Backed by ESA’s Space Safety Program, Prelude is designed to bridge the longstanding gap between experimental demonstrations and routine, commercially viable in-orbit operations.
The mission will test and validate key technologies needed for satellite life extension, inspection and active debris removal, marking a significant step in Europe’s push for more responsible and sustainable use of space.
ESA said Prelude represents the culmination of several years of joint development with ClearSpace and signals a shift away from one-off technology demonstrations towards repeatable, operational capabilities that can be deployed at speed.
At the centre of the mission are two small spacecraft that will operate together in orbit, conducting complex close-proximity manoeuvres under real-world conditions.
Using highly precise tracking, advanced relative navigation systems and a combination of sensors and cameras, the spacecraft will demonstrate full freedom of movement in all directions.
These capabilities are critical enablers for future missions involving satellite inspection, in-orbit servicing, life extension and the removal of defunct spacecraft and debris, activities increasingly seen as essential to preserving the long-term usability of congested orbits.
Scheduled for launch in 2027, Prelude places a strong emphasis on rapid execution and risk reduction throughout development. ESA and ClearSpace have framed the mission as a test case for faster delivery models, streamlined engineering processes and early demonstration of safe close-proximity operations.
By accelerating the path from design to flight, the partners aim to show that high safety standards and operational excellence can be achieved without lengthy delays, a key consideration as space traffic increases and demand grows for on-orbit services.
Tiago Soares, head of ESA’s Clean Space and Circular Economy Office, said Prelude highlighted the strength of European collaboration in space.
“This mission shows how European partnerships can demonstrate breakthrough technology in orbit and turn ambition into action,” Soares said. “It reinforces Europe’s leadership in sustainable and safe space operations and opens the door to commercially viable in-orbit services.”
For ClearSpace, Prelude builds directly on experience gained through the ongoing ClearSpace-1 mission, which is focused on active debris removal. The company said the new mission reflects a transition from development programs to delivery of practical capabilities and reinforces its role as a long-term industrial partner to ESA and national space agencies.
“Our technologies are moving from development to delivery,” ClearSpace chief executive Luc Piguet said.
“This is a tangible step towards making safe and sustainable operations part of everyday space activity,” Piguet added.
Although conceived as a civil mission, Prelude has been designed with openness and scalability in mind. Its modular architecture allows additional industry and academic partners to contribute, supporting wider European participation and laying the groundwork for future commercial growth.
ESA expects that within a year of mission completion, Prelude will enable a recurring in-orbit inspection service, effectively transitioning from demonstration to routine operations.
While not accompanied by major fanfare, the mission marks an important inflection point for Europe’s space sector. With Prelude, responsible space operations are moving from theory into practice, driven by collaboration, technical precision and a growing recognition that space sustainability is now an operational necessity rather than an abstract goal.