22/05/2026
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The launch of the 4DSpace-Daedalus mission in Norway is the newest success supported by Prodex, a European Area Company (ESA) programme which permits extremely expert analysis institutes to partake in European area science actions and missions.
“ESA at present manages over 400 contracts with institutes and trade inside Prodex – the Programme for the event of scientific experiments.
“Prodex helps the commercial growth of extremely refined scientific devices and experiments in science, Earth remark and microgravity domains for ESA Science missions reminiscent of Smile, Plato, Comet Interceptor, Envision, LISA, Exomars, NewAthena, Arrakihs and non-ESA missions reminiscent of CLPS, Photo voltaic-C, and Polar-2. We’re additionally growing instrumentation and experiments for the Worldwide Area Station,” mentioned ESA Head of the Prodex Workplace, Michel Lazerges.
On the Ministerial Council 2025, 17 ESA Member States pledged a complete of €327.52 million to this non-obligatory programme – a 38% improve on the dedication given on the earlier Ministerial in 2022.
Prodex offers nations the chance to construct on their scientific know-how, forge industrial and institutional cooperation, and improve their competitiveness within the area area.
A springboard for science instrumentation and experiments
Prodex is supporting the event of scientific devices for a spread of ESA missions and actions. Some notable current successes embrace:
Norway’s area climate analysis – The 4DSpace-Daedalus (ICI-5b) mission was coordinated by Oslo College in Norway and funded partly by Prodex. The Norwegian 12m-long sounding rocket with on-board devices and releasable subpayloads launched on 11 March from Norway’s Andøya Area Centre into an auroral substorm.
It collected a wealth of information associated to turbulence in highly-charged plasma air and within the impartial a part of the higher ambiance. The information shall be analysed and utilized in area climate analysis and to grasp the elemental processes in vitality switch and couplings throughout the higher polar ambiance.
Poland and Estonia’s comet interceptor devices
Poland’s DFP-B2 instrument developed by Area Analysis Centre Polish Academy of Science (Centrum Badań Kosmicznych PAN) and Estonia’s OPIC instrument developed by Tartu College are the primary two devices quickly to be delivered to the prime contractor for Probe B2 of ESA’s Comet Interceptor Spacecraft.
Additional devices developed in Switzerland, Belgium and Poland shall be delivered this yr for the Comet Interceptor Spacecraft together with the MANiaC instrument, CoCa instrument, RMA instrument, and DFP-A instrument.
Belgium’s infrared spectrometer for ESA Envision
Prodex has a big stake in ESA’s Envision mission with 16 contracts to develop the infrared spectrometer known as VenSpec-H which is able to examine the atmospheric composition of Venus.
ESA’s Smile mission will enhance our understanding of area climate and photo voltaic storms and launched on 19 Could 2026 with a number of devices developed with the help of the Prodex programme.
Prodex celebrates 40 years
The Prodex programme, based in 1986, turns 40 this yr. A 3-day celebration occasion to mark this shall be held in Switzerland with delegations and representatives from all Prodex taking part states (Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Eire, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia). About 200 contributors are anticipated.
