Astroscale France’s role in regional innovation and expanding the European the In-Orbit service market
2024 has been a transformative year for Astroscale France, marked by rapid team growth, strategic partnerships, and the upcoming move to a new office in Toulouse. As the year draws to a close, we reflect on our achievements and look ahead, reaffirming our commitment to leading the In Orbit Services (IOS) market in Europe while supporting French strategic and sovereign capabilities.
Enhancing Resilience Through French Leadership and EU Collaboration
When we started out in France over a year ago, our first question was: what is our technical edge? To answer that, we leveraged Astroscale’s heritage as a market leader in satellite servicing, calling on existing partnerships to build out our network. By collaborating with leading French and European industry partners, we’ve identified key developments and technologies that will strengthen Europe’s IOS industry.
IOS initiatives were highlighted by defence experts at this year’s EU In Space Operation and Services (ISOS) Strategic Forum as vital for enhancing both security and resilience in space and on Earth. Capabilities such as in-situ inspection, upgrading, repairing, and reconfiguring satellites align directly with Astroscale France’s mission.
Driving Sovereignty Through Talent and Partnerships
By February, we had a clear technical roadmap, underpinned by recognition from CNES and the EU Commission of the transformative potential of our technology. This recognition is pivotal to our growth within the EU’s IOS ecosystem, both commercially and scientifically.
Since then, we’ve assembled a team of 19 top-tier experts, including systems engineers and Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC) specialists, to execute our roadmap. In early 2025, we will move into a new office in Toulouse, growing our team to 25. This strategic location strengthens our regional supply chain and enhances our ability to support France’s sovereign space capabilities.
On the supply chain side, we’ve identified key suppliers in the Toulouse region and in Europe, enabling us to strengthen and expand Europe’s space industry with a focus on resilience and independence.
Building Toward a Resilient Future
The EU Space Strategy calls for a stronger, more resilient European Union, with IOS capabilities playing a crucial role. This aligns seamlessly with our goals at Astroscale France. Currently, we have six active R&D lines working to demonstrate (through simulation) how our technologies will significantly enhance mission safety and autonomy.
In parallel, we’re prioritising studies to develop strategic capabilities and scoping potential missions, with the ambition of delivering IOS mission in France and Europe within the next two to three years. As we gear up for the next European Space Conference in January, we’re eager to contribute our game-changing technology as part of a consortium that delivers innovative solutions for Europe’s space and defence needs.
We’re immensely proud of our team’s accomplishments this year. From building an ambitious roadmap and assembling a world-class team to nurturing partnerships with French institutions and the EU, Astroscale France is at the forefront of driving innovation and resilience in the IOS market. As 2025 approaches, we’re poised to support both France and the EU in building a sovereign, resilient space capability, ensuring a sustainable and secure future in space.
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