The European Space Agency and commercial space company Vast have expanded their cooperation on research and human spaceflight beyond the International Space Station. Announced on October 5, their memorandum builds on an earlier agreement signed in June 2024.
The new arrangement initially covers three years and begins with a feasibility study, a roadmap and an indicative schedule. Possible areas include European astronaut missions, research campaigns, infrastructure contributions and interfaces for future European cargo or crew vehicles.
That is a framework for exploring opportunities, rather than confirmation that a particular mission has been purchased or a launch date secured. Further binding agreements would be needed to turn individual proposals into operational commitments.
The discussion reflects the work required to maintain access to research in low Earth orbit as the ISS approaches the end of its service. Researchers need more than a station: experiments also depend on transport, crew time and the movement of equipment to and from orbit. The agreement gives ESA and Vast a route to assess those requirements together.
Source: European Space Agency, 2026-10-05.
