ESA Information Day for the Stepping Stone Missions Definition Studies

The event is taking place the 20th March 2026 at ESA ESTEC in a Hybrid format. In addition, the event will offer a networking opportunity via in-person Business to Business (B2B) meetings.

The Earth Observation Programme Directorate of the European Space Agency (ESA) responds to the growing demand for Earth Observation (EO) information arising from evolving National, European, and International environmental policies and frameworks. These include, among others, the European Green Deal, the EU Climate Law, the Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, as well as international frameworks such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement.

In this context, ESA is initiating a new activity entitled Stepping Stones (SpS). The objective of the SpS activity is to accelerate the maturation and deployment of new space-based observation capabilities by reducing technical, programmatic, and adoption risks along the pathway from mission concept to mature, commercially viable services.

Stepping Stone Missions are designed to complement and enhance existing public space and ground infrastructures, acting as precursors to sustained, operational capabilities. They build upon established reference missions while targeting gaps that are not fully addressed by current systems. They address a niche in the current Earth Observation Ecosystem by responding to the need for quality-proven data at the time-and space sampling scales required to address the National, European, and International environmental policies and realize commensurate societal benefits.

Specifically, Stepping Stone Missions are characterized by the following principles:

1. User-driven requirements
   Mission objectives are driven by user’s identified requirements addressing environmental regulations.
    
2. Service-oriented mission definition
   Missions are conceived with a clear service perspective, targeting ownership and operation by commercial entities once performance, data quality, and operational readiness have been demonstrated and certified in orbit.
    
3. Scalability and evolution
   Mission concepts are designed to be scalable and adaptable in order to accommodate future user needs, policy evolution, and market expansion.
    
4. End-to-end validation
   Missions are supported by comprehensive validation and verification through user-oriented pilots, ensuring fitness-for-purpose prior to implementation.

ESA is planning to issue an industrial Invitation To Tender (ITT) for Stepping Stone Missions Definition Studies. Planned for a duration of 24 months, their objective is to establish a solid technical, programmatic, and service-oriented foundation for new mission concepts. This would demonstrate the feasibility and credibility of the proposed concepts, potentially enabling a subsequent fast and efficient implementation phase.

Interested industrial entities and institutions are invited to participate in a one-day Information Day. 

Link to registration.

Contact:

Vigdis Lonar: vigdis.lonar@spaceagency.no
Dag Anders Moldestad: dag.anders.moldestad@spaceagency.no