Submissions open for ISOS Pilot Mission Detailed Design – HOST component

Deadline: 25 September 2025

Submissions are now open for the ISOS Pilot Mission Detailed Design – HOST component topic.

The topic addresses the detailed design of the platform component of the ISOS pilot mission, which will be named Hub for Operational Services and on-orbit Testing (HOST). The HOST shall be able to host multiple servicer spacecraft, IOD/V experiments and composable, and exchangeable functional satellite modules (satAPPs) for delivery, and shall be equipped with robotic manipulation and refuelling capabilities.

Objectives

The strategic objective of this topic is to develop capabilities to ‘Act in Space’ through demonstrating in space a pilot mission by 2030 related to ISOS. The envisaged ISOS pilot mission shall provide the necessary seed components for a future service infrastructure, available to the European in-space ecosystem (including the EU assets), driving the generation of a new in-space economy, providing enhanced in-orbit technology demonstration and maximising EU technology non-dependence.

Scope

To tackle the expected outcomes, the following R&I actions should be addressed taking into account the provided technical:
- R&I to complete ISOS Pilot mission detailed mission and system design (including relevant key technology maturation) for the platform component (HOST), demonstrating the achievement of the required TRL for all relevant technologies;
- R&I on key enabling technologies relevant for design of a scalable, modular, flexible platform component, equipped with robotic manipulation, satAPPs compatibility and refuelling capability (for the HOST and the hosted servicer and logistic spacecraft), that can be extended and reconfigured to meet different demands (e.g., governmental and commercial, IOD/V and additional servicer hosting slots, robotic/manufacturing testbeds, warehouse and logistic node, etc.);
- Contribution to the overall ISOS pilot mission detail design in close cooperation with other mission components, the ISOS Pilot Mission Coordination and Support Action and the ISOS Pilot Mission Advisory Group;
- R&I on related HOST functions and applications including related operational concepts considering the use of distributed computing, multi-agent and network architectures and supported by simulations, enhancing the overall pilot mission system functionality.
Proposals are expected to promote cooperation between different actors (industry, SMEs and research institutions) and consider opportunities to quickly turn technological innovation into commercial use in space via e.g., on-ground or in-orbit demonstration.
Proposals should clearly present a concrete plan to ensure that required technologies reach the necessary TRL at the end of the project. Moreover, complementarities with previous and/or ongoing R&I for the proposed servicing component must be clearly described. More specifically, proposals should explore relevant and promising solutions developed in Horizon Europe, Horizon 2020, or other EU-funded relevant activities, in particular, the topics: Future Space Ecosystem and in relevant projects funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) and/or national programmes. Finally, proposals are also expected to consider the use of existing European technologies and/or building blocks, including at component level, contributing to European non-dependence and strengthen competitiveness.
Proposals are expected to consider and contribute to a balanced provision of Member States’ and eligible Associated Countries’ expertise and capabilities to the overall ISOS pilot mission, to support a successful introduction of the strategic capacity ‘Act in Space’ for the EU and its Member States.

Funding Information

Budget (EUR) – Year 2025: 17 500 000
Contributions: 12000000 to 17500000

Expected Outcomes

Project results are expected to contribute to the following expected outcomes:
- A sustainable, highly automated, flexible and economically viable space infrastructure, building on technologies and concepts for a circular economy in space, e.g. plug-and-play spacecraft functionality introducing recycling/re-use of spacecraft modules/functionalities;
- ISOS Pilot mission preparation up to detailed mission and system detail design for the HOST component, and maturation of enabling technologies and innovative system and operational concepts;
- Elaboration of interfaces between the different components of the mission, together with the other mission components (i.e. servicing, logistics and satAPPs) and the ISOS Pilot Mission Coordination and Support Action (CSA;
- Contribution to the ISOS Pilot Mission Objectives provided in the technical annex;
- Elaboration of clear use cases and relevant business models focussing on governmental and/or commercial needs;
- Provision of enhanced opportunities for IOD/V by actively promoting experiment plug and play on the HOST;
- Ensuring the availability of results to the next mission phases.

Eligibility Criteria

Entities eligible to participate:
- Any legal entity, regardless of its place of establishment, including legal entities from nonassociated third countries or international organisations (including international European research organisations) is eligible to participate (whether it is eligible for funding or not), provided that the conditions laid down in the Horizon Europe Regulation have been met, along with any other conditions laid down in the specific call/topic.
- A ‘legal entity’ means any natural or legal person created and recognised as such under national law, EU law or international law, which has legal personality and which may, acting in its own name, exercise rights and be subject to obligations, or an entity without legal personality.
To become a beneficiary, legal entities must be eligible for funding.
To be eligible for funding, applicants must be established in one of the following countries:
- the Member States of the European Union, including their outermost regions:
  - Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.
- the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) linked to the Member States:
  - Aruba (NL), Bonaire (NL), Curação (NL), French Polynesia (FR), French Southern and Antarctic Territories (FR), Greenland (DK), New Caledonia (FR), Saba (NL), Saint Barthélemy (FR), Sint Eustatius (NL), Sint Maarten (NL), St. Pierre and Miquelon (FR), Wallis and Futuna Islands (FR).
- countries associated to Horizon Europe;
  - Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Tunisia, Türkiye, Ukraine, United Kingdom.