Future space ecosystems: on-orbit operations, preparation of orbital demonstration mission -

Expected Outcome

The expected outcomes of this topic is to prepare a European pioneering, high-impact but low-cost orbital demonstration mission for On-Orbit Servicing (OOS) in 2025-2026 period that will demonstrate and showcase European know-how, support market generation, open new business opportunities, foster international cooperation and deliver a long-lasting impact in the future space ecosystem.

Projects should in particular contribute to prepare and showcase a future space ecosystem fostering the EU's space sector competitiveness, as stated in the expected impact of this destination. Further building on modularity and enabling on-orbit servicing, assembly, manufacturing and recycling, and facilitate a smooth transition between the short-term market needs and future commercial possibilities while respecting the protection of the in-space ecosystem.

Scope

R&I on phase B2-C mission study[1] and target-oriented technology maturation (TRL 6) to prepare a low cost orbital demonstration mission integrating robotic and autonomy technologies and technical building blocks with high-impact on future commercial services applying and enhancing the European Operations Framework for OOS. Technology maturation should aim at risk reduction of the intended pioneering orbital demonstration mission as well as at raise of confidence on OOS applications in general. The designed satellite platform should be compatible with a functional upgrade later in Phase D enabled by functional satellite modules (Orbital Replaceable Units to deliver new/enhanced functionality), developed outside this topic and able to be connected to the platform using a pre-existing standard interface[2] (plug-and-play concept).

R&I activities related to technology maturation in the area of GNC, autonomous localization and termination, modern TM/TC data handling, low-cost and modular avionics, automated rendezvous and capturing technologies as well as avionics and test-beds are also addressed in topic HORIZON-CL4-2021-SPACE-01-23.

Work done on Space Robotics including the European Operations Framework (EOF) in Horizon 2020, and especially on the phase A-B1 mission studies to be launched in 2020, should be exploited where possible. The EOF guidelines[3] should be applied to and enhanced by the orbital demonstration mission.

Further reference is given in a technical guidance document[4]. Technical documents of the previous studies in the H2020 Strategic Research Cluster Space Robotics Technologies[3] are available on the PERASPERA website.

In this topic the integration of the gender dimension (sex and gender analysis) in research and innovation content is not a mandatory requirement.

Activities are expected to achieve technology maturation up to TRL6 by the end of the project – see General Annex B.

Artificial IntelligenceDigital Agenda

[1]according to ECSS-M-ST-10C

[2]Multi-functional interface for OOS applications providing at least transfer of mechanical loads, power and data (e.g. HOTDOCK, iSSI or SIROM)

[3]www.h2020-peraspera.eu

[4]Published on the EU funding and tenders portal (https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal)

[5]www.h2020-peraspera.eu

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