COMBINED COMMUNICATIONS AND PNT USER TERMINAL DEVELOPMENT - EXPRO PLUS
About This Opportunity
This is a services contract in the information and communication technology sector. Located in International, Europe, this opportunity is open to firms and consortiums.
Published through ESA - European Space Agency, a multilateral development bank that follows standardized international procurement guidelines. Projects funded by multilateral institutions are generally open to international bidders from eligible member countries for services in the information and communication technology sector. Service contracts are typically evaluated on both technical quality and price, and may require bidders to demonstrate relevant experience and qualified personnel. This is an advance notice — the formal tender is expected to be published shortly. Interested parties can use this time to prepare documentation and identify potential partners.
Description
The LightShip mission envisions deploying passenger spacecraft in Low Mars Orbit equipped with a User Terminal (UT) to access communications and position, navigation and timing (PNT) services. Developing a combined communications and PNT terminal would reduce size and mass, benefiting both spacecraft and overall mission efficiency, while also offering applicability to future deep space and lunar missions. The objective is to design a modular hardware architecture adaptable to various mission profiles, including transfer, orbital, lander, and surface operations. The software will include generic components alongside a customizable navigation engine, with a focus on real-time reduced dynamic solutions for demanding scenarios such as Mars transfer and orbiting. The activity will alsovalidate navigation techniques combining one-way and two-way measurements to improve accuracy and timing. Ground Support Equipment will be developed to test system performance under simulated Mars conditions, supporting hardware and software design, manufacturing,testing, and future flight model development.
Data provenance
This notice is sourced from ESA - European Space Agency and was originally published on June 10, 2026. Last refreshed 2 days ago. BidsFactory mirrors official procurement notices and links back to the source for full legal text.
About European Space Agency (ESA)
European Space Agency (ESA) has issued 555 procurement notices on BidsFactory, including 204 currently open and 138 awarded contracts. Activity concentrates in Information & Communication Technology, Transport & Logistics, and Environment & Climate. Tenders span 9 countries including Denmark, Czech Republic, and Austria. Notices are distributed via ESA - European Space Agency. Most recent publication: June 10, 2026.
Frequently asked questions about this tender
Where will the contract be performed?
The contract is for delivery in International. Foreign bidders should review local registration, taxation, and any in-country presence requirements before submitting.
How can I submit a bid?
Visit ESA - European Space Agency to access the full notice, required documents, and submission instructions provided by the contracting authority.
Who is the contracting authority?
This notice was issued by European Space Agency (ESA) in International. The authority is responsible for evaluating bids, awarding the contract, and managing performance.
What type of contract is this?
This is a Services contract in the Information & Communication Technology sector. The classification helps bidders match the opportunity to their qualifications and registered scope of supply.
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