MILAN - Italian space logistics company D-Orbit has announced a €119.6 million ($131 million) contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) for the development of a spacecraft servicing vehicle. This contract, revealed on October 14 at the International Astronautical Congress, marks a significant advancement in satellite life extension and in-orbit servicing capabilities.
Under the agreement, D-Orbit will design, launch, and demonstrate a vehicle capable of rendezvous, docking, and controlling the attitude and orbit of satellites in geostationary orbit. The initiative accelerates ongoing work on D-Orbit's General Expansion Architecture (GEA) spacecraft-servicing vehicle, which aims to extend satellite lifespans, relocate, and repair satellites.
The Italian government, through the Italian Space Agency, is backing the ESA program, with additional funding from the UK Space Agency, German Aerospace Center DLR, Swiss Space Office, and Spanish Space Agency AEE. D-Orbit will contribute 20% of the project cost, with the first mission, known as RISE, expected to launch around 2027 or 2028.
D-Orbit's CEO, Luca Rossettini, emphasized the importance of this collaboration, stating it positions the company at the forefront of in-orbit servicing innovation. The GEA vehicle is designed with a seven-year operational lifespan and aims to enhance the sustainability of space operations by reducing space debris through satellite life extension.
The RISE mission falls under ESA's Active Debris Removal/In-Orbit Servicing (ADRIOS) project, which seeks to eliminate space debris and promote a circular economy for space systems. ESA's Space Safety Programme head, Holger Krag, noted that the initiative addresses the issue of disposed multi-ton geostationary satellites, aiming to maximize the utility of existing space assets.
As D-Orbit develops this cost-effective and refuelable life-extension vehicle, the company plans to offer various services in geostationary orbit, including inspection, maintenance, repair, and refueling, marking a pivotal step in the evolution of space logistics.