With NASA stepping back from Earth sciences, Europe’s role as the global leader in Earth Observation becomes more crucial than ever. Backed by Copernicus and national constellations, Europe invests heavily in EO, but satellites alone are insufficient. Domino-E’s federated ground-segment innovations ensure scalable, interoperable, and sovereign access to EO data, positioning Europe to lead in climate monitoring, security, and digital innovation.
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A Virtual Assistant for Europe: Lowering Barriers to EO Use and Empowering Enterprises
Accessing Earth Observation data has often required costly expertise, leaving many SMEs and municipalities excluded. Domino-E’s Virtual Assistant changes this by translating natural language into EO service requests, lowering barriers, and broadening access. Acting as a bridge between complex infrastructures and everyday needs, it empowers enterprises, supports innovation, and strengthens Europe’s competitiveness by making EO insights widely usable and accessible.
Shared Satellite Communication: How Domino-E’s SCRMS Reinforces Europe’s Space Sovereignty
Communication between satellites and ground stations is the hidden backbone of Earth Observation. Domino-E’s SCRMS transforms this process by treating communication as a shared resource, reducing inefficiencies, and enabling real-time adaptability. By federating networks, Europe maximizes its assets, lowers costs, and empowers both large players and SMEs. This federated communication layer not only strengthens competitiveness but also secures Europe’s autonomy in critical situations.
Global Coverage, Local Decisions: How Domino-E Builds on EO Inventories to Deliver Timely Insights
Domino-E’s Coverage Service revolutionizes Earth Observation by federating satellite assets to deliver faster, fresher, and more efficient coverage. By applying advanced algorithms and optimization techniques, the system coordinates multiple satellites, reduces duplication, and accelerates access to data. This ensures Europe can respond rapidly to crises, support climate policies, and maintain sovereignty over strategic information, turning EO into a timely and competitive advantage.
From Data Silos to Sovereignty: Why Domino-E Matters for Europe’s EO Future
Europe’s Earth Observation sector has long suffered from fragmented ground-segment systems, creating inefficiencies and barriers for collaboration. Domino-E addresses this challenge by introducing a federated, modular architecture built on interoperable “Dominoes.” This approach lowers costs, enables SMEs to compete, accelerates deployment, and strengthens Europe’s sovereignty in EO. By dismantling silos without compromising control, Domino-E ensures Europe can innovate faster and remain competitive on the global stage.
DOMINO-E at LPS 2025: Strengthening Ties and Shaping the Future of Earth Observation
DOMINO-E proudly participated in the Living Planet Symposium (LPS 2025) in Vienna, hosted by the European Space Agency. Engaging with over 5,000 participants, the project showcased its mission to make Earth observation (EO) services more accessible, affordable, and scalable across Europe. Through a dedicated booth and side session, DOMINO-E presented its innovative Ground Stations as a Service model and user-focused EO solutions. The event reinforced the importance of collaboration and practical innovation in shaping the future of EO.
Federated Intelligence in Earth Observation: Planning at Scale for the New Space Paradigm
The IWPSS 2025 conference in Toulouse spotlighted the shift toward federated intelligence in Earth observation. Two standout papers from the DOMINO-E consortium presented innovative scheduling models for satellite communication and area coverage, tackling the complexities of coordinating heterogeneous EO systems in dynamic, uncertain environments.
Domino-E at IWPSS 2025: Driving the Future of Earth Observation Planning
The International Workshop on Planning and Scheduling for Space is the place to be for breakthroughs in AI-powered satellite operations — and this year, Domino-E is front and center.
With three scientific papers directly emerging from the project and two more featuring Domino-E researchers, the initiative is clearly influencing how we approach modular, intelligent, and scalable ground segment architectures for Earth observation.
