LEO Cargo Return Service

Last updated
LEO Cargo Return Service
European Space Agency logo.svg
Type of project Human spaceflight
Owner European Space Agency
Established2023;3 years ago (2023)
StatusActive

The LEO Cargo Return Service (LCRS) is an initiative of the European Space Agency (ESA) supporting the development of European commercial uncrewed cargo spacecraft for delivery service to and from space stations in low-Earth orbit (LEO). [1] [2] [3] [4] LCRS is patterned on NASA's COTS programme which led to the development of the Dragon and Cygnus cargo spacecraft. [5] The first phase of LCRS, awarded in 2024, [6] [7] [8] is supporting the development of space capsules by Thales Alenia Space [9] [10] [11] and The Exploration Company. [12] [13] First orbital flight of at least one of the new vehicles is expected in 2028 or 2029. [14] [15] [16] LCRS plans include two demonstration missions docking to the ISS. [17]

Contents

History

LCRS was first announced as the "Commercial Cargo Transportation Initiative" on 11 May 2023. [18] In May 2024, ESA awarded Phase 1 contracts to The Exploration Company and Thales Alenia Space. [19] In November 2025, ESA's ministerial council agreed to fully funding Phase 2 of the initiative with the expectation of two providers to conduct demonstration flights to the ISS by 2029. [20] ESA also committed to serving as an anchor customer for the resulting services. [17] In December 2025, ESA and NASA agreed on the possibility of using ESA's LCRS cargo flights to the ISS as part of the Common System Operations Costs (CSOC) barter framework. [20]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "European Space Agency launches competition for cargo service vehicle | Science|Business". sciencebusiness.net. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  2. ↑ "Space cargo contracts offer ESA chance of relaunch, says astronaut". euronews. 2024-05-23. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  3. ↑ Space Summit and LEO Cargo Return Service
  4. ↑ "Competition: developing Europe's space cargo return service". www.esa.int. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  5. ↑ Foust, Jeff (24 January 2024). "ESA sees strong interest in commercial cargo program". spacenews.
  6. ↑ "ESA Signs Contracts for Commercial Space Cargo Return Service". Geospatial World. 2024-05-23. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  7. ↑ Faleti, Joshua (2024-05-24). "ESA Awards Two Contracts for LEO Cargo Return Service". SpaceWatch.GLOBAL. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  8. ↑ Isabelle (2024-08-15). "L'ESA lance un projet de transport cargo en orbite basse avec deux entreprises sélectionnées". Rêves d'Espace (in French). Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  9. ↑ "PROGRESS ON ESA PARALLEL CONTRACT ON LEO CARGO RETURN SERVICE (LCRS) PHASE 1" (PDF). bsgn.esa.int. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-01-20. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  10. ↑ "Thales Alenia Space to develop low-Earth orbit Cargo Return Service". The Engineer. 2024-05-24. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  11. ↑ Patton, Tom. "ESA to Develop a LEO Cargo Return Service". www.exterrajsc.com. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  12. ↑ "The Exploration Company's Nyx Earth Capsule Receives Phase 1 ISS Safety Approval". www.exploration.space. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  13. ↑ Parsonson, Andrew (2024-05-22). "ESA Announces Recipients of LEO Cargo Return Service Contracts". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  14. ↑ "ESA signs contracts for commercial space cargo return service". www.esa.int. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  15. ↑ Parsonson, Andrew (2025-04-02). "ESA LEO Cargo Return Phase 2 to Proceed Without Geo-Return Constraints". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  16. ↑ Parsonson, Andrew (2025-11-24). "The Exploration Company Inaugurates New Facility in France". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  17. 1 2 Parsonson, Andrew (2025-11-28). "ESA Commits to Being an Anchor Customer for LEO Cargo Return Services". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 2026-01-09.
  18. ↑ Parsonson, Andrew (2023-12-22). "ESA Will Award up to Three Phase 1 LEO Cargo Return Contracts". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 2026-01-09.
  19. ↑ Parsonson, Andrew (2024-05-22). "ESA Announces Recipients of LEO Cargo Return Service Contracts". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 2026-01-09.
  20. 1 2 Parsonson, Andrew (2026-01-08). "ESA Strikes New Deal with NASA for Its CSOC Commitments for the ISS". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 2026-01-09.
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