Overview
FIRST! Structures, Materials, Mechanisms and Processes (SMMP) is seeking ideas for disruptive technologies that bring significant improvement in terms of performance (mass), recurring or non-recurring costs, or sustainability with high and direct commercial interest to benefit future European space transportation.
FIRST! is an initiative with ESA’s programme for future space transportation, FLPP. Its goals are to identify innovative and promising technology disruptors benefitting future European space transportation and to accelerate their derisking through rapid prototyping and testing.
Call for Ideas
Domains
ESA welcomes proposals for disruptive technologies in the following areas:
- Optimised materials for composite and/or metallic structures: Technologies that bring significant performance improvements in terms of mass, robustness or sustainability like (but not limited to) vitrimers, nanocomposites, new resins, fibres, metallic alloys, including Europeanisation of alloys or key materials.
- Optimised processes for composite and/or metallic structures: technologies that bring significant improvement in terms of recurring costs, quality/repeatability or sustainability. It would include (but not only) new winding techniques, thermoplastic welding, AFSW, DED, resin fiber molding, repair and online inspection techniques. In that topic, full automation and increasing role of AI could be of highest interest for disruptive improvement.
- Disruptive composite technologies for space transportation in cryogenic environment: Proposed technologies can cover cryogenic linerless composite tanks, cleaning processes, innovative structural junctions, interfaces for fluidic elements and sealing for CFRP cryogenic tanks. The above list is not exhaustive.
- Electro-mechanical space transportation structures: Technologies such as (but not limited to) those that allow quick and efficient health checks for reusable structures or in-orbit structures. This can also include multi-functional structures like integrated raceways, structural energy systems and structural actuators.
- Mechanisms for space transportation systems: Deployment, releasing, locking or grabbing mechanisms are key for new space transportation systems like reusable structures or OTVs. The existing technologies are often complex, heavy and expensive. This category aims at proposing disruption in this matter.
Target Applications
Technologies could target applications such as:
- launch services
- in-space transportation services (e.g., space tugs, orbital transfer vehicles and in-space transportation infrastructure (e.g., orbital propellant depot)
- return from space
Participation
Participation is open to entities in Europe.
The Call for Ideas is open until 13 March 2026.
