European satellite navigation opens new chapter at ESA’s Ministerial Council
The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Directorate of Navigation was pledged close to €1 billion by the Agency’s Member States during this week’s ESA Council at Ministerial Level (CM25) on 26 and 27 November in Bremen, Germany.
With the continuation and expansion of the NAVISP and FutureNAV programmes and three brand new missions, ESA’s Navigation Directorate experienced a significant boost to its optional programmes, with activities that are designed to shape the future of European navigation.
“We are very pleased with the unanimous support received from our Member States, which will allow ESA to continue developing Europe’s satellite navigation capabilities to remain competitive, resilient and strategically autonomous. The time is now to boost the future of navigation, and with this ambitious funding, Europe is set to continue its worldwide leadership in this strategic domain,” says ESA Director of Navigation Javier Benedicto.
ESA Member States committed to a strong future by providing a total funding of €969 million for ESA Navigation programmes, effectively embarking on all proposed programmes and well above the target set at the outset of the Council.
The outcome of the Ministerial Council will enable investment in next generation satellite navigation (satnav) technologies and systems for the benefit of European society, safety and security, as underlined in the ESA Ministerial Declaration. ESA Member States endorsed the NAVISP and FutureNAV programmes for their role in strengthening Europe’s leadership, innovation and support for infrastructure development in Member States as well as their synergy with EU programmes.
“ESA Navigation’s programmes perfectly complement our longstanding role as development agency for the key EU programmes Galileo and EGNOS,” notes Javier Benedicto. “The programmes funded at CM25 indicate Europe is ready to act in advance and prepare for the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework. Our programmes have been devised in close cooperation with our Member States and the European Commission to ensure full complementarity and to allow Europe to secure critical capabilities for the future of satellite navigation.”
NAVISP enters fourth phase
What was approved?
After nine successful years, ESA’s Navigation Innovation and Support Programme (NAVISP) has been extended into its fourth phase with an unprecedented funding boost reflecting the high added value of this programme for our member states. Since 2017, NAVISP has supported more than 350 projects with over 300 companies and research organisations and has attracted €70 million of private funding to co-fund these activities.
In phase four, NAVISP will further stimulate innovation in PNT, strengthen the competitiveness of European industries, support the emergence of national PNT industrial leaders and implement strategic activities with Member States.
What comes next?
As NAVISP enters its tenth year in 2026, it will expand its activities with the funding secured at CM25. Interested industries can consult the workplan for Element 1 as well as the continuous open calls for Element 2 and Element 3 on the NAVISP website, which have recently been published and will now enter implementation phase.
Later in 2026, NAVISP Industry Days will be organised, allowing the European PNT ecosystem to interact with ESA Navigation on the opportunities in the NAVISP programme. On the agenda will be a discussion of the potential creation of a European PNT Industry Association to represent the sector’s needs.
FutureNAV expands with new missions
Created at ESA’s Ministerial Council in 2022, the FutureNAV programme matures and demonstrates promising system concepts and upstream technologies for institutional or commercial use. At this year’s Ministerial Council, Celeste and Genesis were expanded with a next phase, and three new missions were funded: OpSTAR, NovaMoon and Future PNT demonstrators.
Celeste prepares for multi-layer satnav
Celeste will prepare for the future European low Earth orbit constellation for positioning, navigation and timing (LEO-PNT), building on the Celeste first demonstrator phase that was approved at the Ministerial Council in 2022. Ultimately, the objective is to add a new LEO layer to the European Union satnav systems, with Galileo at its core. In parallel, Celeste will open new commercial opportunities worldwide, boosting innovation and European leadership for future market opportunities.
Celeste was funded as one of the three core pillars of the new European Resilience from Space (ERS) programme, which is a joint response to critical space needs in security and resilience to serve the urgent needs of our Member States and prepare for future EU strategic space capabilities.
What comes next?
The first two Celeste demonstrator satellites, scheduled to launch early next year, will secure and test the assigned frequencies during a six-month experimentation phase. Following a formal review of the results, ESA foresees to engage user communities and stakeholders in third-party experimentations to test the functionalities and demonstrate services capabilities in representative environments.
