Future space transportation Archive
ESA safeguards Europe’s guaranteed access to space by providing the building blocks for future space transportation
The space transportation technology of tomorrow is being built today by ESA. This strengthens European industry. It offers them a valuable head-start by reducing the risk of using cutting-edge technologies. ESA steers the selection, manufacture, test and maturation of these new technologies based on their potential to reduce cost, improve performance, increase reliability, or on their ability to fulfil the specific needs of an identified system, demonstrator or mission. ESA plays a crucial role in a process that takes fundamental space transportation technologies of the future from the laboratory to the launch pad to guarantee Europe's access to space.
Read more about ESA's role in developing future space transportation technologies.
Project areas
Propulsion
3D printing, materials and processes
Reusability
Structures and mechanisms
Avionics, software and Guidance Navigation Control (GNC)
Future systems and missions
- 3–6 technology levels