Recap: Domino-E Webinar Session #3
Date: March 29, 2025 Title: The Domino Ecosystem: Business Opportunities for SME’s Speakers: Amaya-Atenica Yepes (GMV), Grzegorz Taberski (ITTI), Daniel Novak (ADS), Stéphane Derrien (Capgemini), Jean-Francois Vinuesa (ADS) Host(s): Thomas Stollenwerk (Oikoplus), Michael Anranter (Oikoplus) The final session of the Domino-E webinar series took a deep dive into the business opportunities and ecosystem dynamics that…
Recap: Domino-E Webinar Session #2
Date: March 26, 2025 Title: Developing within Domino: Examples from Domino-E Speakers: Philippe Pavero (ADS), Jakub Rezler (ITTI), Marie Devant (Capgemini), Cédric Pralet (ONERA), Cyrille de Lussy (ADS), and Raivis Skadins (Tilde) Host(s): Thomas Stollenwerk (Oikoplus), Michael Anranter (Oikoplus) In the second session of the Domino-E webinar series, we moved from theory to practice: three…
Recap: Domino-E Webinar Session #1
Date: March 19, 2025, 10:30-12:00 CET Title: Understanding the Domino Architecture – A New Era of Earth Observation Speakers: Jean-François Vinuesa (ADS), Daniel Novak (ADS), Michael Anranter (Oikoplus) Hosts: Thomas Stollenwerk (Oikoplus), Michael Anranter (Oikoplus) The first session of the Domino-E webinar series commenced with a thorough exploration of the history, challenges, and innovations in…
DOMINO-E at the HaDEA Workshop on EU-funded R&I for Earth Observation Technologies
On February 21, 2025, the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) and DG DEFIS hosted a high-impact workshop on EU-funded Research & Innovation for Earth Observation (EO) Technologies in Brussels. This hybrid event brought together key players from eight HorizonEurope Earth Observation projects, fostering collaboration and strategic discussions. As part of the ground segment…
Domino-E Whitepaper: Revolutionizing Earth Observation through Modular Collaboration
Earth observation is undergoing a transformation, driven by the need for faster, more flexible, and cost-effective access to satellite data. Domino-E stands at the forefront of this change, offering a scalable, modular approach that empowers both established players and emerging innovators. By breaking down traditional barriers, Domino-E paves the way for a future where satellite…
Join the Domino-E Webinar Series: Unlocking the Future of EO
The world of Earth Observation (EO) is evolving rapidly—and with it, the complexity of satellite ground segments. As data volumes grow and operational costs increase, scalable, modular, and federated solutions are needed to ensure accessibility, affordability, and efficiency. This is exactly what the Domino-E project is addressing. To share our findings and engage with future…
A Virtual Assistant Bridging Earth Observation and User Needs
Tilde’s Raivis Skadins discusses their work on virtual assistants and their role in bridging users with Earth observation technology through the Domino-E project. From enabling natural, smart conversations to simplifying complex satellite systems for non-experts, these assistants enhance user accessibility and empower human operators by automating routine tasks. The project’s development, challenges, and potential highlight how virtual assistants evolve alongside technology and user needs.
Marie Devant on Innovating Earth Observation: Building Modular Software Systems with Domino-E
Marie Devant, Product Owner at Capgemini, reveals how the modular Domino architecture is revolutionizing Earth Observation (EO) ground segments. By breaking complex systems into smaller, interoperable Dominos, this approach ensures flexibility and scalability. From developing the Coverage Service Domino to tackling integration challenges and fostering collaboration through standardized APIs, Devant highlights how Domino-E enables innovative and efficient solutions for EO missions.
How the Domino Architecture is Fostering Flexibility and Collaboration in the EO Market
Discover how the innovative Domino architecture is transforming the ground segment market by fostering flexibility and collaboration. Stéphane Derrien, project lead at Capgemini, discusses the architecture’s modular approach, which allows diverse providers to contribute customizable components to meet varied market demands—from high-end solutions to budget-conscious needs. Learn how Capgemini is shaping this shift with its strategic involvement in the space sector.
Building the Future of Earth Observation: Matthieu Vansteene on Pioneering the Domino Architecture
Matthieu Vansteene, a Solution Architect at Capgemini, is at the forefront of the Domino-E project, building practical applications for the innovative Domino-X architecture. By creating modular, cloud-based components called “Dominos,” the project aims to revolutionize Earth Observation ground segments, offering interoperability, flexibility, and efficiency. From standardized interfaces to real-time decision-making tools, Matthieu envisions a future where the Domino architecture becomes the industry standard for satellite operations.