Now that the funding for the preparatory phase has been secured, a dedicated Industry Day will be organised early next year to showcase the European PNT ecosystem, outline the new opportunities and present the ESA-EU coordinated roadmap. This will be followed by an invitation to tender for this phase’s industrial activities, focusing on the development of enabling technologies, industrialisation efforts, and the deployment of a set of in-orbit validation satellites.
Genesis expands to accurately measure Earth
What was approved?
The Genesis mission, first approved at Ministerial Council in 2022, will elaborate the most accurate terrestrial reference frame from space, a critical but often overlooked backbone of accurate satellite navigation. The deployment and exploitation of the Genesis mission was subscribed at CM25, which will provide for final development of the satellite and ground segment as well as the full implementation of launch, operations and scientific exploitation.
What comes next?
In preparation for launch (foreseen for 2028), the preliminary design of the Genesis satellite and system will be finalised by the end of this year, with the critical design review starting in 2026.
In March 2026, the next science workshop on the status of Genesis and next steps will be held to facilitate exchange between ESA, industry and the scientific community. This will allow the scientific community to prepare for the full exploitation of the mission.
OpSTAR demonstrates accuracy and resilience
What was approved?
The OpSTAR (Optical Synchronised Time and Ranging) demonstrator satellites will demonstrate in-orbit how optical inter-satellite links can enhance PNT through precise time transfer and ranging between satellites. This mission, fully subscribed at CM25, will pave the way for more autonomous, scalable and resilient navigation architectures against jamming and spoofing. Optical links are poised to build the backbone of a future PNT multilayer System of Systems.
What comes next?
Preparations for OpSTAR began in early 2025 with pre-developments of critical technologies, involving companies from 14 ESA Member States. Since then, activities have progressed at a high pace, with the aim of achieving the preliminary design mid-2026.
In the second half of 2026, industry will be invited to participate in the implementation phase of OpSTAR. The ultimate objective is to be operational by the end of the decade, enabling delivery of results and validation of the potential of optical links for use in future versions of operational PNT systems.
NovaMoon demonstrator enhances lunar navigation
What was approved?
The NovaMoon demonstrator will be the first station on the Moon for high accuracy navigation, enhancing the navigation services of Moonlight, next phase implementation was also endorsed at this Ministerial. NovaMoon will provide an advanced geodetic and timing stations, and open unique scientific opportunities. It will enable autonomous lunar transportation, safe landings and high-resolution mapping while offering a valuable platform for fundamental science.
During 2025, a NovaMoon science white paper was produced with the support of over 100 scientists representing 40 European research institutions. It identified the primary and secondary scientific objectives of the mission. The NovaMoon feasibility study phase was also performed and completed this year, providing the basis for the forthcoming development phase, funded now by CM25.
What comes next?
Following the conclusion of the initial studies, ESA will launch the full industrial procurement for NovaMoon in the first half of 2026. In parallel with this procurement, a second NovaMoon Science Workshop will be held at the beginning of next year to further strengthen the scientific opportunities of the mission. NovaMoon will be integrated as a key payload on ESA’s Argonaut lunar lander, currently targeted for launch by the end of 2030, and planned to be operational on the lunar surface for a total of five years.
Future PNT demonstrators transform satnav tech
What was approved?
Through the Future PNT demonstrators, ESA Navigation has equipped itself with a powerful instrument to build a solid foundation for technologies and concepts that could transform the future PNT landscape. Funded by CM25, these activities will allow the early development of new technologies, keeping Europe at the forefront of satellite navigation. An annual call for ideas will track emerging trends in disruptive technologies and explore how they could ultimately enhance the PNT systems of the future.
What comes next?
At the beginning of 2026, ESA plans to organise a dedicated Industry Day to present the capabilities offered by this newly funded FutureNAV element to all participating Member States. The event will help refine ideas and foster alliances across Member States.
Building on this, a workplan with concrete proposals for new PNT demonstrators is expected for spring 2026, followed by invitations to tender and the start of industrial activities in the second half of 2026. These activities will explore, develop and mature PNT innovative solutions, paving the way for their validation in upcoming demonstrators.
The support for ESA’s ambitious package for satellite navigation at this year’s Ministerial Council is a testament to Europe’s commitment to securing technological progress and a secure future, in line with ESA’s Strategy 2040.
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ESA Member States commit to largest contributions at Ministerial