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
Pathfinder activity European very heavy reusable rocket
Enabling & Support

Pathfinder activity to pave the way for European very heavy…

12/12/2024 1867 views 32 likes
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Prometheus and Themis contract rider signature ceremony
Enabling & Support

Signing secures next steps for reusable rocket demonstratio…

21/11/2024 1659 views 22 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 7433 views 30 likes
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Themis flight model main engine bay
Enabling & Support

Themis flight model: assemble!

06/11/2024 3183 views 30 likes
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Throttleable Liquid Propulsion Demonstrator
Enabling & Support

Promising early tests for variable-thrust landing engine

08/08/2024 7138 views 65 likes
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ESA FIRST! initiative
Agency

ESA chooses technologies for future space transportation

09/04/2024 1218 views 7 likes
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Phoebus wires
Enabling & Support

Tough tests no problem for carbon-fibre cryo fuel tanks

20/12/2023 1607 views 11 likes
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Towards a space transportation ecosystem
Enabling & Support

ESA space transportation accelerates disruptive innovation …

30/10/2023 2116 views 23 likes
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Prometheus full ignition, ArianeGroup test centre Vernon, France 22 June 2023
Enabling & Support

Hot summer for Europe's reusable rocket engine

26/10/2023 6253 views 85 likes
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Phoebus testing
Enabling & Support

Crunch time for Phoebus

24/10/2023 7516 views 114 likes
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European Flight Ticket Initiative open tender
Enabling & Support

European Flight Ticket Initiative now open to launch servic…

23/10/2023 1670 views 6 likes
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Towards a space transportation ecosystem
Enabling & Support

ESA looks to transform Europe’s space transportation capabi…

19/09/2023 1471 views 12 likes
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Prometheus full ignition, ArianeGroup test centre Vernon, France 22 June 2023
Enabling & Support

Full ignition for ESA’s reusable rocket engine

23/06/2023 22833 views 150 likes
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Prometheus ignition on the test bed at Vernon, France
Enabling & Support

First ignition for ESA’s low-cost, reusable rocket engine

18/11/2022 7849 views 101 likes
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Enabling & Support

ESA sets sights on space transportation ecosystem

16/11/2022 3894 views 24 likes
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Phoebus concept
Enabling & Support

ESA contracts ArianeGroup to press ahead with full-scale de…

03/11/2022 2277 views 20 likes
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Thrust Chamber demonstrator
Enabling & Support

Versatile, green rocket engine gets go-ahead from ESA

26/10/2022 3291 views 21 likes
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ESA is taking the first steps towards the in-flight demonstration of a prototype reusable rocket first stage called Themis
Enabling & Support

Test tanks fuelled for ESA’s Themis reusable first stage

01/12/2021 8308 views 98 likes
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ESA and ArianeGroup sign contracts for Prometheus and Phoebus
Enabling & Support

New ESA contracts to advance Prometheus and Phoebus projects

17/05/2021 11098 views 72 likes
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Outlook on future European space transportation
Enabling & Support

ESA defines elements of future European space transportatio…

11/03/2021 11471 views 132 likes
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Phoebus
Enabling & Support

Tests prove carbon-fibre fuel tank for Phoebus upper stage

20/01/2021 5866 views 41 likes
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Themis
Enabling & Support

ESA plans demonstration of a reusable rocket stage

15/12/2020 41528 views 199 likes
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SABRE-powered launch system beyond 2030
Enabling & Support

System study results for SABRE-powered reusable launcher

14/12/2020 5664 views 80 likes
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Demonstration Technology Vehicle
Enabling & Support

Demonstrator masters flight sequences for reusable rocket s…

13/10/2020 4961 views 54 likes
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Prometheus gas generator test at DLR Lampoldshausen
Enabling & Support

ESA moves ahead on low-cost reusable rocket engine

04/06/2020 22978 views 186 likes
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Enabling & Support

New rocket fairing design offers smoother quieter ride

22/10/2019 6229 views 47 likes
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Flow-formed cylinder
Enabling & Support

Cost-efficient manufacturing for rocket cylinders

24/06/2019 3733 views 38 likes
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Test of bi-propellant thruster with pintle injector
Enabling & Support

Poland to improve thrust control in ‘green’ rocket engines

11/06/2019 8169 views 69 likes
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Technology Readiness Levels
Enabling & Support

Unveiling technologies for future launch vehicles

07/06/2019 23054 views 105 likes
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Final hot fire tests of ETID demonstrator
Enabling & Support

‘Intelligent’ thrust for Europe’s future launchers

29/05/2019 5024 views 75 likes
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Phoebus
Enabling & Support

Contracts signed for prototype of a highly-optimised black …

14/05/2019 5440 views 64 likes
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Drop test of microlauncher first stage
Enabling & Support

Drop test proves technologies for reusable microlauncher

12/04/2019 7794 views 109 likes
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Microlauncher concepts
Enabling & Support

Microlaunchers to grow Europe’s economy

10/03/2019 10066 views 85 likes
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