smart Configurable Adaptive Spacecraft and Spacecraft Extensionsbroad
smartCASE · Horizon Europe grant · 2026-06-01–2028-11-30
EC contribution
Total cost
Beneficiaries
About the data
Source: CORDIS (official EU open data), Horizon Europe. Framework HORIZON · call HORIZON-CL4-2025-02 · scheme HORIZON-RIA · topic HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-24. CORDIS record →
Objective
The smartCASE project delivers everything necessary to initiate a new satAPP-based space economy by developing modular, interoperable building blocks for spacecrafts. Our primary goal is to design, standardise, and demonstrate satAPPs – highly versatile, self-contained and self-aware satellite modules encapsulated within a smart, connectable building block – while establishing the necessary standards, tools, and methods for their development, integration and demonstration in the ISOS Pilot Mission and beyond. smartCASE takes a hybrid approach that combines physical and virtual satAPPs with Digital Twins to enable scalable testing, rapid configuration, and autonomous operation. By lowering entry barriers and minimizing hard-/software dependencies while promoting flexible modular spacecraft, smartCASE directly contributes to the objectives of fostering European leadership in sustainable space infrastructure and paving the way for a competitive satAPP-driven economy. We begin by initiating the satAPP Standards and developing the Pilot Mission’s requirements & specifications. These form the basis for the development of highly versatile and generic satAPP Elements (structure, power & electronics, satAPP Operating System, USI, satAPP Host Bridge), which together make up the satAPP Case – an empty but smart case that provides all the required infrastructure to deliver a specific functionality once equipped with one or multiple payload(s). smartCASE will deliver three specific satAPPs at TRL 6 (AODS sensor suite, gyroscopic attitude control, electric propulsion). These will be assembled into a cutting-edge AOCS unit and are ready for demonstration in the three phases of the Pilot Mission. We will introduce three additional virtual-only satAPPs (electric power, TT&C, inspection camera) that add the missing functionality for our first “truly modular” satAPP-based satellite, the smartOBSERVER designed for space domain awareness, which will be demonstrated in a hybrid setup.
Beneficiaries (7)
| Organisation | Country | Role | EC contribution | SME |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHEINISCH-WESTFAELISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE AACHEN | DE | coordinator | €733,475 | |
| ARGOTEC SRL | IT | participant | €446,585 | Yes |
| IENAI SPACE SL DFM profile | ES | participant | €334,656 | Yes |
| IBOSS GMBH | DE | participant | €329,674 | Yes |
| VEOWARE | BE | participant | €312,000 | Yes |
| RIF Institut fur Forschung und Transfer e.V. | DE | participant | €236,750 | Yes |
| EURA ITALIA SRL | IT | participant | €102,500 | Yes |
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