Space Technologies

ESA/David Ducros

Space technologies enable us to explore space, monitor environmental changes on Earth and provide the infrastructure for satellite communications and navigation. Modern satellite technology and robotic innovations ensure this. Launch vehicles are the basic prerequisite for transporting payloads into orbit, and the continuously increasing data volumes from the missions they launch requires ever more sophisticated technology.

Access to space

Spaceflight guarantees Europe’s unrestricted access to space. The Ariane 5 launcher was the highly successful flagship of European spaceflight for many years – its main task being to transport commercial communications satellites into geostationary transfer orbit. The Ariane programme is currently developing Ariane 6, an optimised, flexible and competitive European launcher system for the future.

Satellite Technology

Several thousand active satellites are currently orbiting our planet. They enable science, providing information on the state of and changes to Earth and its climate, and are the backbone of today's information society in the areas of communications and navigation.

Robotics

Automation and robotics have great potential for efficient and effective space exploration. As an extension of humans in space, intelligent robots have the potential to change the future of space flight in the long term. Largely autonomous robotic systems will land on celestial bodies, explore them and thus drive forward the exploration of the Solar System. Robotic technologies reduce costs and risks, for example by supporting astronauts on missions or completely taking over dangerous tasks. High mobility, precise handling and the ability of robotic systems to act autonomously are crucial for success.