Imagine a tow truck and a mechanic for satellites. Instead of letting a multi-million dollar satellite become space junk when it runs out of fuel or breaks, a robotic 'servicer' spacecraft flies up to it. It can refuel the satellite, swap out broken parts, or even push old debris back to Earth to be burned up safely.
Satellites are traditionally disposable, leading to massive financial loss when they fail or run out of fuel and creating dangerous orbital debris.
A mission blueprint and technical design (Phase B2/C) for a multipurpose servicer spacecraft capable of autonomous rendezvous, capture, and robotic repair.
If you are a commercial operator dealing with a satellite that is running out of fuel—this project developed a servicer spacecraft that can refuel assets in orbit. This allows you to extend the operational life of your existing fleet without launching a full replacement.
If you are a space logistics firm dealing with the growing problem of orbital waste—this project developed autonomous robotic tools that can safely guide space debris back to Earth. This enables a new business model for cleaning up low and geostationary orbits.
If you are a manufacturer dealing with the limitation of disposable spacecraft—this project developed a system for Orbital Replaceable Unit (ORU) exchange. This allows your customers to upgrade hardware in space rather than replacing the entire satellite.
The project received an EU contribution of EUR 25,983,822 for development, but the specific commercial pricing for the servicing missions is not provided in the data.
The project is currently in the design phase (B2/C) to prepare for a pioneering mission by 2026, with a goal to commercialize a multipurpose servicer for LEO and GEO by 2026.
Based on available project data, there is no specific mention of IP or licensing terms, though it involves a consortium of 20 partners including 15 industry players.
The project runs from 2023 to 2025, with a full demonstration of capabilities scheduled for 2027 and a pioneering mission targeted for 2026.
The system uses a 'Servicer' spacecraft that performs coordinated close rendezvous, capture, and robotic operations like refuelling and payload changes.
The consortium is heavily industry-driven with a 75% industry ratio, comprising 15 companies including 4 SMEs and one start-up. Led by Thales Alenia Space, the 20-partner group spans 9 countries, indicating a strong commercial push to move the technology from research into a go-to-market strategy for LEO and GEO servicing.
Contact Thales Alenia Space France SAS regarding the EROSS IOD mission blueprint.
Contact us to identify potential partners for the 2027 full demonstration phase.
