ESA seeks new ideas for re-usable and sustainable large space structures technologies

Why this call?

The new ESA Campaign ‘Large Space Structure Construction, Maintenance, and Recycling Technologies (LATTICE)’ seeks to develop basic technology building blocks that will enable the European Space sector to go beyond the present state-of-the-art in single-use-and-dispose spacecraft and move towards re-usable, efficient, affordable, and sustainable large space infrastructure.

Large Space Structures (LSSs) are space segments that are assembled in space because they do not fit onboard standard launchers. Innovative ideas are needed to construct, maintain, and recycle these assets in space, using only robots. The aim of the LATTICE campaign is to advance the understanding of the lifecycle of large space structures and to be fully aware of the capabilities and limitations as we move towards a more sustainable and re-usable space infrastructure. ESA’s Discovery Element of the Basic Activities is seeking new ideas that explore the assembly and utilization of modular and reusable large spacecraft. A particular focus of this is the novelty and the degree to which it enables large space structures.

“By opening this campaign, ESA continues its commitment to the Green Agenda and a move towards a circular space economy. We invite ideas that cover all phases of the lifecycle of Large Space Structures, which includes the design and engineering, on-orbit construction and assembly, utilisation and decommissioning,” says Leopold Summerer, Head of the Advanced Concepts and Studies Office.

Six Themes for lifecycle assessment of a Large Space Structure

There are unique challenges associated with the components, tools, and supplies needed to build and maintain these structures, as well as limitations caused by using only robotic assets. Another challenge is posed by the requirement to operate and control the structure while it is being constructed in space. Ideas are sought for six themes derived from the lifecycle of these large spacecraft:

• Design and Engineering: covering aspects of design, analysis, and planning (production, logistics, and operation) of the LSS.
• Ground Production: covering aspects of on-ground production of the materials, supplies, parts, subsystems, and modules that make up the LSS; packaging and logistics preparation are also considered in this theme.
• Logistics: covering aspects of ground-to-space transportation, delivery to the LSS construction site, as well as on-LSS warehousing and distribution.
• On-orbit Construction: covering aspects of assembly of the LSS from smaller modular parts, subsystems and modules, as well as metrology, and verification of the LSS.
• Utilisation: covering aspects of commissioning, management, resupply, inspection, maintenance, and repair of the LSS.
• Decommissioning: covering aspects of disassembly, separation, sorting, and re-use/recycling of the LSS or its subsystems.

Send us your ideas

This Campaign will be open until 3 November 2024.

Ideas will be evaluated in November and selected mission concepts will progress to the proposal phase. The Campaign allows for Discovery projects of various scales: feasibility studies,  early technology developments, research projects; as well as projects implemented via GSTP, ARTES, or BASS. Further detailed information on the different funding pathways is available through the Campaign description.

This Campaign is being run by the Discovery element of ESA's Basic Activities via the Open Space Innovation Platform (OSIP). You can find all the details of the timing, process and conditions here.