Innovative in-space servicing, operations, robotics and technologies for resilient EU space infrastructure

Background and scope

Satellites are currently designed, built and launched into space without the functionalities to be serviced, repaired, upgraded or refuelled. In combination with recent trends this has resulted in:

• Reduced operational lifetime of satellites due to collision avoidance manoeuvres; 
• Growing debris due to increased number of satellites, launch anomalies, fragmentation events or explosions in orbit; and 
• The need for in-space mobility, Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to Geosynchronous Orbit (GEO) transfer capabilities and the necessity to preserve orbital slots

Furthermore, these spacecrafts are exposed to a number of space-based threats, such as cyber, signal spoofing, Radio Frequency (RF) interferences, jamming and intrusion that must be anticipated to ensure a resilient EU space-based infrastructure. Approaches that extend the lifetime and protect in space infrastructure can thus offer both essential resilience and significant cost savings for satellite operators and less debris in space. However, despite the emerging commercial trend for in-orbit servicing, Europe lacks cost-effective, cyber-secure, scalable, and resilient capabilities that can deliver autonomous space operations. This encompasses the use of in-space robotics to inspect, dock, capture and extend the lifetime of satellites. Such critical capabilities have increasing strategic importance considering the development of the next generation of flexible, serviceable and resilient spacecraft that will require such capabilities. This Challenge therefore focuses on supporting companies developing cost-effective, scalable and resilient solutions to service and/or augment satellite capabilities, perform in-orbit refuelling, contribute to space debris reduction, and protect EU space infrastructure. It develops capabilities in areas such as cyber security control technologies, satellite-based secure connectivity, robots and robot-controlled precision systems identified under the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP), and thereby addresses risks to the EU’s future strategic autonomy.

Specific objectives

The start-ups and SMEs to be supported under this initiative must deliver solutions that address one of the following areas:

• In-Orbit Servicing & Maintenance: this focuses on technologies to extend the lifetime of satellites, reduce the number of dysfunctional satellites and address deployment anomalies in orbit. It covers the full spectrum of activity including inspection and maintenance, Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPOs), capture and docking alongside repair or the augmentation/ reconfiguration of satellite capabilities. 
• In-space transportation: this covers refuelling and recharging of spacecraft in orbit, in-space mobility from LEO to GEO, orbital transfer vehicles and costefficient propulsion for in-space mobility of spacecraft. 
• Space-based resilience: this includes technologies that address space-based cybersecurity threats for satcom, navigation, Earth Observation and In Orbit servicing missions. It covers technologies tackling space-based cyber threats such as encryption, frequency hopping, radio frequency fingerprinting, secure on-board processing capabilities, AI for cybersecurity for autonomous RPO and ones related to Space Situational Awareness, space weather and space debris impacts.

Expected outcomes and impacts

This challenge contributes to the strategic autonomy of the EU and to Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda for Space R&I, the EU Approach to Space Traffic Management, the EU In-Orbit Demonstration and Validation initiative (IOD/IOV) and planned initiatives such as the in-Space Operations and Services (ISOS) pilot mission under the Act in Space activities, notably by contributing satAPPs or other component plug-ins to the ISOS Pilot Mission. By developing and scaling up affordable and resilient in-space technologies the Challenge is expected to: 

• help enhance the resilience of European space infrastructure while extending their lifetime and contribute to the management and reduction of space debris
• increase the competitiveness of European companies in In-orbit satellites servicing (IOS), In-space assembly and manufacturing (ISAM) and Active Debris Removal (ADR) domains. 
• contribute to supporting the scaling up of technologies for in-orbit satellite servicing and maintenance, in-space transportation and space-based cybersecurity resilience. 
• generate new business opportunities, while delivering significant cost-savings for satellite owners and operators who will find viable approaches to inspect, protect and extend the operational lifetime of their satellites while reducing space debris.

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EIC Work Programme 2025

The EIC Challenges are extensively described in the EIC Work Programme. For more information about this challenge, please go to the corresponding section of the EIC Work Programme.