🛰️ "EROSS is part of the European Commission's strategy to build a more sustainable, modular space ecosystem."

That's how Stéphanie BEHAR LAFENETRE, EROSS SC Mission Lead at Thales Alenia Space, frames the project in a new interview with Futura Sciences on Europe's drive to build its own "space tow trucks".

Selected by the European Commission to coordinate EROSS SC — the first European pre-operational in-orbit servicing mission under the ISOS programme – we are turning a decade of research into a real spacecraft, capable of autonomously:

⛽️ refuelling satellites to extend their operational life
🛠️ carrying out repairs and upgrades directly in orbit
🤝 capturing and re-positioning satellites in orbit
♻️ safely de-orbiting satellites at end of life to limit space debris

Why it matters: in-orbit servicing overturns the throwaway logic that has governed satellites since the dawn of the space age. It is also a question of sovereignty – not mastering these technologies would mean depending on others to maintain Europe's own critical space infrastructure.

EROSS SC builds directly on EROSS, EROSS+ and EROSS IOD, with a European in-orbit demonstration targeted for 2030.

📖 Read the full interview (in French): https://lnkd.in/eFWJBxwZ

#EROSSSC #OnOrbitServicing #ISOS #SpaceSustainability #SpaceDebris #SpaceSovereignty #EuropeanCommission #HorizonEurope #SpaceRobotics #ThalesAleniaSpace #EUSpace