The UK Space Agency has announced that it will lead the International Charter: Space and Major Disasters from April 2011. The announcement coincides with the 10th anniversary of the Charter, which was held at the European Space Agency's headquarters in Paris on Tuesday 19 October.
The main purpose of the Charter is to task Earth Observation satellites to provide important data following major disasters, such as the recent BP oil spill, the floods in Pakistan and the earthquake in Haiti. Since its start-up in November 2000, it has been activated 280 times and has helped to optimise the ability of relief organisations to deal with natural and technological disasters.
More information over at: www.ukspaceagency.bis.gov.uk