The German Space Agency at DLR’s Small Satellite Competition 2023
The German Space Agency at DLR launched its Small Satellite Competition on 3 July 2023. Companies and institutions that have their headquarters in the European Union (EU) could take part. The winners will each receive a zero-cost flight opportunity on a European-developed small launch vehicle.
Small satellites weighing up to 500 kilograms play a crucial role in the emerging space market. Forecasts predict that more than 10,000 small satellites will be launched by 2030. With the increasing commercialisation of spaceflight, small satellites are also becoming ever more important for the German economy.
Small satellites have the advantage that they are relatively inexpensive and can also be manufactured rapidly and in series production. These advantages open up entirely new opportunities for scientific research and commercial services. To drive these developments forward, the German Space Agency launched the Small Satellite Competition with funding from the German federal government. It is primarily intended to support start-ups and small satellite projects as part of the German New Space market.
Application procedure and deadlines for the Small Satellite Competition
The Small Satellite Competition 2023 was launched on 3 July 2023 and is being conducted in two phases. In the first phase, the competition will identify potential small satellites with a total mass of up to 500 kilograms. Applications for a small satellite flight opportunity were open to all candidates headquartered in the European Union who operate or use small satellites. In the second phase, the successful applicants will be able to orbit their small satellite on a European small launch vehicle by 2025, with the launch costs financed by the German Space Agency.
