D-Orbit, an Italian spacetech scaleup, and Eutelsat, a leading satellite operator, announce that they have signed a collaboration for RISE, a pioneering commercial in-orbit servicing mission that will demonstrate rendezvous and docking with a client satellite in geostationary orbit (GEO). RISE is funded by the European Space Agency’s Space Safety programme, dedicated to protecting the Earth, its inhabitants and critical infrastructure from natural and man-made threats from space. D-Orbit is developing, launching and demonstrating the capabilities of GEA, an innovative vehicle designed to demonstrate in-orbit servicing capabilities including approaching, docking and taking over the attitude and orbit control functions of another spacecraft in geostationary orbit for purposes such as operational life extension, repositioning, repair and disposal.
The collaboration with Eutelsat represents a key step in transforming this cutting-edge technology into a commercially viable service for satellite operators worldwide. As a key player in the satellite communications industry, Eutelsat will represent the customer’s point of view in the development of the service, providing valuable insights into the concrete needs of satellite operators. By joining D-Orbit and ESA in this initiative, Eutelsat will help bring Europe’s first satellite life extension service to market, paving the way for future commercial offerings.
“We are thrilled to partner with Eutelsat on this revolutionary mission,” said Stefano Antonetti, VP business development and institutional sales at D-Orbit, in a note. “Eutelsat’s expertise in geostationary orbit satellite operations is key to defining a service that is not only technologically advanced, but also aligned with the real needs of satellite operators. This collaboration brings us one step closer to offering a commercial solution for End-of-Life (EoL) operations, including satellite life extension and end-of-life disposal”.
“Eutelsat has a long tradition of completing end-of-mission operations for satellites in GEO in accordance with national and international best practices for responsible management of the space environment,” says Arlen Kassighian, group chief engineering officer at Eutelsat (pictured with Renato Panesi, CCO and co-founder of D-Orbit) – We welcome this opportunity to participate with D-Orbit in the RISE mission, which will demonstrate an additional option to successfully manage EoL activities in line with our business requirements and regulatory obligations.”
The RISE mission was first announced in October 2024, with a EUR 119 million contract awarded by ESA. The announcement was followed by the closing of a €150m Series C funding round, which provided D-Orbit with the financial resources it needed to advance the development and launch of the mission.
The project is supported by the Italian government through the Italian Space Agency (ASI), which recognises the strategic potential of in-orbit servicing for the Italian space industry. This commitment, together with Italy’s willingness to lead innovation in the space industry, has been reinforced by the essential contribution of several other space agencies and governments, including the United Kingdom Space Agency (UKSA), the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), the Swiss Space Office (SSO) and the Spanish Space Agency (AEE).
This collaborative project brings together key players from across Europe with diverse skills and resources, underlining D-Orbit’s commitment to advancing space logistics and in-orbit servicing, which will play a crucial role in the company’s growth strategy.
The RISE mission is scheduled to be launched in 2028. Once GEA has successfully demonstrated its capabilities, D-Orbit will start offering commercial life extension services for geostationary satellites, with an estimated mission duration of eight years.
This historic milestone, combined with the success of 16 missions of its ION Satellite Carrier orbital transfer vehicle, reinforces D-Orbit’s leadership in space logistics and underlines the growing importance of in-orbit servicing in the space sector.
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