National Surveillance Organisation

Since 2014, the Space Centre in Liège has been designated as a “National Monitoring Agency” by the European Space Agency’s Space Transportation Directorate.

Photo Credit :CNES/ESA/Arianespace/Optique Vidéo CSG/S Martin, 2017

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ndustrial Quality Surveillance (IQS) performed since mid 1970’s on behalf of the Governments party to the Ariane Production Declaration by National Surveillance Organizations (NSO) is significantly contributing to reducing the risks of exposing Europe to a disruption in its guarantee of access to space and the risk of Participating States to bear the consequences of launch failures. Its value is widely recognized.

Industrial Quality Surveillance (IQS) is provided by officially designated National Surveillance Organisations (NSOs), which conduct quality assurance and control activities on selected supplier premises located within the territory of the relevant Government, according to legal instruments in place.

ONS monitoring covers the development and operation phases of the European launchers Ariane 5 and 6, Vega and Vega C as well as the European part of the Soyuz launchers launched from Guyana.