ESA Navigation at 2025 Ministerial Council

On 26 and 27 November 2025, ESA’s Member States, Associate States and Cooperating States will come together to decide on the programmes to be undertaken during the next three years, and to secure funding for them. With its decisions, ESA’s governing body will aim to strengthen Europe’s space sector and ensure it continues to serve European citizens.

Satellite navigation is a cornerstone of Europe’s economy, society and security. Over five billion users worldwide benefit from and rely on EGNOS and Galileo. It underpins critical sectors such as transport, energy networks, scientific research, emergency services and many more aspects of daily life.

Beyond their role as essential infrastructure, satellite navigation systems deliver enormous economic value. More than 10% of Europe’s GDP already relies on satellite navigation, with the downstream market generating 50 000 jobs. Looking ahead, global navigation systems are predicted to generate cumulative revenues of EUR 4.6 trillion over the next decade.

In this context, rising global competition underscores the urgency for Europe to invest in technology, product and service development to secure its continued leadership in this field. Positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) systems are a strategic asset for Europe, and investing in next generation navigation technologies will expand market opportunities, enable new services and applications, increase the performance and resilience of European satellite navigation systems and benefit European society, safety and security.

ESA Navigation portfolio at a glance

With 30 years of expertise on bringing satellite navigation (satnav) to Europe, ESA Navigation is looking ahead with its proposed follow-up and new programmes that will anticipate future PNT needs and prepare for them with technologies and systems.

The proposals offer a flexible framework that complements ESA’s role as system development prime in the EU programmes Galileo, EGNOS and Horizon Europe. By focusing on the downstream sector in the Navigation Innovation and Support Programme (NAVISP, created in 2016) and breakthrough technologies in FutureNAV (founded in 2022), ESA Navigation seeks to develop, industrialise and demonstrate in orbit advanced satellite navigation technologies that will increase the performance, resilience and robustness of satnav systems and applications.

ESA Navigation programmes are aligned with and strongly support ESA’s Vision 2040. At the same time, the directorate’s portfolio represents one of the three pillars of the European Resilience from Space initiative, together with Earth Observation and Connectivity and Secure Communications programmes.

NAVISP

Developing a competitive European PNT industry

Since its foundation in 2016, NAVISP has supported European industry and ESA Member States to succeed in the highly competitive and rapidly evolving global market of PNT products and services. The programme has gained significant traction, with hundreds of stakeholders involved and more than 350 activities, some of which anticipated many of the ideas that are now being matured within other ESA Navigation programmes like Moonlight and Celeste (LEO-PNT). NAVISP has attracted a significant amount of private funding to co-fund the activities.

ESA Navigation proposes to extend NAVISP for another funding period. The continuation of this programme will further stimulate growth in PNT markets, support the emergence and strengthening of national PNT industrial leaders, accelerate commercialisation of PNT technologies and ensure European industry secures a leading position in the global PNT market. 

Celeste (LEO-PNT): in-orbit preparation

Deploy satnav technology in low Earth orbit for increased performance, new service capabilities and enhanced resilience and robustness

ESA will soon launch the first two Celeste (LEO-PNT) In-Orbit Demonstrator (IOD) satellites to showcase the benefits of low Earth orbit satellites for positioning, navigation and timing (LEO-PNT), adding a powerful new multi-layer dimension to Europe’s satellite navigation. The proposed Celeste (LEO-PNT) In-Orbit Preparatory phase will focus on:

• maturing enabling technology building blocks (for example, integrated digital and RF modules and antennas, miniaturised clocks),
• driving industrialisation across Europe to boost future production and reduce cost,
• validating technologies through in-orbit experimentation.

The ultimate objective is to prepare a LEO-PNT future operational system for the European Union that adds a new layer to the European PNT ecosystem, with Galileo at its core.

In parallel, the programme aims to open new commercial opportunities worldwide, ultimately boosting innovation and European leadership for future market opportunities.

Genesis: deployment and exploitation

Elaborate the most accurate terrestrial reference frame from space

ESA’s Genesis is a unique mission that will contribute to enhancing the International Terrestrial Reference Frame, a critical but often overlooked element for navigation accuracy. To complement the activities already subscribed at CM22, this year’s proposal aims at providing for launch (foreseen for 2028), operations and scientific exploitation to ensure full achievement of mission objectives.

OpSTAR: time and ranging with optical technology

Develop optical technologies for improved accuracy and resilience

OpSTAR will demonstrate in-orbit how optical inter-satellite links can enhance PNT by enabling precise time transfer and ranging between satellites. With initial studies ongoing, the mission will deliver essential knowledge on how this technology reduces dependence on ground infrastructure and atomic clocks, paving the way for more autonomous, scalable and resilient navigation architectures against jamming and spoofing.

NovaMoon: demonstrating navigation services on the Moon

Develop first station on surface of the Moon for high accuracy navigation

A first lunar-based differential, geodetic and timing station operating directly on the lunar surface, the NovaMoon demonstrator will enhance the accuracy of Moonlight navigation services and open new scientific opportunities. It will compute and broadcast corrections to lunar navigation signals, provide a time reference and act as a very precise lunar geodetic anchor point, ultimately enabling autonomous lunar transportation, safe landings and high-resolution mapping, while offering a highly valuable platform for fundamental science.

Future PNT demonstrators

Developing breakthrough technologies for better performance and service for institutional or operational systems

This proposal aims at funding preparatory activities to establish a strong foundation for innovation and development of technologies and concepts that could transform the future PNT landscape. Activities will include feasibility studies and pre-developments, early engagement with industry, maturation of critical technologies and shaping of new systems. Two promising areas have already been identified as potential candidates, namely quantum and AI technologies.

As reliance on satellite navigation grows and global competition intensifies, Europe’s ability to lead in this field will depend on sustained investment in innovation such as the proposals presented in ESA’s ambitious and rich package, securing not only technological progress but a strategic and secure future.

For more information on the ESA Navigation CM25 portfolio and the results of the Ministerial Council, visit ESA’s CM25 webpage.