ESA Technology Broker in Spain, Arribes, has launched a new Ride-Share test campaign enabling European companies, research centres, and universities to test materials under real space-like conditions at a fraction of the usual cost, by coordinating shared access to ESA’s LEOX facilities.
Testing materials against Atomic Oxygen (AtOx) exposure is a demanding and expensive step in the space qualification process. In Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO), atomic oxygen gradually erodes spacecraft surfaces, affecting coatings, panels, and structural components. Until now, access to facilities capable of reproducing these conditions has been limited to a small number of entities, due to high operational costs and scarce availability.
Introducing the AtOx Ride‑Share Test Campaign
To address this barrier, the ESA Technology Broker in Spain has designed and coordinated the AtOx Ride-Share Test Campaign, a collaborative testing scheme that allows multiple participants to share chamber time and operational costs while accessing ESA’s LEOX (Low Earth Orbit Oxygen) facilities. This approach reduces individual testing costs, to between one-fifth and one-eighth of the standard price, while preserving the scientific rigor and technical oversight provided by ESA specialists.
“For the first time, SMEs, start-ups and research centres can access a critical qualification test through a cost-efficient, coordinated framework,” explains Noelia Sánchez-Ortiz, co founder of Arribes, the ESA Technology Broker for Spain. “By organising this Ride-Share campaign, we are removing a major entry barrier and enabling many more European technologies to advance toward space qualification.”
ESA’s LEOX Infrastructure
The campaign leverages ESA’s LEOX infrastructure, where a pulsed CO₂-laser system generates a controlled flux of atomic oxygen representative of LEO and VLEO environments. Each 2 × 2 cm material sample can undergo one or two exposure runs (10 or 20 days), including comprehensive pre- and post-test analyses of mass loss, thermo-optical properties, and surface degradation. All tests are executed under ESA scientific supervision, ensuring full data reliability and traceability.
The initiative is open to organisations across all ESA Member States, including aerospace manufacturers, non-space industries developing advanced materials, research institutes, universities, and start-ups. By coordinating shared access to high-end infrastructure, the ESA Technology Broker Spain enables faster, more accessible, and more cost-effective material qualification, reinforcing Europe’s innovation capacity in a sustainable and competitive manner.
“This Ride-Share campaign reflects a new way of approaching space testing in Europe: coordinated access, shared costs, and maximum impact” adds Sánchez-Ortiz.
The AtOx Ride-Share Test Campaign is scheduled for Q1 2026. Participation will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Organisations interested in participating can register directly through the ESA Technology Broker Spain.
Read more and register