Artist's view of ESA's GENESIS satellite

ESA’s GENESIS satellite will combine and co-locate the four reference existing ‘geodetic’ – or Earth-measuring – techniques on a single platform for the first time. In so doing it will serve to identify and subtract inherent biases within each of these techniques, allowing, in turn, improvements in the accuracy and consistency of the reference frame that is used to organise much of the underlying functions of our civilisation. A new Invitation to Tender is giving European industry the chance to contribute to this groundbreaking mission.