The European Space Agency has selected ArianeGroup, GMV Aerospace and Defence, MT Aerospace, SAB Aerospace, and The Exploration Company to develop in-orbit fuel storage and refilling capabilities.
ESA’s selection of the five companies was announced on 9 October during a Future Space Transportation Award Ceremony in Paris. The selections were made as part of the second call of the agency’s In-Space Proof-of-Concepts (InSPoC) initiative, which is managed under the agency’s Future Launchers Preparatory Programme.
The InSPoC programme is divided into four calls: in-orbit rendezvous and docking (InSPoC-1), in-orbit refuelling and propellant management (InSPoC-2), onboard and shared intelligence (InSPoC-3), and containerization and cargo transfer (InSPoC-4).
As part of the InSPoC-2 call, ArianeGroup, GMV Aerospace and Defence, MT Aerospace, SAB Aerospace, and The Exploration Company were selected to develop key technologies to demonstrate in-orbit cryogenic storage and refuelling capabilities for orbital propellant depots. The agency envisions these technologies being used by space tugs to extend their operational lifespans in orbit.
In addition to announcing the selection of InSPoC-2 awardees, ESA also announced InSPoC-3 awards at the 9 October ceremony. According to the ESA call, the InSPoC-3 project aims to overcome the challenges faced by multi-use space tugs including, autonomous operation, over-the-space updates, advanced cooperation capabilities, and space logistics orchestration. Under the InSPoC-3 call, ESA selected OHB Digital Connect, GMV Aerospace, and Defence, Zaitra, Huld, and Orbital Paradigm.
The selected companies for both the InSPoC-2 and InSPoC-3 projects will now enter contract negotiations with ESA to continue the development of their proposals.
As well as InSPoC awards, at the 9 October ceremony ESA also announced the selection of several companies that would focus on the developing technology for reusable rockets.
