow-up of the space activities and programmes of the European Union. BELSPO represents Belgium and defends the Belgian interests in the framework of the EU committees related to space.

Other international partners

Bilateral cooperations • Intergovernmental organisations • Other organisations.

Education & public

Are you fascinated by space exploration? Do you want to know more about Earth Observation by satellite? Do you want to dive into the Milky Way? Whether you are a parent, teacher or student, take a look at these suggestions for space journeys.

News

04-07-2024 - Press Release - Belgium contributes to the new European launch into orbit!
01-07-2024 - Press Release - Call for proposals: your scientific experiments on board the ISS with our Belgian astronaut Raphaël Liégeois
13-06-2024 - Press Release - European First: Petrochemical Analysis Samples Now Transported by Drone to Laboratory
23-05-2024 - Press Release - Arabsat launches multicontinental managed satellite services on neXat platform
30-05-2024 - Press Release - Positive vibes for the Einstein Telescope project at the Three Borders !
13-05-2024 - Call for proposals - Programme for Earth Observation Terrascope II

information event

12-04-2021 - BELSPO-ESA Media Event
ESA seeks new astronauts

Publications

Deelname aan de offerteaanvragen in het kader van het ruimtevaartprogramma van de Europese Unie
Participation aux appels d’offres dans le cadre du Programme spatial de l’Union européenne
Samenvatting van het IDEA rapport van 15 juli 2019
Impact van de Belgische investeringen in ruimtevaartonderzoeksprogramma's.
Résumé du rapport IDEA du 15 juillet 2019
Impact des investissements belges dans les programmes de recherche dans le domaine du Spatial.
Rapport d’activités - Activités spatiales (mars 2018)
depuis le Conseil ministériel de l'ESA de décembre 2014 à Luxembourg et de décembre 2016 à Lucerne
Activiteitenverslag - Ruimtevaartactiviteiten (maart 2018)
sinds de ESA Ministeriële Raad van december 2014 te Luxemburg en van december 2016 te Luzern

BELSPO INFO SESSIONS

22-12-2022 - ESA CMIN22 follow up and debriefing to the Belgian space actors
30-09-2022 - ESA CMIN22 info day
06-12-2019 - Space 19+ debriefing to the Belgian space actors

FOCUS

01-07-2024 - Press Release
Call for proposals: your scientific experiments on board the ISS with our Belgian astronaut Raphaël Liégeois

Raphaël Liégeois: new Belgian astronaut
BELSPO is happy to announce the selection of Belgian Raphaël Liégeois as an @ESA career astronaut.
After Dirk Frimout and Frank De Winne, Raphaël Liégeois will be the third Belgian astronaut selected to work as a professional astronaut in space.

© ESA