Copernicus Support Office

Copernicus is the Earth Observation component of the European Union’s Space Programme, which monitors our planet and its environment for the ultimate benefit of the citizens of Europe. It delivers data, information and services based on satellite Earth Observation data and in situ (non-space) data. Copernicus is funded, coordinated and managed by the European Commission in cooperation with partners such as ESA and EUMETSAT.

The Copernicus component of the EU Space Programme is served by a set of dedicated satellites (the Sentinel family) and contributing missions (existing commercial and public satellites). The Sentinel satellites are specifically designed to meet the needs of the Copernicus information services and their users. Since the launch of Sentinel-1A in 2014, the European Union has initiated a process to place a complete constellation of almost 20 satellites in orbit before 2030. Today, there are eight Sentinel satellites in orbit, of five different types. Copernicus satellites, along with ground-based, airborne and seaborne measurement sensors, are providing vast amounts of global data.

The Copernicus services transform the wealth of satellite and in situ data into timely and actionable information by processing and analysing it. The services deliver datasets and time series that are comparable and searchable, ensuring that trends and changes are monitored. Patterns are examined and used to create better forecasts of, for example, the ocean and the atmosphere. Maps are derived from imagery, features and anomalies are identified and statistical information is extracted. These value-adding activities are streamlined through six thematic streams of Copernicus services: the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS), the Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service (CMEMS), the Copernicus Land Monitoring Service (CLMS), the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), the Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS) and the Copernicus Security Service.

The information services, as well as the data from which they are derived, are accessible on a free, full and open basis by anyone. This data and information are used by service providers, public authorities and international organisations to improve the quality of life for citizens of Europe and around the world, to monitor and mitigate climate change, and to preserve our fragile environment.

In 2016, the European Commission launched two important networks that epitomise the user uptake and outreach of Copernicus - the Copernicus Relays and Copernicus Academy. these networks consist of champions in the Copernicus ecosystem who act as promoters, trainers, and supporters of the Copernicus data and information services. To coordinate these networks, the Copernicus Support Office was created at the same time.

If you would like to contact the Copernicus Support Office, please feel free to do so at support@copernicus.eu