June 25 (UPI) -- The European Commission made a proposal Wednesday to clean up Europe's space sector while also reducing its footprint and making sure its satellites are better protected from hackers.
In a press release, the commission said it wants to enact the EU Space Act, which it describes as a "new set of ambitious measures to make Europe's space sector cleaner, safer and more competitive in Europe and its export markets."
According to its statement, the rules Europe employs in regard to its activities in space are messy due to "13 different national approaches," what it describes as a "patchwork" that interferes with innovation and creates unnecessary costs while reducing the European market share.
If adopted, the Space Act would primarily dictate that the EU would need to forcefully track space objects and clear space debris so that Europe will have "secure and uninterrupted access to space." The act also would ensure that cybersecurity will be beefed up to "strengthen protection of European space infrastructure and ensure business continuity."
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