Advancing Reusability: FIRST! Pitch Day Leads to New Industry Opportunities

On 30 January, the FIRST! Reusability Pitch Day, part of the European Space Agency’s future space transportation programme FLPP, virtually brought together space transportation service providers, technology providers, academic, investors, ESA member states delegates and ESA representatives to support the development of reusable space transportation technologies. Following a call for ideas that received 67 eligible proposals from nine countries, selected companies presented their solutions. With the publication of four Invitations to Tender (ITTs) on reusability in space transportation, the open competition has entered its next stage.

Advancing European space transportation

FIRST! (Future Innovation and Research in Space Transportation) accelerates the development of market-relevant technologies with viable commercial applications. It supports technological maturation and aligns innovations with the needs of future launch systems, contributing to a competitive, independent European space transportation sector.

Reusability, a key component in supporting European space transportation, can reduce costs, increase flexibility, and improve European competitiveness in the global space sector. By aligning the needs of space transportation service providers with solutions of technology providers, the pitch day was a significant step in this process, laying the groundwork for new projects.

Connecting European Industry

During the FIRST! Reusability Pitch Day, space transportation service providers outlined the technical challenges they face with reusability. This direct engagement helps proposed technologies remain practical and commercially viable.

Rather than a traditional competition, the event encouraged collaboration, with breakout sessions where participants could exchange ideas, form partnerships, and explore development pathways. Companies, research institutions, space transportation service providers, and ESA representatives discussed how their solutions could meet industry needs, directly shaping the future of reusable space transportation capabilities in Europe.

Four Key Technology Areas Identified

With proposals coming from research institutions, SMEs, and established aerospace companies, the event covered a broad range of solutions. The ideas were grouped into four focus areas, which now form the newly-released ITT:

• Technologies for Refurbishment and Operations
• Landing and Recovery Systems and Technologies
• Reversible-Reconnectable Interface Systems and Technologies
• Descent Systems and Technologies, Including Thermal Management Systems and Protections

These categories reflect the most pressing technical challenges in reusability that are required for launch stages and/or space transportation vehicles to withstand multiple launch and re-entry cycles while remaining cost-effective and scalable.

Next Steps: ITTs Open

Following the pitch day, ESA has launched four ITTs, inviting proposals from those in Member States that contribute to FLPP. The ITTs are designed to bridge the gap between technology proposals and industry needs, ensuring that promising technologies have the resources and support they need to reach the market. ESA can provide financial, and technical support, supporting European industry navigate the challenges of technology maturation.

• The ITTs are open to all eligible entities, regardless of OSIP participation.
• Academia and research institutions are encouraged to partner with at least one commercial company to apply.
• Selected projects will run for 12 months, with a focus on derisking key technologies and advancing them toward commercial readiness.

Get Involved

The programme has identified the technological needs for future space transportation and created detailed roadmaps to meet those needs. Additional developments are anticipated in the near future, particularly these could be in the fields of sustainability, and simulation and intelligence.

The team looks for new technological ideas to meet these needs by holding regular competitions. The winners of these competitions may receive:

• funding
• technological support
• guidance towards future commercialisation

As with other initiatives, FIRST! ensures that the technologies it supports are fully market-relevant with viable commercial applications and aligned with the needs of the future users of this technology. They accomplish this with regular events that connect:

• technology providers
• space transportation service providers and users of the matured technologies
• investors
• ESA experts
• ESA Member State Delegates

Shape the future of space transportation with ESA: Submit your proposal to the ITT or discover how to participate as an investor, technology provider or space transportation service provider.