The Future EO Programme succeeds the earlier Earth Observation Envelope Programme (EOEP) and forms the basis of ESA's scientific and research-related EO activities. The programme has four strands:
This element includes the preparations for future EO missions such as the definition of a mission as well as the pre-development of instruments for Earth Explorers, Copernicus missions, Meteorological missions, ...
Within this section, research missions are defined, developed and launched, such as the Earth Explorers 
, the Scouts missions, opportunity missions and φ -sat missions. Through these satellite missions, ESA tries to answer urgent questions about our "living planet". The development of the missions balances on the edge of what is technically possible.
This element relates to the operational phase of the research missions.
This element combines the excellent EO capabilities and knowledge present in Europe with other scientific disciplines and emerging disruptive technologies (AI, HAPS, ...) in order to maximise the benefits for society.
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Steven Bogaerts
Space Research & Applications
