2026 R+D Days of the Propulsion, Aerothermodynamics and Flight Vehicles Engineering Division

Apr 14, 2026, 8:30 AM → Apr 16, 2026, 5:00 PM Europe/Amsterdam

Tennis Hall - ESCAPE & Virtual (ESTEC & Online)

Jeroen Van den Eynde (H/ Aerot. & Flight. Vehls. Section , ESA), Mark Ford (H / Chemical Propulsion Section, ESA), José Gonzalez del Amo (H/ Electric Propulsion Section, ESA), Jamila Mansouri (Head of Propulsion, Aerothermodynamics and Flight Vehicles Division)

 

Dear Colleague,

The Propulsion, Aerothermodynamics and Flight Vehicles Engineering Division (TEC-MP) of ESA is pleased to invite you to participate in the:

2026 Research and Development (R+D) Days

This event will take place at ESA-ESTEC, Noordwijk (NL) from 14^th to 16^th April 2026.

During this event, you will have the opportunity to be exposed to major outcomes and progress of research and development activities at TEC-MP.  In addition, you will have the opportunity to hear about potential technology development activities that will be proposed by the TEC-MP team for the new technology workplans.

A special keynote will also be delivered on the GSTP Resilient Europe and Space Programme.

All will be in short-form presentations, making use of the template below,  followed by Q&A sessions. Additionally, surveys will be conducted afterwards to allow to collect any additional feedback and ideas you might have. The output of this event will be used to compose an input for the upcoming TEC-MP R+D Roadmaps. 

The topics of interest which will be presented are:

• Towards Greener Propulsion

• Advanced Propulsion Systems

• High Performance and Industrialisation of Electric Propulsion

• Disruptive Electric Propulsion

• Components for Propulsion Systems 

• Sensors and Measurements Techniques

• Architecture and Technology Assessment for New Space Transportation Vehicles, Reusability and Re-entry 

• Fluid Dynamics Tools and Techniques, Flight Data Analysis Tools

• Technologies for Space Logistics and In-Orbit Servicing

• In-Orbit Demonstrators for Propulsion, Aerothermodynamics and Flight Vehicles Engineering

• Ground Testing Facilities for Fluid Dynamics, Propulsion and Flight Vehicles Engineering

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Registration is free of charge, however the workshop is open to industries (suppliers and users), investors (public and private), research institutes/centres and National Agencies from ESA member states and cooperating states. Please note that only corporate email addresses and phone numbers originating from ESA Member or Associate States are accepted.

Please note that registrations (REGISTRATION section) will remain open until the  9^th April at 12:00 PM - Noon (CET) for on-site  and  13^th  April at 12:00 PM - Noon (CET) for online.

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We look forward to seeing you at the R+D days of the TEC-MP Division!

Technology Achievement Template - R+D days 2026.pptx

Tue, April 14

8:30 AM → 9:00 AM Registration & Morning Coffee

9:00 AM → 9:15 AM Introduction of the ESA/TEC-MP R+D Days

9:15 AM → 9:45 AM Keynote: GSTP Resilient Europe and Space Programme

9:45 AM → 10:50 AM Presentation Block A1: Electric Propulsion

10:50 AM → 11:05 AM Coffee Break & Networking

11:05 AM → 12:40 PM Presentation Block A2: Electric Propulsion

12:40 PM → 1:10 PM Round table on Topic A: Electric Propulsion/CubeSat Propulsion

1:10 PM → 2:00 PM Lunch Break & Networking

2:00 PM → 2:30 PM Keynote : Energetic Materials Work Group initiative, including REACH and impact on propulsion

2:30 PM → 3:30 PM Presentation Block B: Flight Mechanics Technologies and Simulation Tools

3:30 PM → 4:00 PM Coffee Break & Networking

4:00 PM → 4:15 PM Presentation Block B: Flight Mechanics Technologies and Simulation Tools

4:15 PM → 5:00 PM Round table on Topic B: Flight Mechanics Technologies and Simulation Tools

5:00 PM → 5:30 PM Day 1 Wrap-up

5:30 PM → 7:30 PM Cocktail & Networking

Wed, April 15

8:30 AM → 9:00 AM Registration & Morning Coffee

9:00 AM → 9:05 AM Day 2 - Introduction

9:05 AM → 9:30 AM Keynote: ESA/TEC-MP IP-CCI & Technologies roadmaps and incoming activities

9:30 AM → 11:00 AM Presentation Block C: Advanced Propulsion Systems

11:00 AM → 11:30 AM Coffe Break & Networking

11:30 AM → 12:00 PM Round table on Topic C: Advanced Propulsion Systems

12:00 PM → 1:00 PM Presentation Block D: Components & Measurements for Propulsion Systems

1:00 PM → 1:15 PM Round table on Topic D: Components & Measurements for Propulsion Systems

1:15 PM → 2:00 PM Lunch Break & Networking

2:00 PM → 2:30 PM Keynote: Artemis II Mission - ESM Orion Propulsion System Challenges

2:30 PM → 3:30 PM Presentation Block E: Ground & Flight Testing for Fluid Dynamics, Propulsion & Flight Vehicles

3:30 PM → 4:00 PM Coffee Break & Networking

4:00 PM → 5:00 PM Presentation Block E: Ground & Flight Testing for Fluid Dynamics, Propulsion & Flight Vehicles

5:00 PM → 5:30 PM Round table on Topic E: Ground & Flight Testing for Fluid Dynamics, Propulsion & Flight Vehicles

5:30 PM → 5:45 PM Day 2 Wrap-up

Thu, April 16

9:00 AM → 9:15 AM Day 3 - Introduction

9:15 AM → 9:45 AM Keynote: VLEO Mission Propulsion System; ABEP as a game changer

9:45 AM → 11:00 AM Presentation Block F: Spacecraft & Space Transportation Chemical Propulsion

11:00 AM → 11:30 AM Coffee Break & Networking

11:30 AM → 12:15 PM Presentation Block F: Spacecraft & Space Transportation Chemical Propulsion

12:15 PM → 12:45 PM Round table on Topic F: Spacecraft & Space Transportation Chemical Propulsion

12:45 PM → 1:15 PM Closure of the R+D days of the TEC-MP Division