ESPI contributed with the policy, governance and legal analysis for a European Responsive Space System.
The European Defence Fund (EDF) project REACTS (Responsive European Architecture for Space) closed successfully, with a final meeting that took place on 27 and 28 November at the DLR site in Oberpfaffenhofen (Munich), Germany.
ESPI Research Fellow and Project Manager for ESPI’s contributions to the REACTS project, Lina Pohl delivered a presentation on the governance as well as policy, legal, and regulatory aspects of a European Responsive Space System, showcasing ESPI’s crucial contribution to this collaborative European effort.
What is responsive space?
Responsive space refers to the capability to launch small military satellites on demand into near-Earth orbit and start operating within days. It also encompasses the ability to replenish, upgrade, repair or re-use satellites in-orbit. The concept includes three key components: responsive integration and launch, responsive replacement of capabilities, and increasing resilience.
The REACTS Project
Coordinated by the Responsive Space Cluster Competence Center (RSC³) of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and kicked-off in January 2024, REACTS worked on paving the way to an interoperable, holistic network of Responsive Space Systems for Europe, capable of launching satellites and delivering data in just 72 hours. The project defined a holistic architecture based on the end-user needs, developed a concept of operations (CONOPS), created the roadmap for each technical and governing segment of RSS network of systems.
This project has received funding from the European Defence Fund (EDF) under grant agreement EDF-2022-101121212-REACTS. ESPI supported the REACTS Consortium as one of 40 partners from 13 countries from the European Union and Norway.
ESPI’s contribution
In close coordination with the Consortium and other work packages, ESPI has led two work packages on policy, governance, legal, and regulatory aspects of a European Responsive Space System. ESPI provided the policy and governance analysis and managed contributions from IDEST, DLR, VZLU, OHB DC, MBDA Germany on legal and regulatory aspects, technical links, standardisation, and training and exercises.
Work package 1: status quo and gap analysis
In the first stage of the project, ESPI investigated the current status of responsive space in Europe. This involved analysing trends, strategies, policies, programmes and initiatives at European and international level. Together with IDEST, ESPI conducted a gap analysis to identify policy and legal requirements as a basis for the further work. In addition to desktop research, ESPI carried out a consultation campaign with expert interviews.
Work package 2: governance models and recommendations
The second stage built upon these identified gaps, needs, and requirements. It focused on identifying and analysing potential governance models by considering policy, legal regulatory and technical constraints and requirements. ESPI assessed a potential governance for the European Responsive Space System and identified necessary and desirable legal and regulatory changes.
ESPI also outlined a roadmap for future exercises and training, potential next programmatic steps for the development of the system, and a potential future evolution of the governance model.
Workshops and engagement
ESPI conducted interviews and workshops, with IDEST, one workshop with REACTS
members and external stakeholders and one with REACTS-internal online workshop.
ESPI’s contributions to REACTS were led by ESPI Research Fellow Lina Pohl, supported by former ESPI Research Fellow and Lead for Security & Defence Mathieu Bataille (now ESA), and ESPI Research Fellows Julien Potin and Giulia Pavesi.
Research results of the REACTS project are not public.
ESPI’s work on responsive space is linked to ESPI’s Security and Defence Portfolio, as well as ESPI’s launch research and databases such as the ESPI Launch Dashboard.
