Unlocking the commercial potential of in-orbit servicing

Satellite operators need effective ways for managing spacecraft during their operational period and at the end of their mission. In-orbit servicing can help operators extend the lifetime of satellites, enabling the generation of more value from existing assets over a longer period of time. These services can also support the safe removal of defunct spacecraft that could otherwise add to the growing debris population.

ESA Space Safety and ESA Space Transportation are helping develop the technologies and operational expertise needed to approach, inspect, maintain and remove spacecraft in orbit, a set of capabilities that are central to a safer and more sustainable space environment. In the long run, ESA aspires to stimulate a true circular economy in space, minimising the impact of spaceflight on Earth and its resources where possible.

These capabilities open the door to a new generation of commercial in-orbit services. Turning them into reality, however, demands long-term investment and confidence in emerging markets, making the path to commercial success both promising and challenging.

From capabilities to commercial opportunities

What better opportunity to put investing in in-orbit servicing centre stage than the Investor Forum 2026?

Held in Paris on 18 September, the forum was organised by ESA with the support of the European Commission (DG-DEFIS) and the EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA). The event brought together investors, project finance specialists and senior representatives from European institutions and Member States to discuss financing mechanisms and strengthen collaboration through public-private partnerships.

Among the various themes covered during the forum, in-orbit servicing was featured in a session introduced by Holger Krag, ESA Space Safety Programme Manager, and moderated by Quentin Verspieren, Head of the ESA Space Safety Programme Coordination Office.

“In-orbit servicing is one of the building blocks of a sustainable future in space, but no market develops on technology alone. Investors, industry and public institutions all have a role to play. ESA can help bring these entities together and provide the technical expertise and operational experience needed to reduce uncertainty, build confidence and support the transition from demonstration missions to operational services,” Holger Krag commented.

With representatives from OTB Ventures, D-Orbit, Astroscale, Exotrail and the European Commission, this session explored how emerging in-orbit servicing programmes can attract investment. Discussions focused on business models and concrete use cases, the mix of public and private financing needed to support these missions, and measures required to reduce risk and encourage greater participation from the private sector.

The panel covered the European Commission’s ISOS (In-Space Operations and Services) initiative and its role in supporting the growth of European leaders in the field. Earlier in September, ESA and the European Commission celebrated a joint declaration on the cooperation for the development and maturation of key ISOS technologies and mission concepts, during the International Space Summit in Paris.

Industry representatives shared their perspectives on the markets they are targeting, as well as the services they are developing and the business models underpinning their growth, emphasising the financing mechanisms required to help businesses scale.

The conversation moved on to the role of different types of investors, from venture capital to institutions, alongside European funding instruments that could support the development of in-orbit servicing capabilities in the coming years.

Turning in-orbit servicing into reality

As ESA’s first in-orbit servicing mission, RISE will mark an important step on the road towards sustainability in space.

Developed by D-Orbit, RISE is a commercial in-orbit servicing mission that will demonstrate life-extension services through a safe rendezvous and docking to a geostationary client satellite. This mission is designed as a bridge to an operational market, paving the way for commercial in-orbit servicing missions in the years ahead.

Organised by D-Orbit and held during World Space Business Week in Paris (14-17 September), the RISE Customer Workshop gathered senior executives from 20 world-leading satellite operators, primarily in geostationary orbit, to showcase European capabilities and explore how RISE life-extension services can respond to the evolving needs of the space sector.

During the event, ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher reflected on the growing momentum behind in-orbit servicing: “This is no longer a distant ambition. A clear market for in-orbit servicing is emerging, driven by the need for more sustainable and efficient space activities. RISE demonstrates how ESA can support commercial companies in bringing innovative in-orbit servicing solutions to market faster and with greater confidence.”

ESA is supporting the transition from demonstration to operation by providing technical expertise and ensuring mission safety. The RISE mission, co-funded by D-Orbit, represents a strategic investment in European industrial capabilities, helping build a credible in-orbit servicing market and strengthening Europe’s autonomy and competitiveness in space.

A new chapter for space sustainability

From active debris removal and satellite life extension to the development of new commercial services, in-orbit servicing will transform how we use and manage space.

Through initiatives such as the Investor Forum and the RISE mission, ESA brings together the partners, investment and expertise needed to help this emerging sector mature, supporting a safer, more sustainable and economically vibrant future in orbit.