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A ridesharing agreement creates a new avenue for European innovation.
The European Space Agency (ESA) has signed contracts with small satellite companies across Europe to provide rapid access to space for future innovations through rideshare services. This initiative is part of the In-Orbit Demonstration and Validation (IOD/IOV) program, aimed at testing new technologies in space and accelerating their time to market. The program enhances the competitiveness of the European space sector by offering a faster, service-oriented approach. ESA and the European Commission are expanding the program by integrating rideshare providers, allowing experiments to be launched on existing commercial missions. This new model helps optimize mission capacity and offers a quicker path to orbit for innovative space technologies.
The most effective way to test new space technologies is to actually launch them into space. Today, the European Space Agency (ESA), on behalf of the European Commission, signed a series of contracts with small satellite manufacturers across Europe to ensure rapid access to orbit via rideshare services for future European innovations.
The contract signing occurred at the 17th European Space Conference in Brussels, Belgium, as part of the In-Orbit Demonstration and Validation (IOD/IOV) program managed by ESA for the European Commission. The contracts went to companies like Aerospacelab, Berlin Space Technologies, D-Orbit, ISISPACE, LuxSpace, and Open Cosmos.
The IOD/IOV program allows innovative technologies to be tested in space, speeding up the time it takes to bring them to market. It supports space tech innovators and boosts the competitiveness of the European space sector.
“In-orbit demonstration is a dynamic field, requiring flexibility and responsiveness to unlock its full potential,” said Dietmar Pilz, ESA’s Director of Technology, Engineering, and Quality.
To increase the program’s agility, ESA and the European Commission have incorporated rideshare opportunities, providing experiments with a secure and rapid path to orbit on commercial missions. This creates a win-win scenario: the experiment benefits from fast service, while mission owners can optimize their capacity by carrying additional payloads.
Ekaterini Kavvada, Director of Secure and Connected Space at the European Commission, emphasized, “By creating a pool of European rideshare providers, we are shifting our procurement approach, acting as anchor customers for the industry. This faster, service-oriented approach brings new players from six different EU countries into the fold. Supporting innovation to enhance the European space sector’s competitiveness is our main priority. IOD/IOV is now the new space gateway for the entire ecosystem.”
Through the IOD/IOV program, ESA and the European Commission have already supported 10 satellites, such as UPMSat-2 and ANSER, 2 proof-of-concepts like Vega SSMS, and over 30 technologies, including star trackers, optical instruments, and propulsion systems.
Previously, ESA was responsible for the entire IOD/IOV package, including the spacecraft and launch. To streamline the process, this service will now be extended to selected rideshare providers, who will accommodate IOD/IOV experiments on their existing missions.
The chosen rideshare companies can now bid for the accommodation, launch, and operation of IOD/IOV experiments on their commercial missions. Experiments are selected regularly through an open Call for Expression of Interest, with the next selection deadline on 15 March 2025.
Source:https://news.google.com/read/CBMixwFBVV95cUxNdHAyQWUwRktLbnZ2amwxZjVsS2lqSG13U25OXzVNYll1NUdHSEZSWktpQ19RaUFTODJzbGdDZVpiYjhKTVJHakFQVTRsX1ozR3hyNVI1ZzBxaGFyM1JxWmVBM1h4X0JnbU45ZEc3Z3lfZXFIbkh4QTBMMmNBVTB1MXhkeGVyV0I4TWZJTllsQXJ5a3A0MU1udWVtOWdnTDlSRmFzd05tVy1TbmFlUEtOOUJxWXl5cmF1em9mZGFQajZybGxMUEtJ?hl=en-PH&gl=PH&ceid=PH%3Aen
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