Innovative Deployable Antennas

Deployable antennas are a key element of satellites enabling them to receive and transmit data. They are relevant for all types of space applications such as navigation, Earth observation, science and defence.

The need for the space sector to rely on space qualified technology with high level of quality, reliability, robustness, suitability to space harsh environment demonstrated by in-orbit demonstration and validation presents a challenge for the availability of antennas, especially large deployable antennas with a diameter at or above 5 meters. Additionally, the launch and deployment of large structures in space presents further technological and cost challenges.

It is important to explore novel approaches that can reduce development, manufacturing, launch and deployment costs for such large antennas, as well as approaches that can allow in-orbit manufacturing, disassembly, re-use and recycling of parts from defunct satellites, overall contributing to a higher sustainability of space infrastructure. Emerging technologies and concepts linked to the deployment and assembly/disassembly of such structures in orbit, as well as the re-use of parts are key for the future.

The expected outcomes of this pilot project are the following:

• Contribute to higher sustainability of space infrastructure by reinforcing the feasibility and potential of novel techniques linked to the in-orbit recycling of space assets
• The identification of novel techniques for ground manufacturing of deployable antennas and the re-use parts/materials from end-of-life assets and antennas for further manufacturing/assembly in-orbit
• Contribute to the elaboration of possible future use-cases for planned initiatives such as the In-Space Operations and Services (ISOS) Pilot Mission under the “Acting in Space” activities in Horizon Europe^[1]
• Reduce the dependencies from non-EU countries for the critical space technologies relevant to reflectors and deployable antennas, accelerate time to market and increase EU sovereignty.

The pilot project is expected to contribute to the above-mentioned challenges and considerations. This will contribute to developing, deploying global space-based services applications and data and contribute to fostering the EU's space sector competitiveness.

To tackle the above expected outcomes, all the following R&I actions should be addressed in the proposals:

• The development of novel ground manufacturing technologies for deployable antennas of larger diameters, at or above 5 meters, such as compatible low-cost and short manufacturing-time reflector moulds and novel materials and surfaces to ensure equivalent current performance or improved levels in terms of losses, depolarization, bandwidth, efficiency of reflector antennas
• The identification and testing of methods to retrieve the useful materials or components from end-of-life antennas for reuse in the assembly or manufacturing of new hardware on orbit;
• The definition of a holistic design concept for innovative deployable antennas that considers the integration of new manufacturing techniques and concepts that will allow in-orbit deployment, as well as disassembly, re-use and recycling of parts. This concept should be implemented in simulation and demonstrated in a small-scale laboratory environment (TRL4).

Technologies under development in the above R&I should target the demonstration of TRL4.

Proposals are expected to promote cooperation between different actors (industry, SMEs and research institutions) and consider opportunities to quickly turn technological innovation into commercial use in space.

Proposals should explore relevant and promising solutions developed in Horizon Europe, Horizon 2020, European Innovations Council (EIC) or other EU-funded relevant activities, in particular, the topics: Technologies for European non-dependence and competitiveness (COMPET‐1‐2017), SRC – Space robotics technologies (H2020-SPACE-12-TEC-2018, SPACE-27-TEC-2020), Future Space Ecosystem (HORIZON-CL4-2021-SPACE-01-12/ 2022-SPACE-01-11/ 2023-SPACE-01-12), EIC Pathfinder Challenges 2024 and in relevant projects funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) and/or national programmes.

The project awarded from this call should explore synergies and complementarities with the projects awarded from the HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-21/22/23/24 and ISOS Pilot Mission Coordination and Support Action call topics.

In this topic the integration of the gender dimension (sex and gender analysis) in research and innovation content is not a mandatory requirement.

[1] In Space Operations and Services – a strategic ability for the future - European Commission