The European Space Agency (ESA) has issued a call for tenders to conduct studies exploring the feasibility of a European-led, modular space station in low Earth orbit as the International Space Station approaches retirement.
NASA announced in January 2022 that the ISS is expected to be decommissioned and deorbited in the first quarter of 2031 as the agency transitions to commercially operated stations known as Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destinations (CLDs).
In preparation for the transition, ESA outlined three possible strategies ahead of its Ministerial Council Meeting scheduled for November 2025. One scenario would involve no European investment in new low Earth orbit infrastructure, relying entirely on U.S.-led commercial stations. A second option, described as the baseline scenario, would combine limited European investment with access to commercial platforms.
The third and most ambitious option proposes the development of a European-led space station in low Earth orbit, built with contributions from institutional and commercial partners.
On February 27, ESA published a notice for two Pre-Phase A studies linked to this third scenario. According to the agency, the studies will examine the feasibility, architecture, utilization and technology requirements for a European-led orbital outpost. The work will also evaluate potential cooperation with the Canadian Space Agency, Japan’s space agency JAXA and other international partners.
ESA said the results of the two parallel studies will support decision-making on its post-ISS strategy by the end of 2026.
Alongside the feasibility studies, ESA has also signed memoranda of understanding with several companies developing commercial space stations to explore potential collaboration. In October 2023, the agency reached an agreement with Axiom Space to study post-ISS low Earth orbit activities.
In November 2023, ESA signed another agreement with Airbus and Voyager Space related to potential participation in the planned Starlab space station. The agency later signed an additional agreement with commercial space company Vast in June 2024 to explore potential astronaut access to its future orbital platforms.
These agreements allow ESA to evaluate multiple pathways for maintaining European astronaut access to low Earth orbit once the ISS program ends.
