The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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ESA has taken another important step on the road towards sustainability in space with its first in-orbit servicing mission RISE. A €119 million contract was signed with D-Orbit as the co-funding prime contractor at IAC 2024.
RISE is a commercial in-orbit servicing mission expected to launch in 2028 that will demonstrate that it can safely rendezvous and dock to a geostationary client satellite. After verifying that it meets all the performance standards, D-Orbit will start commercial life extension services for geostationary satellites.
ESA’s RISE mission marks a promising step towards enhancing in-orbit services and technologies, such as refuelling, refurbishment and assembling – all essential elements for creating a circular economy in space.
In the photo from left to right in the back are Andrew Wolahan, ESA Project Manager for RISE, Holger Krag, ESA Head of Space Safety, Adolfo Urso, Italian Minister of Economic Development, Guido Crosetto, Italian Minister of Defence, Teodore Valente, President of the Italian Space Agency, Luca Parmitano, ESA astronaut. In front are Luca Rossettini, CEO and founder of D-Orbit, and Josef Aschbacher, ESA Director General.