ESA title

The space transportation technology of tomorrow is being built today by ESA. This strengthens European industry. It offers them a valuable head-start by reducing the risk of using cutting-edge technologies. ESA steers the selection, manufacture, test and maturation of these new technologies based on their potential to reduce cost, improve performance, increase reliability, or on their ability to fulfil the specific needs of an identified system, demonstrator or mission. ESA plays a crucial role in a process that takes fundamental space transportation technologies of the future from the laboratory to the launch pad to guarantee Europe's access to space.

Read more about ESA's role in developing future space transportation technologies.

Project areas

Propulsion
3D printing, materials and processes
Reusability
Structures and mechanisms
Avionics, software and Guidance Navigation Control (GNC)
Future systems and missions

Future space transportation

Latest

Pathfinder activity European very heavy reusable rocket
Enabling & Support

Pathfinder activity to pave the way for European very heavy…

12/12/2024 2247 views 34 likes
Read
Prometheus and Themis contract rider signature ceremony
Enabling & Support

Signing secures next steps for reusable rocket demonstratio…

21/11/2024 1848 views 23 likes
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RFA Protein study concept rocket showing stage separation
Enabling & Support

Super heavy-lift, frequent flights to space for Europe: Pro…

13/11/2024 8105 views 35 likes
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Themis flight model main engine bay
Enabling & Support

Themis flight model: assemble!

06/11/2024 3326 views 30 likes
Read
Throttleable Liquid Propulsion Demonstrator
Enabling & Support

Promising early tests for variable-thrust landing engine

08/08/2024 7258 views 65 likes
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More items

  • Enabling & Support

    Technology Readiness Levels

    02/06/2019 16418 views 78 likes
    Open item
    Technology Readiness Levels
  • Enabling & Support

    Phoebus

    14/05/2019 4529 views 32 likes
    Open item
    Phoebus
  • Enabling & Support

    Themis

    14/12/2020 10658 views 101 likes
    Open item
    Themis
  • Enabling & Support

    Thrust Chamber demonstrator

    12/02/2019 2423 views 9 likes
    Open item
    Thrust Chamber demonstrator
  • Enabling & Support

    Demonstrating flight sequences for reusability

    13/10/2020 4071 views 48 likes
    Open item
    ESA has helped Romania’s National Institute for Aerospace Research, INCAS, to perform vertical takeoff, short hovering and landing manoeuvres using a small-scale flight demonstrator.
  • Enabling & Support

    ESA propulsion projects

    29/11/2021 595 views 2 likes
    Open item
    ESA propulsion projects
  • Enabling & Support

    Prometheus to power future launch vehicles

    14/12/2017 4462 views 43 likes
    Open item
    Prometheus to power future launch vehicles
  • Enabling & Support

    Flow forming to shape metal

    02/06/2019 1736 views 9 likes
    Open item
    Flow forming to shape metal
  • Enabling & Support

    Outlook on future European space transportation

    02/03/2021 1017 views 16 likes
    Open item
    Outlook on future European space transportation
  • Enabling & Support

    SABRE-powered launch system beyond 2030

    13/12/2020 1875 views 20 likes
    Open item
    SABRE-powered launch system beyond 2030
  • Enabling & Support

    Microlauncher concepts

    04/10/2018 5286 views 24 likes
    Open item
    Microlauncher concepts
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