ESA’s strategy for human and robotic space exploration, Explore2040, defines the approach and priorities for exploration of Low Earth Orbit, the Moon and Mars. This strategy sets out, among others, a goal to allow Europeans to explore the Moon, to contribute to unveiling the mysteries of the Solar System’s formation, and to trigger technological innovation in preparation for the human journey to Mars.
Science is fundamental to achieving this goal. ESA’s lunar exploration missions and platforms provide unique opportunities for world-class research in human health, life sciences, physical science, space science, planetary science, astronomy and astrophysics. Major scientific projects will be major users of the capabilities and infrastructure that will be built up at the Moon in the coming decades. At the same time, dedicated research is essential to establish new knowledge that is needed to address the challenges of robotic and human exploration.
Two complementary science streams are defined in Explore2040:
- Exploration-enabled science: science that becomes possible because exploration takes place. This includes curiosity-driven and applied research selected through competitive Announcements of Opportunity on the basis of scientific excellence.
- Exploration-focused science: science driven by programmatic needs and closely linked with technology de-risking. This is the science that must be carried out in order to enable and safely conduct exploration activities.
ESA is seeking information about data products that can be provided on a commercial basis and which can support exploration-focused science goals. Data products of interest for ESA are described in the document available at this link [https://ideas.esa.int/core/apps/IMT/UploadedFiles/00/f_bc494e6d8393f297d852a5d0273801bc/Exploration_Science_at_the_Moon.pdf?v=1780462408]
Private sector driven missions to the Moon have been flown and are planned. These missions have the capacity to make measurement and observations, which produce data that can be used to address focused science needs. ESA has already trialed approaches to commercial data acquisition and as a next step seeks to understand what commercial data might be available, now and in the coming years.
In this RFI ESA is requesting information on the data products that are or will be available, the measurement qualities of those data products, the formats in which they are available, how they can be applied to address the challenges of exploration preparation and the costs of access to those data products including any restrictions on their access and use. ESA makes no commitment to follow up this RFI with any procurement action.
Data products may be offered by European or non-European suppliers; however, a priority for ESA is to procure from European providers wherever possible. ESA also requests information on how procurement of these data products might be arranged such that any expenditure by ESA can be demonstrated to be within ESA Member States. Partnership options may also be considered, where the cost of data is offset by contributions in kind from ESA.
Format of the Application
Please navigate to the “Submit Your Idea” button at the top of the page and complete the online form.
The following information will be requested:
- Generic description of the company
- Company information
- Company background and relevant heritage
- Proposed European payment approach (i.e., how the procurement can be structured so ESA expenditure remains within ESA Member States) or partnership approach.
2. Data description
- Mission description (description of the mission that will produce the required data and its objectives, including how the proposed data are generated)
- Instrumentation description (description of the instruments generating the data, including heritage, maturity, performance, calibration, and references to relevant publications)
- Data description (description of data formats and properties, expected data volumes, data quality parameters such as resolution, uncertainty, sensitivity range, wavelength coverage, spatial coverage, dataset reliability, compliance with PDS4 format, availability of supporting data, for example relevant spacecraft engineering data and SPICE kernels)
- Scientific justification (justification of the proposed data product, its relevance and added value for ESA science, and the types of analyses and investigations it enables)
- Data availability (timing, release schedule, and period of acquisition, licencing, ownership)
- Cost (pricing model and cost structure)
Schedule
Release of RFI: 12th June 2026
Closing date: 30th September 2026, 16:59 CEST
Next steps
ESA is considering purchasing commercial lunar data. An approach to possible procurements will be established, informed by the findings of this RFI.
