Once fully completed at an orbit between 500 and 560 km, the demonstrator mission will offer an ideal in-orbit testbench for a broad variety of downstream applications, such as autonomous vehicles, maritime navigation, critical infrastructure, polar and arctic operations, wireless networks, emergency services, asset tracking and Internet-of-Things applications.

“By carrying out these experimentation and demonstration activities in orbit, we are opening a platform where ESA can work hand-in-hand with end-user communities and stakeholders to demonstrate innovative technologies in satellite navigation, push boundaries and demonstrate services in conditions that mirror the real world,” adds Roberto.

ESA is offering interested third parties from ESA Participating States the opportunity to participate in the experimentation phase of the Celeste in-orbit demonstrator. More information is available on ESA’s Open Space Innovation Platform.

Following Celeste’s in-orbit demonstration, Celeste’s in-orbit preparatory phase, approved at ESA’s Ministerial Council in November 2025 (CM25), will focus on technology development, industrialisation and in-orbit validation, preparing for a potential operational system as part of the European Union GNSS infrastructure together with Galileo and EGNOS, also supporting potential commercial initiatives.