ESA has signed the contract for its latest Pioneer Partnership Project - ESpaDA (Engine for Space Data Analysis) with Methera Global Communications Ltd, headquartered in the United Kingdom, on 31st October 2024. The project will develop hosted payload services onboard Methera’s multifunctional constellation of spacecraft operating in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO).
This marks the eighth project which has been contracted under the programme, showcasing the interest and growing technological capabilities being developed under ESA’s Pioneer programme. The Methera multifunctional constellation will provide high-capacity, highly focused broadband to targeted geographic locations, satisfying the needs of a range of commercial and governmental customers.
The nature of the Methera multifunctional constellation, with spacecraft on multiple orbital planes at MEO altitudes, has advantages for a range of applications including space domain awareness, geolocation and interference management.
The ESpaDA project will introduce the infrastructure needed to offer hosted payload services into the Methera constellation. This will enable the collection, analysis and delivery of space-based data, providing insights and actionable intelligence to Methera customers. The project will include the in-orbit validation of two application payloads based on these MEO hosted services.
ESA’s Pioneer Partnership Projects works to increase industry competitiveness by supporting the emergence of new space mission providers, offering a one-stop-shop for customers wishing to demonstrate innovative space solutions. The projects are targeted at affordable and timely access to space, lowering the barriers for demonstration of pioneering services, and include one or more in-orbit validation missions to demonstrate and showcase the service.
Of the eight Pioneer Partnership Projects that are under contract, a total of 21 nanosats have been launched so far, with 3 more scheduled to be launched in 2025, demonstrating the high interest in the programme.
“ESA is proud to support this innovative project within the European space ecosystem developing novel MEO applications through our Pioneer Partnership Projects programme. Working with Methera Global Communications, ESpaDA will offer a unique hosted payload service, showcasing the importance of MEO orbits in space domain awareness, interference management, and geolocation,” said Clive Edwards, ESA’s Pioneer Implementation Manager."
“We are delighted by the support received from the UK and European Space Agencies as well as our partners for this exciting opportunity to develop an AI-powered Engine that will utilise our unique MEO positioning to harness intelligent data to support sustainable development goals, protect critical infrastructures and our planet,” said Chris McIntosh, CEO, Methera.
The Pioneer Partnership Project programme falls under ESA’s Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) 4.0 programme. As part of the Partnership Projects programme line of ESA's ARTES, it drives innovation by federating ambitious large-scale, long-term collaborations between ESA, private companies, and satellite operators.
Through projects like ESpaDA, the programme establishes ESA as a key partner in developing major satellite communication systems, new value-adding solutions and services, and providing in-orbit validation. It focuses on substantial, industry-shaping initiatives that require significant investment spanning over several years, such as the development of satellite constellations.
By closely aligning technological ambition with commercial strategy, ESpaDA and other Partnership Projects enable European and Canadian organisations to push the boundaries of satellite communications and strengthen their competitiveness on the global market.
