RISE: D-Orbit will Develop ESA’s First In-Orbit Servicing Mission

On Monday 14, during the International Astronautical Congress, the European Space Agency (ESA) and D-Orbit signed a €119 million contract for the development of the RISE in-orbit servicing mission. The contract was signed by ESA’s DG Josef Aschbacher and D-Orbit’s CEO Luca Rossettini, with the presence of ESA Astronaut Luca Parmitano, ASI’s President Teodoro Valente, the Italian Minister of Defense Guido Crosetto, and the Italian Minister of Economic Development Adolfo Urso.

Planned for 2028, RISE will demonstrate key technologies and procedures for the safe rendezvous and dock with a client geostationary satellite. D-Orbit is a co-funding prime contractor of the mission.

The signing of this contract marks a major step forward for ESA’s Clean Space initiative and serves as an important confirmation of the competence and experience that D-Orbit has developed.

“In-orbit servicing is the logical continuation of ESA’s sustainable approach to space. Extending the lifetime of satellites lets space operators generate more data and revenue from existing space assets, greatly improving both the sustainability and our competitiveness in space.”

— Josef Aschbacher, ESA Director General

A tricky mission

The launch of RISE is scheduled for 2028, and the mission will continue for 8 years in geostationary orbit. The vehicle will weigh about 3000 kg, including 800 kg of propellant. It will be equipped with state-of-the-art instruments to dock with satellites, like robotic systems, sensors, and advanced computers.

D-Orbit is already working on the General Expansion Architecture (GEA) spacecraft, as part of the European Comission’s Autonomous Spacecraft Technology for Repair Operations, Lifespan Improvement, and Flight Testing (ASTROLIFT) project.

Firstly after launch the spacecraft will transfer to a staging orbit, at an altitude of almost 36.000 km. During this phase, RISE’s systems will be tested as well as in-orbit rehearsals, in preparation for the actual mission.

If the vehicle is ready, it will rise to 100 km, into the geostationary graveyard, a higher orbit where some satellites are moved at the end of their operational life. At this altitude RISE will rendezvous with the client satellite, matching its speed and trajectory. The spacecraft will ‘grapple’ the satellite by utilizing the ring that connected the satellite to the rocket stage.

At that point, RISE will push the satellite into a different orbit, changing its attitude and altitude, demonstrating its ability to precisely maneuver the client spacecraft. Once the maneuver is completed, RISE will detach and lower itself into a parking orbit between the regular geostationary orbit and the graveyard. Now, D-Orbit’s vehicle will be validated to carry out its first commercial mission.

In-orbit services and space debris

With the RISE mission, ESA aims to simultaneously kickstart concrete solutions for the Zero Debris approach and boost the development of European in-orbit servicing capabilities, a key sector for the future.

As stated by Holger Krag, Head of Space Safety at ESA: “The Agency is supporting the establishment of in-orbit servicing that is provided out of Europe, ensuring that the European space industry will be at the forefront of this exciting new market.”

With the continuous increase in launched satellites and the gradual aging of many of them, operators will increasingly demand a wide range of services capable of extending the lifespan of their assets or modifying their mission profiles.

Many existing and emerging players are entering this market, and as discussed by several of them in a panel at WSBW, they are preparing for future demand and the arrival of new launchers.

Founded in 2011 in Italy, D-Orbit has quickly built significant expertise in the sector, particularly thanks to its ION satellite carrier vehicles. To date, the company has launched 13 missions, deploying dozens of satellites and hosting various commercial and institutional payloads, along with offering a range of additional in-space services. D-Orbit has also expanded globally, recently opening a subsidiary, D-Orbit US, focused on providing services for the defense sector.

For the complete coverage of the 2024 International Astronautical Congress, please click here.