D-Orbit Secures €119.6 Million ESA Contract for In-Orbit Servicing

Insider Brief

• D-Orbit has signed a €119.6 million contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) under the Space Safety program.
• As part of the project, D-Orbit will design, launch, and demonstrate a vehicle capable of rendezvousing, docking, and managing the attitude and orbit control of other spacecraft.
• A central part of this initiative is the development of GEA, a new satellite platform that will demonstrate these capabilities in geostationary orbit.
• This effort is backed by the Italian government through the Italian Space Agency and receives additional support from several European partners, including the UK Space Agency, the German Aerospace Center, the Swiss Space Office, and the Spanish Space Agency.

At the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Milan, D-Orbit, a leader in space logistics, signed a €119.6 million contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) under the Space Safety program. This agreement sets the stage for developing a commercial-grade, space-proven infrastructure for in-orbit servicing in Europe.

As part of the project, D-Orbit will design, launch, and demonstrate a vehicle capable of rendezvousing, docking, and managing the attitude and orbit control of other spacecraft. The vehicle will support activities such as life extension, relocation, repair, and disposal of satellites, marking a significant step forward in in-orbit servicing.

A central part of this initiative is the development of GEA, a new satellite platform that will demonstrate these capabilities in geostationary orbit (GEO). This effort is backed by the Italian government through the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and receives additional support from several European partners, including the UK Space Agency, the German Aerospace Center, the Swiss Space Office, and the Spanish Space Agency.

Luca Rossettini, CEO of D-Orbit, expressed excitement about the collaboration with ESA and emphasized the importance of European partnerships in positioning the company as a leader in the field. The first mission under this project, named RISE, will pave the way for regular commercial services in GEO, which D-Orbit views as a major milestone for the industry.

Stefano Antonetti, VP of Business Development at D-Orbit, highlighted the contract as a defining moment for both the company and the broader space logistics sector.

Image credit: ESA