ESA

Preparation

The Preparation element supports new space missions and programmes; it conceives a first coherent outline via the Concurrent Design Facility then supports industrial pre-phase A and phase A studies

Practically all ESA spacecraft and projects are born and matured via the Preparation element, which allows ESA to identify the best designs in an unconstrained manner.

Being part of ESA’s Basic Activities, Preparation's fully open and competitive approach allows ESA to identify and mature the best concepts for future missions. The outcome provides ESA Member States the basis for informed programmatic decisions, both within the optional programmes as well as within the science programmes.

Preparation studies are exploratory by nature. Preserving their outcomes is vital for ensuring that the knowledge and experience gained is maximised and built upon in future work. This is ensured through the Nebula Library, which provides access to the final deliverables of studies conducted by the Preparation element for and with all ESA directorates. 

For enquiries, please refer to the assigned contacts:

Leopold Summerer

Advanced Concepts

How it works

Most of the activities undertaken in the frame of the Preparation element are prepared with the help of the Concurrent Design Facility, establishing mission feasibility, costs and user requirements before issuing open competitive tenders for industry. ESA typically pursues and matures early mission phases with industry through parallel, complementary studies. Implementing ESA’s Agenda 2025 and Technology Strategy, these activities rely increasingly on Model Based System Engineering for reduced development time and increased efficiency. Preparation studies determine mission-critical technology development needs, which are then injected into the Technology Development element of ESA's Basic Activities.

Preparation activities

MISSION STUDIES:

Pre-phase A, feasibility studies or system studies to support the development of future missions. These are typically performed as parallel studies, i.e. two or three industry consortia work independently on the same subject to provide ESA with a wide range of possible solutions and concepts.


Latest funding opportunities

Date openClose dateBudgetFieldTitle
12.02.202412.03.2024200-500 KEUROPreparationPRE-PHASE A OF SOLAR SYSTEM INTERNET STUDY - EXPRO PLUS
12.01.202412.02.2024100-200 KEUROPreparationPILOT STUDY ON THE IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF ESA EARLY RD ACTIVITIES - EXPRO PLUS
06.12.202315.01.2024200-500 KEUROPreparationSPACE SYSTEM IMPACT ANALYSIS OF ZERO DEBRIS ORBITAL CLEARANCE AND VULNERABILITY THRESHOLDS FOR FUTURE MISSIONS
02.10.202314.11.2023200-500 KEUROPreparationPHASE A OF CREAM IN-ORBIT DEMO
27.09.202308.11.2023200-500 KEUROPreparationPRE-PHASE A OF LASER MOMENTUM TRANSFER (LMT) IN-ORBIT VERIFICATION
29.09.202327.10.2023200-500 KEUROPreparationPRE-PHASE A OF ARGONAUT MISSION 1 - EXPRO+
23.08.202304.10.2023200-500 KEUROPreparationSPACE WEATHER RISKS ON AUTONOMOUS TRANSPORT
06.06.202314.07.2023200-500 KEUROPreparationPRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT AND DESIGN OF A SYSTEM FOR PARACHUTE DYNAMIC EXTRACTION TESTS - EXPRO PLUS
06.06.202328.07.2023200-500 KEUROPreparationPRE-PHASE A SYSTEM STUDY OF A HIGH RESOLUTION LUNAR MINERALOGY MAPPER - EXPRO PLUS
07.03.202318.04.2023500 KEUROPreparationPRE-PHASE A/PHASE A SYSTEM STUDY OF AN APOPHIS MISSION
07.02.202321.03.2023500 KEUROPreparationADVANCED POWER ARCHITECTURE (APA) ELEMENT 1 (DEFINITION, STANDARDIZATION AND PRODUCT SUITE DEVELOPMENT) PHASE 1
Latest closed studies
09.02.2024

Mars Long-lived Weather Network System Study

#Preparation
29.01.2024

Novel Lunar Surface Power Plant - European Charging Station pre-phase A

#Preparation
05.01.2024

Novel Lunar Surface Power Plant - European Charging Station pre-phase A

#Preparation
21.12.2023

Pre-Phase A System Study of a Commercial-Scale Space-Based Solar Power (SBSP) System for Terrestrial Needs

#Preparation
FOUNDING YOUR IDEAS CALLS
28.03.2024
16 ideas

Join the Measurement Definition Team (MDT) for a Mars orbital imaging system

Join the Measurement Definition Team (MDT) for a Mars orbital imaging system

28.03.2024
9 ideas

Join the Instrument Definition Team (IDT) for an Exploration Science payload on a Mars Infrastructure Mission

Join the Instrument Definition Team (IDT) for an Exploration Science payload on a Mars Infrastructure Mission

28.03.2024
8 ideas

Request For Information for Mars orbital observation payloads

Request For Information for Mars orbital observation payloads.

Internal mission concept assessments

Are performed via the Concurrent Design Facility

The NEBULA 

Library

Provides access to results of Discovery, Preparation and Technology Development activities. It serves as a technical repository and open library.