A paradigm shift is unfolding in Earth observation (EO) as the European Domino‑E initiative redefines how satellites are tasked, data are streamed, and insights are delivered. Funded by Horizon Europe and coordinated by Airbus Defence & Space, Domino‑E aims to transform traditional, vertically integrated systems into dynamic, modular, federated networks.
Conventional EO ground segments are built as self-contained units: each satellite mission brings its own control system, antenna infrastructure, and proprietary software. While this persists, it limits flexibility, efficiency, and reuse. In contrast, Domino‑E introduces discrete “Dominoes” independent software components handling tasks like scheduling, resource allocation, and data delivery. These can be developed separately, scaled easily, and deployed across various clouds and jurisdictions, thanks to standardised APIs.
Domino‑E’s true advantage lies in federation. The platform encourages multiple actors governments, commercial firms, SMEs to contribute Dominoes to a shared ecosystem. When imagery is requested, orchestration layers partition tasks and allocate them across satellites, ground stations, and service providers. Gauthier Picard of the Coverage Service explains that the architecture “partitions the region into smaller zones and distributes tasking to various mission chains… enabling coordinated acquisition across a heterogeneous, distributed landscape”.
Domino‑E reimagines ground station access. Instead of owning physical antennas, operators can rent time, bandwidth, and orbital contacts in a time-sliced model. The Satellite Communication and Resource Management Service (SCRMS) orchestrates satellite‑ground “meetings” by matching orbital windows, service priority, and resource constraintsnautomating an otherwise manual scheduling effort. Jakub Rezler of ITTI emphasises that this approach “democratises access” enabling startups and SMEs to utilise high‑end infrastructure via standard interfaces.
To further simplify EO access, Domino‑E integrates a conversational virtual assistant developed by Latvian SME Tilde. Users can issue natural‑language requests e.g., “image the flooded river near Lahore” and the assistant coordinates behind the scenes with Coverage Service, SCRMS, and others. No need for RF technical knowledge or satellite control room access a powerful abstraction that opens EO to users like municipal authorities, disaster response teams, and small businesses.
This modular, federated model has deep geopolitical significance. Governments can enforce encryption, data governance, or localisation by chaining together custom Dominoes without owning full-stack ground networks. In crisis scenarios, federated scheduling unlocks capacity across agencies. SMEs can also contribute specialised modules (analytics, UI, scheduling), gaining entry without needing to launch whole missions. This “infrastructure-as-intelligence” approach fosters both industrial sovereignty and ecosystem-wide resilience.
Domino‑E shifts value from sole ownership to orchestration. Companies can choose to operate infrastructure, integrate platforms, or focus on user experience. Those excelling in AI-driven orchestration and interface design may find deeper competitive advantage than satellite builders or antenna vendors. In this new paradigm, speed, interoperability, and clarity matter more than raw imaging capability.
Domino‑E transforms EO from monolithic architecture to a fluid, intelligent network. It shifts metrics from launch counts to insight delivery, from asset ownership to ecosystem orchestration. With core prototypes operational and the consortium seeking partners, this modular federation is poised to democratise EO making it more dynamic, inclusive, and strategically sovereign.