Mastering Satellite Coordination: Cédric Pralet on the Coverage Service Domino and Decision-Making in EO
Cédric Pralet, a researcher at ONERA, specializes in decision-making algorithms for satellite optimization and Earth observation. His work on the Coverage Service Domino within the DOMINO-E project focuses on efficiently dispatching observation requests across multiple satellite systems. By introducing a federation layer, DOMINO-E optimizes resources, reduces coverage time, and enhances flexibility, addressing complex societal needs like climate change monitoring and disaster response.
Beyond Optical Satellite Constellations: the Advantages of SAR Technology for Earth Observation
Earth observation has revolutionized our understanding of our planet, providing crucial insights into climate change, natural disasters, resource management, and more. While optical imagery has long been and continues to be the mainstay of Earth observation also for the satellite conntellations used by Domino-E, Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology is rapidly gaining prominence, offering unique…
Reinventing Satellite Communication: Domino’s Quest for Scalability and Cost-Efficiency
Philippe Pavero, an engineer at Airbus Defence and Space, is part of the Mission Algorithms for Earth Observation team, focusing on optimizing satellite communications in the groundbreaking Domino-E project. He shares insights into how Domino’s scalable, cloud-based approach revolutionizes Earth observation and satellite communications, allowing more efficient data management and cost reduction. By linking multiple satellite constellations and ground stations, Domino-E enhances reactivity, making it a game-changer for space communication systems.
Building the Skyscraper of Space Collaboration: Grzegorz Taberski on the Role of Domino Architecture in Earth Observation
Meet Grzegorz Taberski, a seasoned system analyst and project manager at ITTI, with over 17 years of experience. Grzegorz leads custom software solutions, contributing to projects with the European Space Agency and Horizon 2020. His expertise is key in the Domino-E project, where ITTI collaborates with Airbus to advance satellite systems and space technology. The Domino architecture streamlines European Earth Observation, enabling companies to focus on specific modules and fostering collaboration within the space industry.
Satellite Communication as Shared Resource: Jakub Rezler on DOMINO-E’s Approach to Space Resource Management
Jakub Rezler, a leader at ITTI, discusses the Satellite Communication and Resource Management Service (SCRMS) within the DOMINO-E project. SCRMS transforms satellite communication by treating satellite networks as shared resources, enabling collaboration among operators. This approach optimizes data transfer schedules, reduces costs, and improves operational efficiency. Rezler explains how SCRMS manages complex satellite communication logistics, including real-time adjustments and conflict resolution, making it a game-changer for satellite resource management.
Optimizing the Skies: Gauthier Picard on Revolutionizing Satellite Image Acquisition with AI
Interview with Gauthier Piccard, a Senior Research Scientist at ONERA and Co-Head of the Artificial Intelligence Lab. Piccard leverages AI and optimization algorithms in the Domino-E project to improve satellite image acquisition. By automating satellite coordination, his work ensures efficient and rapid image capture across large areas. Using AI-driven approaches, Piccard tackles complex scheduling and decision-making challenges, helping satellites work together to deliver high-quality data for critical missions like environmental monitoring and disaster response.
One Domino at a Time: Daniel Novak (ADS) on the Future of the Earth Observation Architecture
The Domino architecture is a groundbreaking approach in Earth observation, focused on standardizing ground segments for satellite missions. By introducing modular, autonomous components called “Dominos,” it simplifies system integration, reduces development time, and lowers costs. This innovative framework allows different companies, including SMEs, to specialize in creating specific, standardized modules that seamlessly fit together. Similar to how the USB standard transformed IT, Domino enables greater collaboration across the space industry, fostering efficiency and innovation in Earth observation projects.
Pléiades Constellations: Illuminating Earth’s Past, Present, and Future – A Necessity for the Domino Satellite Ecosystem
In the grand tapestry of Earth observation, the Pléiades constellations, crafted by Airbus, stand as luminous threads, weaving a narrative of our planet’s evolution. From their historical significance to the groundbreaking capabilities of Pléiades Neo, these satellites have redefined how we perceive and interact with our world. Pléiades: A Legacy of High-Resolution Insight Launched in…
Ariane 6: New Launcher Capacities for Europe’s Space Industries
Europe once again has independent access to space. Europe will also benefit from this in the area of Earth observation.
