Insider Brief:
- The Exploration Company in Germany and Thales Alenia Space in Italy have been awarded contracts to create cargo return services for the International Space Station.
- Ten nations—Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Germany, Lithuania, Portugal, Slovakia, and Sweden—have signed the Zero Debris Charter.
- Airbus UK will build the Vigil spacecraft to monitor the Sun to protect satellites and power grids by providing early warnings of solar storms.
The European Space Agency (ESA) has announced exciting initiatives and milestones to advance the European space industry and promote sustainable practices in space. The announcement includes:
Two European Companies Secure LEO Space Station Contracts
The Exploration Company in Germany and Thales Alenia Space in Italy have been awarded contracts to create cargo return services for the International Space Station, aiming for operational capability by 2028. These services also have the potential to be adapted for future space stations and crewed missions. This initiative follows a competition launched by ESA six months ago, emphasizing the agency’s commitment to commercializing space and enhancing Europe’s competitive edge in the global space industry.
Ten Countries Sign the Zero Debris Charter
Ten nations—Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Germany, Lithuania, Portugal, Slovakia, and Sweden—have signed the Zero Debris Charter. This pioneering effort aims to achieve debris neutrality in space by 2030. The charter’s national-level endorsements position Europe as a leader in space cleanliness and set the stage for broader international acceptance. Over 100 organizations are expected to join this space-community-led effort in the coming months.
European Firm to Build the Vigil Mission for Solar Storm Protection
ESA’s Vigil mission aims to enhance space sustainability. Scheduled for launch in 2031, the Vigil spacecraft, built by Airbus UK, will monitor the Sun from a distant vantage point to provide early warnings of solar storms. This warning system will help protect Earth’s power grids and orbiting satellites, crucial for modern societies and economies.
Josef Aschbacher, ESA’s Director General, discussed the agency’s leadership and modernization efforts: “The signature of the low Earth orbit cargo return service contracts shows how ESA has modernized to meet the demands of the next era of the space economy. The Zero Debris Charter demonstrates that ESA is at the global forefront of creating concrete, useful, and attractive norms for space sustainability. Meanwhile, the Vigil mission will further contribute to sustainability in space.”
Image credit: ESA
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