The strategic objective of this topic is to develop capabilities to ‘Act in Space’ through demonstrating in space a pilot mission by 2030 related to ISOS. The envisaged ISOS pilot mission shall provide the necessary seed components for a future service infrastructure, available to the European in-space ecosystem (including the EU assets), driving the generation of a new in-space economy, providing enhanced in-orbit technology demonstration and maximising EU technology non-dependence.

This pilot mission will largely contribute to ensure EU’s freedom of action in space, increase the resilience and protection of EU assets in space and foster the development of the new in-space economy. A pioneering and a novel mission concept, which is unique compared to other initiatives among all space-faring nations is envisaged. The mission will build on previous R&I with an operational mission concept, focusing on application and service demonstration, with a concrete view to commercial and governmental usage. The detailed mission concept will be derived in close coordination with EU Member States and EEA countries through a dedicated ISOS Pilot Mission Advisory Group (PMAG)¹⁶¹.

This topic addresses the detailed design of the logistics component of the ISOS pilot mission. This component shall be able to transport cargo (i.e., satAPPs and propellant) taken from an upper stage to the HOST component.

Project results are expected to contribute to the following expected outcomes:

• A sustainable, highly automated, flexible and economically viable space infrastructure, building on technologies and concepts for a circular economy in space, e.g. plug-and-play spacecraft functionality introducing recycling/re-use of spacecraft modules/functionalities;
• ISOS Pilot mission preparation up to detailed mission and system design for the logistics component and maturation of enabling technologies and innovative system and operational concepts;
• Elaboration of interfaces between the different components of the mission, together with the other mission components (i.e. servicing, HOST and satAPPs) and the ISOS Pilot Mission Coordination and Support Action (CSA)¹⁶²;
• Contribution to the ISOS Pilot Mission Objectives provided in the technical annex¹⁶³;
• Elaboration of clear use cases and relevant business models focussing on governmental and/or commercial needs;
• Ensuring the availability of results to the next mission phases.

This topic will contribute to, in the medium to long term, developing, deploying global space-based services and contribute to fostering the European space sector competitiveness, as stated in the expected impact of this destination.

Scope:

To tackle the above expected outcomes, the following R&I actions should be addressed, taking into account the provided technical annex¹⁶³:

• R&I to complete ISOS Pilot mission detailed mission and system design¹⁶⁴ (including relevant key technology maturation) for the logistics component, demonstrating the achievement of the required TRL for all relevant technologies;
• R&I on key enabling technologies relevant for design of a logistics component that can transport cargo (i.e., satAPPs and propellant) taken from an upper stage to the HOST component;
• R&I on solutions for docking and propellant management and transfer with the HOST. Building on existing European designs is encouraged;
• Contribution to the overall ISOS pilot mission detail design in close cooperation with other mission components, the ISOS Pilot Mission Coordination and Support Action and the ISOS Pilot Mission Advisory Group.

Proposals are expected to promote cooperation between different actors (industry, SMEs and research institutions) and consider opportunities to quickly turn technological innovation into commercial use in space.

Proposals should clearly present a concrete plan to ensure that required technologies reach the necessary TRL at the end of the project. Moreover, complementarities with previous and/or ongoing R&I for the proposed servicing component must be clearly described. More specifically, proposals should explore relevant and promising solutions developed in Horizon Europe, Horizon 2020, or other EU-funded relevant activities, in particular, the topics: Future Space Ecosystem (HORIZON-CL4-2021-SPACE-01-12/ 2022-SPACE-01-11/ 2023-SPACE-01-12) and in relevant projects funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) and/or national programmes. Finally, proposals are also expected to consider the use of existing European technologies and/or building blocks, including at component level, contributing to European non-dependence and strengthen competitiveness.

Proposals are expected to consider and contribute to a balanced provision of Member States’ and eligible Associated Countries’ expertise and capabilities to the overall ISOS pilot mission, to support a successful introduction of the strategic capacity ‘Act in Space’ for the EU and its Member States.

This topic contributes to the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP^[1]) and addresses Space technologies falling under the sectors of “digital technologies” and “deep tech innovation”^[2]. This topic addresses objectives stated in the STEP Regulation, e.g., the development of critical technologies and safeguarding and strengthening their EU value chain. This topic will contribute to advancing digital capabilities in space and enhance the sustainability and agility of the EU's space assets.

In this topic, the integration of the gender dimension (sex and gender analysis) in research and innovation content should be addressed only if relevant in relation to the objectives of the research effort.

The project selected from this topic is expected to collaborate with those selected under topics HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-21, 22, 24 and ISOS Pilot Mission Coordination and Support Action, in order to ensure interoperability and the necessary and sufficient documentation and information sharing for the implementation of the Pilot Mission, to make economies of scale in sharing best practices, defining common processes for addressing the different challenges, ensuring efficient monitoring and review, organising dissemination and communication activities, etc. Such collaboration among all those projects will be formalised by a collaboration agreement.

[1] OJ L, 2024/795, 29.2.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/795/oj

[2] C(2024) 3148 final