Fostering Collaboration in Earth Observation: Introducing the Domino Architecture
Domino-E contributes to the Domino architecture, creating a novel way of cooperation in European Earth observation. The Domino framework presents a groundbreaking approach to Earth observation (EO) by fostering a collaborative environment where industry and science work together throughout the entire development lifecycle, from initial concept to final validation of modular EO building blocks.…
Backcast: DOMINO-E at ESAW Conference 2024
We’re delighted to announce that the European Union-funded DOMINO-E project made a splash at the European Space Agency Week (ESAW) conference earlier this month! Following Gauthier Picard’s recent presentation at the 23rd International Conference on Autonomous Agents and Multiagent Systems in Auckland, New Zealand, this was the second opportunity this year to reach out to…
Domino-E at the 23rd International Conference on Autonomous Agents and Multiagent System
ONERA’s Gauthier Picard presented his work at the AAMAS’24 in Auckland, New Zealand. Agent-based and multi-agent systems (MAS) in space offer a promising approach for modeling and solving distributed, complex and dynamic problems. Sample applications include multiple spacecraft operations and maintenance, onboard-ground coordination, mission simulation, multi-mission operation, autonomous navigation, and collective robotics. The Domino-E project…
Observing Life on Earth from Space
Earth observation from space plays a crucial role in biodiversity conservation, and in future, this role might even increase. The stability of ecosystems around the world is under threat. The extinction of species and the loss of biodiversity is a global ecological challenge alongside climate change. Earth observation from space plays a crucial role in biodiversity…
Earth Observation of the future
The sky is the limit. Well, it’s not – and the space industry is the first to prove that statement wrong. But when it comes to Earth observation (EO), we have recently witnessed a boom that is pushing existing systems to their limits. More and more applications are being developed that require more accurate and…
Applying Earth Observation: Energy Poverty
The 3,5-year project EnergyMeasures is wrapping up in Brussels. The EU-funded project was launched to identify households affected by energy poverty, to develop strategies that would support them in adopting less energy-intensive behaviours, and to provide decision-makers of all levels with evidence-based policy recommendations to tackle energy poverty. As the project winds down, one of the key conclusions was to…
Along the river: the stream of Earth observation
Rivers are divided into upstream, midstream, and downstream. This tripartite division also helps to understand the earth observation processing chain. Rivers are traditionally divided into three sections along their course based on the gradient between their source and delta: upstream, midstream and downstream. This division is often used metaphorically to describe industrial value chains. The…
Machine learning in Domino-E use cases
What exactly is machine learning (ML) and how does Domino-E make use of it in planning, resource allocation and human-computer interactions? In what ways does it benefit users? In this article we focus on answering these and other questions regarding machine learning in Earth Observation. Earth Observation (EO) produces a vast quantity of often unstructured data.…
Data retrieval through satellites: How does it work?
Ever wondered how satellites gather data that we have at our fingertips at all times? If you’re looking something up on the internet, using online maps to go to your appointment or checking the weather then you have received information that has been provided and processed by satellites orbiting around our planet. But how do satellites gather this…
Help satellite mission planners understand, what people say
Domino-E partner Tilde is working on a virtual assistant that allows users to request satellite images without knowing the technical jargon of Earth observation.
Climate change tracking from space: From mono to multi-mission design
Earth observation satellites provide valuable information on greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, melting glaciers, and other indicators of climate change. The move from mono- to multi-mission design allows better data access.
Watch our first Domino-E workshop online!
On 26 January we had our first Domino-E workshop – Your Access to Earth Observation with participation of external stakeholders. To introduce the project, some of our partners gave a comprehensive presentation of the project. The focus was on the vision of the project (Daniel Novak, Airbus S.A.S), the scientific challenges (Gauthier Picard, ONERA) and…
DOMINO-E Kick off Workshop in Brussels
On Friday, 18.11.2022, all representatives of project partners in the Domino-E project funded by the European Commission within the framework of the HorizonEurope initiative met at the headquarters of the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) in the heart of the Brussels administrative centre for the kick-off workshop. The aim of the workshop led by Airbus…