ESA Earth Observation Framework

Strengthening Europe's Industrial
Competitiveness in Earth Observation

The ESA Earth Observation Framework (EOF) develops the baseline for building and delivering Europe’s next-generation services within ESA EO &  Climate programmes.

What is the ESA Earth Observation Framework?

The ESA Earth Observation Framework (EOF) develops the baseline for building and delivering Europe’s next-generation services within ESA EO &  Climate programmes.

Help shape the EOF baseline:
share feedback and be part of shaping the future of Earth Observation Framework.

The Benefits

Manage data, information, and services in an ecosystem compliant with EU regulatory standards by default.

Get services ready for easy onboarding into the EOF ecosystem.

Benefit from a network of services where data and service resources are consumed via standardised, secure and optimised interfaces. 

Access a rich library of open-source tools to streamline the development of high-quality services compliant to EOF specifications.           

Guiding principles of the Framework

Architectural drivers and service integration

DELIVER

Secure and user-centric services.

Commit

To open, interoperable and reusable interfaces or services.

FAVOUR

Transparency and efficiency throughout the operational continuum.

Excellence, Sustainability, and World-Class Services

DELIVER

Highly performant, resilient and of quality data and services.

Commit

To financially and environmentally conscious services.

FAVOUR

European industry delivering world-class operational services.

Fostering Innovation and Competitiveness

DELIVER

European sovereign services conform to the European/ESA regulations and data spaces architecture.

Commit

To technological innovation through competitive participation in ESA managed operations.

FAVOUR

Europe’s capabilities in space technology, data analytics, and Earth system sciences.

The EOF architecture

A Data Space approach for the ESA ecosystem of services specifying guidelines for:

Data and Metadata Quality

High-quality Data Sharing Units and Service Resources with clear targets for quality, completeness, timeliness, and validity.

Operational Excellence

Service quality measures focusing on availability, performance, and reliability to ensure efficient operations.

Standard Data Exchange Interfaces

Well-defined and standardised interfaces to facilitate data exchange between services and stakeholders. 

Security

Security requirements for conducting security risk assessments, ensuring that data and services are safeguarded against potential threats.

EOF ecosystem

In the context of the ESA Earth Observation Framework (EOF), a service is any activity undertaken by industry adhering to the EOF’s principles to enable or to ensure the delivery data and information.

EOF services

Services within the EOF Ecosystem encompass those ensuring the ecosystem’s functionality (Foundation Services) and those offering additional capabilities (Value-creation services).

The EOF architecture model adapt the Data Space Support Centre approach to the ESA ecosystem of services

Specification toolkit for EOF

The EOF Toolkit supports EOF participants in implementing and verifying interoperability and compliance.

EOF DOCUMENTATION

Documentation space

Explore the collection of essential EOF documents, curated to inform, guide, and support the EOF community.
From architecture documents and interface control documents to data portfolios.

EOF Events

Connect, Inspire, Thrive

EOF Events bring people together to share ideas, learn, and grow.
From workshops to keynotes, EOF events are where innovation meets community.

ESA Digital Twin Earth Components: Open Science Meeting 2026

2nd – 4th February 2026
ESA ESRIN
The event will feature demonstrations of the latest developments of ESA DTE Digital Twin Components and is designed to facilitate discussions between scientists, research institutions, policymakers, innovators, industry, stakeholders, ESA DTE activities, European and national Digital Twin initiatives.

Living Planet Symposium

23 – 27 June 2025
Vienna, Austria
Held every three years, ESA’s Living Planet Symposia are among the world’s premier events on Earth observation.

Collaborative Ground Segment Workshop

4-5 March
Portugal
The regular CollGS workshops provide a platform for ESA and its partners to exchange on the current status of the cooperation and to discuss the future evolution of the Sentinels Collaborative Ground Segment. 

Copernicus Sentinels family grows

Sentinel-2C and Sentinel-1C on-boarding on the ESA Operational Framework for the Copernicus Space Component

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