On Sept. 15, 2026, Astroscale France and French space systems manufacturer HEMERIA announced a strategic partnership to develop and export a French microsatellite platform designed for operations in geostationary orbit (GEO).
The joint initiative combines HEMERIA’s defense satellite bus manufacturing capabilities with Astroscale France’s rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) and inspection payload technologies.
Platform Architecture and Technical Heritage
The collaborative microsatellite architecture is engineered to provide close-range object characterization, inspection, and space domain awareness (SDA) capabilities at an orbital altitude of approximately 36,000 kilometers. By pairing an established small-satellite bus with dedicated RPO software and sensor packages, the partnership aims to lower procurement costs and shorten development cycles compared to legacy, heavy-class GEO defense platforms.
- Satellite Bus: HEMERIA agile defense platform derived from France’s YODA (Yeux Orbitaux pour la Détection Active) satellite program
- Payload Package: Astroscale France flight-proven RPO vision systems, sensors, and close-proximity maneuvering algorithms
- Target Domain: Geostationary Orbit (36,000 km altitude) inspection and characterization
- Primary Heritage: Astroscale’s ADRAS-J mission, which completed close approach and visual inspection of an uncooperative rocket body in Low Earth Orbit
Strategic Rationale for Sovereign GEO Defense
Geostationary orbit contains critical defense communications, early-warning, and national security space assets. Because ground-based radar and optical monitoring networks have physical resolution limits at 36,000 kilometers, sovereign defense operators require in-orbit inspection capabilities to evaluate object behavior, inspect physical anomalies, and verify satellite operational health in real time.
Executive Commentary
“Geostationary orbit supports infrastructure that is fundamental to our economies, security and everyday lives,” said Philippe Blatt, President and Managing Director of Astroscale France. “By combining HEMERIA’s platform and defence heritage with Astroscale’s flight-proven RPO expertise and the sovereign capabilities we are developing here in France, we have an opportunity to deliver a high-performance, agile solution that can be deployed faster and more cost-effectively for France and its international partners.“
“GEO is becoming an increasingly strategic and contested environment, creating an urgent need for sovereign, agile and operational capabilities,” added Nicolas Multan, Chairman of HEMERIA. “Together, we have the industrial credibility and technological maturity to deliver a realistic and competitive solution for France and allied nations.”
Market Deployment Outlook
Astroscale France and HEMERIA will focus initial engineering alignment on integrating RPO software packages into HEMERIA’s Toulouse cleanroom assembly facilities. The dual-use platform will be offered to the French Space Command, European defense agencies, and allied international nations seeking sovereign orbital inspection hardware.
