European Space Agency studies potential orbital outpost

The European Space Agency (ESA) has initiated feasibility studies to evaluate the development of a European-led orbital outpost. This move comes as preparations begin for life after the International Space Station (ISS), which is scheduled to be decommissioned around 2030.

ESA has awarded contracts to two industrial consortia led by Airbus Defence and Space and OHB to conduct these Pre-Phase A studies. The research will examine various architectures for a future presence in low Earth orbit, focusing on European expertise in robotics, life support, habitation, and in-orbit servicing. The studies aim to investigate three distinct pathways: utilizing external commercial infrastructure, providing minor hardware contributions to commercial ventures, or developing a dedicated European-led station.

The nine-month assessment is intended to inform future decisions regarding station size, purpose, and operating models without committing governments to specific budgets or construction timelines. The goal is to safeguard European aerospace expertise and ensure continued access to microgravity research environments for scientific experimentation.