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
20.09.202401.11.2024200-500 KEUROPreparationPHASE A OF CIS-LUNAR SPACE OBJECT MONITORING MISSION
26.07.202423.09.2024100-200 KEUROPreparationEUROPEAN EEE SOVEREIGNTY STUDY - EXPRO PLUS
22.07.202427.09.2024100-200 KEUROPreparationPRE-PHASE A OF A LOW-COST MARS MISSION PLATFORM - EXPRO PLUS
03.04.202415.05.2024200-500 KEUROPreparationPRE-PHASE A OF RADIATION BELT MONITORING FROM GTO
05.04.202420.05.2024500 KEUROPreparationPHASE A2 OF NEOMIR MISSION LEVEL STUDY
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
23.04.202404.06.2024500 KEUROPreparationPHASE A OF IN-ORBIT DEMONSTRATION OF STANDARD INTERFACES FOR END-OF-LIFE CAPTURE AND REMOVAL (CAT-IOD)
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
Latest closed studies
02.04.2024

Atmospheric Impact of Spacecraft Demise

#Preparation
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
FOUNDING YOUR IDEAS CALLS
16.10.2024
2 ideas

Spanish Space Science: Opportunities for Instrumentation and Experiment developments via the Spanish Element for the ESA PRODEX Programme

The Spanish Space Agency (AEE) invites Spanish operators to submit outline proposals in response to the 2024 Spanish PRODEX call campaign

28.10.2024
0 ideas

Spanish InCubed National Call

Investing in Industrial Innovation – InCubed – is a co-funded programme focused on developing innovative and commercially viable products and services using space borne earth observation....

31.10.2024
91 ideas

Call for ideas on Future Navigation Demonstrators and Supporting PNT Technologies

We want YOU to help shaping the future of European Satellite Navigation! – we want to hear your ideas! ESA is issuing an open call for ideas on PNT demonstrators and supporting R&D activi...

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.