ESA Open Invitation To Tender AO8833
Open Date: 20/01/2017
Closing Date: 03/03/2017 13:00:00

Status: ISSUED
Reference Nr.: 16.197.27
Prog. Ref.: General Studies
Budget Ref.: E/0600-00 – General Studies
Special Prov.: BE+DK+FR+DE+IT+NL+ES+SE+CH+GB+IE+AT+NO+FI+PT+GR+LU+CZ+RO+PL+EE+HU+CA+SI
Tender Type: C
Price Range: 200-500 KEURO
Products: Satellites & Probes / Materials / Non-metallic / Satellites & Probes / Materials / Metallic
Techology Domains: Others
Establishment: ESTEC
Directorate: Directorate of Technical & Quality Manag
Department: System, Software & Technology Department
Division: Future Prep. & Strategic Studies Off.
Contract Officer: Fabrizi, Lavinia
Industrial Policy Measure: N/A – Not apply
Last Update Date: 20/01/2017
Update Reason: Tender issue

Space missions are traditionally designed taking into account performances, cost and schedule as the major drivers. To date, possible environmental impacts are not considered within the design process. In 2009, ESA ran an internal study, called ECOSAT, which was the first study of its kind, with the aim to design a satellite taking into consideration the environmental impacts for the design, manufacturing, launch and operations of a satellite. The major outcome of the study was that eco-design is extremely complex and requires an evolution in the design of satellites calling for eco-design tools to be adapted specifically for the space sector, as no methodology, tool or database were existing for space applications. Over the past few years, several studies have looked into the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology for space missions and currently ESA is finalising design guidelines on LCA for spacecraft in the form of an ESA Handbook. With all this in mind, still no satellite has been designed taking into account the environmental impacts from the beginning. Hence the scope of this activity is to redesign a space mission taking into account eco-design fundamentals inorder to design an environmentally friendly spacecraft. The spacecraft will have of course to comply with all regulations linked debris mitigation and the design should focus on environmental impacts on earth and atmosphere. The design shall be compared with the original conventionally designed space mission so an estimate of the environmental advantages as well as cost and schedule impact at system level can be obtained. Guidelines should be written to allow implementation of ecodesign methods within future space missions. This will be the first time a spacecraft has been designed utilising an environmentally friendly approach.

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