The European Space Agency is gearing up for the new post-ISS era and aims to equip Europe with a reusable and scalable low-orbit freight transportation system. Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, leading the project at ESA, explains the details of this ambitious initiative.
The European Space Agency (ESA) has recently announced its partnership with Thales Alenia Space and The Exploration Company for the development of a reusable cargo vehicle destined for low orbit. This collaboration aligns with ESA’s vision to prepare for the post-ISS era, which will see the emergence of multiple private space stations and the economic development of low orbit, fostering new space applications.
ESA’s decision is to kickstart the development of a freight transportation service aimed at supporting not only the International Space Station (ISS) but also future commercial space stations. According to Samantha Cristoforetti, astronaut and head of the LEO Cargo Return Service program at ESA, it is “essential to develop an efficient means of transporting goods to and from low Earth orbit to maintain Europe’s position in this evolving ecosystem.”
Space freighters are expected to play a crucial role in the logistics and operational support of private space stations by providing a reliable and efficient means of transporting supplies, crews, and equipment to and from these orbital facilities, contributing to their proper functioning.
An Operational Service by the End of the Decade
Among the seven proposals received, ESA has selected the most feasible concepts to be realized by 2028 or at the latest by 2030. Each capsule should be able to transport up to four tons of cargo to the International Space Station and bring back two tons to Earth.
Thus, it is not surprising that capsule solutions have been chosen for their technical simplicity, as opposed to more innovative approaches such as lifting bodies. This “all-capsule” choice does not prevent the continuation of research and development programs to explore other solutions with broad application potential, such as vehicles capable of landing and taking off.
The first phase…The development of the cargo vehicle will take place from June 2024 to June 2026. The focus will be on demonstrating the technical feasibility of the concepts and finalizing the business plans. The subsequent phase will involve a more in-depth development of the service and the vehicle, with a demonstration mission planned for the end of 2028. Each capsule must be compatible with the Ariane 6 launcher, which is preparing for its inaugural flight.
It is important to note that although the cargo vehicle is currently focused on transporting goods, its architecture must be flexible enough to evolve towards other types of vehicles without major modifications, as emphasized by Samantha Cristoforetti.
Flexibility and architecture of these cargo vehicles should allow them to evolve into vehicles capable of cislunar missions or even crew transport vehicles, according to Samantha Cristoforetti. This adaptability is reminiscent of the transition from SpaceX’s Dragon to the Crew Dragon. One of the options being seriously considered is using a vehicle capable of returning cryogenic lunar samples to Earth, a capability not integrated into NASA’s overall Artemis structure but which could arouse the interest of the American space agency, as Samantha Cristoforetti believes.
In the longer term, ESA is considering round-trip transport systems to Mars, exploring various solutions such as a capsule-type lander with a separate launching vehicle, distinguishing itself from Apollo’s approaches or Blue Origin’s lunar lander. Another option being considered is a vehicle that could be slowed down by aerocapture before landing on Mars, requiring a support body that would need refueling on the surface before taking off again.