Exploration & Science
OHB is closely involved in exploration and space science via a wide range of different projects, acting as both a components supplier and a principal contractor.
This entails missions dedicated to planetary science, fundamental physics and astrophysics as well as the harnessing of extraterrestrial resources, or providing the infrastructure for sustainable presence on other space surfaces. These are supplemented by technology demonstration missions relevant for the areas mentioned above, such as robotic and mechanisms.
Exploration and space science involve a high degree of cross-disciplinary questions, thus creating new technological approaches and fresh opportunities for science, research and business.
OHB System AG, as the largest German space technology company, is involved in several exploration and scientific projects for our customers.
For example, experts of the OHB group have been working in the past years on the ExoMars mission, a flagship project within the ESA Aurora program in conjunction with the Russian space agency. OHB delivered the Core Module of the Trace Gas Orbiter of ExoMars 2018 and will deliver the ExoMars Carrier and the SPDS on-board the rover. This mission is currently concentrating on a scientific examination of Mars from orbit and on the surface to search for life on this planet.
In addition, OHB System is selected by ESA as the industrial prime contractor for the PLATO satellite. The PLATO (Planetary Transits and Oscillations of stars) scientific research mission of ESA´s Cosmic Vision Programme will be launched in 2026. PLATO is a satellite-based observatory for use in space to detect and conduct research into exoplanets orbiting in other solar systems. As the prime contractor, OHB System is able to rely on a top-class industrial core team comprising of Thales Alenia Space (France and UK) and RUAG Space Switzerland to design and develop the satellite. Furthermore, OHB Sweden, OHB Czechspace and OHB Hellas provide relevant contributions to the PLATO mission.
Additionally, OHB is conducting further studies for exploring the moon, Mars and other celestial bodies such as Jupiter and asteroids.
Within the group, our companies have been also very active in the science and exploration domain. OHB Sweden, for example, was the prime contractor for SMART-1, the first European Lunar Orbiter launched in 2001. Moreover, OHB Group companies are contributing with their widespread competences and expertise in the following ESA Science Missions: Euclid, JUICE, ARIEL, Athena, LISA, Comet Interceptor as well as the M5 mission candidate. OHB SE takes the initiative and performs its own self-financed exploration and space science studies to position ourselves in the commercial exploration domain. In this regard, OHB (via LuxSpace) launched in 2014 the first privately-funded mission to the Moon orbit: the Manfred Memorial Moon Mission (M4), a small probe carrying a radio amateur and a dosimeter payloads.
Do you want to fly your payloads to the Moon?
At OHB we envision a sustainable European presence on the surface of the Moon in the next decade, increasing the competitiveness of European stakeholders in the global exploration scenario.
This is why OHB is developing its first commercial exploration service – the Lunar Surface Access Service (LSAS), which will offer flight opportunities for institutional and private customers. The LSAS lander can carry 110 kilograms of payload to the lunar surface, deploy payloads in lunar orbit and is one of the few available landers worldwide with flight heritage. First launch to the lunar south pole: 2025.
