ESA Launches Competition to Develop Commercial Robotic Cargo Capsule for Space Missions
The European Space Agency (ESA) is launching a competition to develop a robotic cargo capsule for missions to the International Space Station (ISS). The winning company will receive funding and technical support from ESA but must operate the capsule commercially, selling resupply services to ESA as the anchor customer. This approach aims to replicate the successful competitive procurement model used by NASA, fostering innovation and lower-cost space technologies while reducing the burden on European taxpayers for space projects. Additionally, the competition may lead to the capsule's evolution into a crew vehicle for transporting astronauts and potentially serving other space destinations, including the Moon.
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