en.Wedoany.com Reported - Thales Alenia Space has been selected by the European Commission to lead the EROSS SC (European Robotic Orbital Support Services – Service Component) in-orbit servicing project. This project is a key component of the European Commission's ISOS (In-Orbit Operations and Services) program, aiming to complete a pilot mission by 2030, laying the foundation for the development of European in-orbit operations and services infrastructure.
On June 10, 2026, at the ILA Air Show in Berlin, Thales Alenia Space (67% owned by Thales, 33% by Leonardo) and its partners received the official mandate from the European Commission. The EROSS SC contract, valued at €12 million, requires the development of one of two spacecraft to execute Europe's first space demonstration mission involving automated rendezvous and robotic operations.
The mission, coordinated by Thales Alenia Space France, will validate several key technologies, including satellite rendezvous, capture, docking, refueling, and payload exchange capabilities. This spacecraft will later be integrated with other components of the ISOS program into the 2030 pilot mission and will perform a pre-operational task: capturing an end-of-life satellite and guiding its controlled re-entry into the atmosphere to prevent it from becoming space debris. Another spacecraft, named "SCOPE," also capable of testing automated rendezvous and robotic operations in space, has been awarded to Leonardo, with Thales Alenia Space Italy participating.
With the growing number of satellites in Earth orbit and the lowering of barriers to space access, Thales Alenia Space has been developing intelligent "in-orbit servicing" missions for years, aiming to directly manage satellites during their operational life, extend their lifespan, and reduce space debris. This versatile spacecraft will transform traditional spacecraft system design and maintenance methods, allowing for on-orbit maintenance and upgrades, thereby introducing system scalability and flexibility.
Bertrand Denis, Vice President of Observation, Science, and Exploration at Thales Alenia Space France, stated that the future of European in-orbit operations missions is promising. These missions will not only extend satellite life in orbit but also play a key role in reducing space debris, ensuring a safer and more sustainable space environment.
The EROSS SC project is led by a consortium coordinated by Thales Alenia Space France, which oversees the entire system as well as Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) functions. Consortium members include: the German Aerospace Center (DLR) Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics and KINETIK Space (Germany) for the robotic arm; Space Applications Services (Belgium) for developing the robotic arm tool change mechanism; Sener Aeroespacial (Spain) for developing the universal interface and refueling system; PIAP Space (Poland) for providing the satellite grappling mechanism; SINTEF (Norway) for software architecture development; Keyes (Belgium), Sener Aeroespacial (Spain), and Magellium Artal Group (France) for developing vision algorithms for robotic and rendezvous operations with both prepared and unprepared satellites; Arribes Enlightment (Spain) leading spacecraft lifecycle analysis; and TIPIK (Belgium) responsible for project communication and dissemination.
Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), brings over 50 years of experience, providing solutions for telecommunications, navigation, Earth observation, defense, exploration, science, and orbital infrastructure. The company reported consolidated revenue of €2.36 billion in 2025, employs over 8,000 people across 7 countries, and operates 14 sites in Europe.
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