TRL & ESA Technology Programmes (ESTMP 2021)

ESA Programes and Initiatives with a and demonstration of technology, techniques, research and
operational techniques and associated technologies. Also

strong Technology R&D Component
new practices, techniques and tools for design,
Technology is developed in ESA under several corporate development, verification and mission operations need to
and domain specific programmes and initiatives, done in be exercised in small, yet representative, missions.
partnership with industry, academia and research centres.
Once planned and channelled through the Agency-wide
These programmes address different stages of development/ Process for Technology R&D Management, all the technology
maturity, measured by Technology Readiness Level development activities are funded under dedicated ESA
(TRL) scale (see Figure 1). These technology activities technology programmes or ESA programmes allocating part
cover most branches of the ESA Technology Tree and of their budget to technology development. Two Technology
Competence Domain structure. Programmes are mandatory (TDE and CTP) while the rest
The primary goal of the ESA technology programmes is to are optional. Only the TDE addresses all application and
support technology development up to mainly TRL level 5/6. technology domains.
In order to achieve the required TRL on technologies there is a
need for continuity along technology programmes and
between technology and user programmes (see
Figure 2). For some technologies and techniques and ESA Technology Tree
some new applications, it is deemed necessary to https://esamultimedia.esa.int/multimedia/publications/STM-277/
complete the development cycle going up to TRL 9, STM-277.pdf
e.g. in-orbit demonstration. In-orbit experiments are
important for the development
Technology Readiness Level Milestone achieved for the element
TRL 1 Potential applications are identified following basic observations but element
Basic principle observed and reported concept not yet formulated.
TRL 2 Formulation of potential applications and preliminary element concept. No proof of

Technology concept and/or application formulated concept yet.
TRL 3 Element concept is elaborated and expected performance is demonstrated

Analytical and experimental critical function and/or through analytical models supported by experimental data/characteristics.
characteristic proof-of-concept
TRL 4 Element functional performance is demonstrated by breadboard testing in

Component and/or breadboard functional laboratory environment.
verification in laboratory environment
TRL 5 Critical functions of the element are identified and the associated relevant
Component and/or breadboard critical function environment is defined. Breadboards not full-scale are built for verifying the
verification in a relevant environment performance through testing in the relevant environment, subject to scaling effects.
TRL 6 Critical functions of the element are verified, performance is demonstrated in the
Model demonstrating the critical functions of the relevant environment and representative model(s) in form, fit and function.
element in a relevant environment
TRL 7 Performance is demonstrated for the operational environment, on the ground or if

Model demonstrating the element performance for necessary in space. A representative model, fully reflecting all aspects of the flight
the operational environment model design, is built and tested with adequate margins for demonstrating the
performance in the operational environment.
TRL 8 Flight model is qualified and integrated in the final system ready for flight.
Actual system completed and accepted for flight
(“flight qualified”)
TRL 9 Technology is mature. The element is successfully in service for the assigned
Actual system “flight proven” through successful mission in the actual operational environment.
mission operations
Figure 1 – SO TRL summary table (source: ISO TRL document 16290).

TRL 9
TRL 8
TRL 7
TRL 6
TRL 5
SPACE TECH N O LO GY R&D
TRL 4
TRL 3
TRL 2
TRL 1
TDE CTP GSTP GSTP GSTP ARTES ARTES ARTES Future InCubed Sci ExPeRT H2020 NAVISP NAVISP S2P FLPP
Develop Make Fly AT CG SPLs EO SpacE HSNAV E1 E2
Figure 2 – ISO Technology Readiness Level (TRL) scale levels and ESA programmes with strong Technology R&D component: the TRL
span presented in the chart indicates the possible minimum start and maximum target TRL of activities per programme.

TRL & ESA Technology Programmes (ESTMP 2021)

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

TRL & ESA Technology Programmes (ESTMP 2021)

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

TRL & ESA Technology Programmes (ESTMP 2021)

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

ESA Programes and Initiatives with a and demonstration of technology, techniques, research and

operational techniques and associated technologies. Also

Technology Readiness Level Milestone achieved for the element

TRL 2 Formulation of potential applications and preliminary element concept. No proof of

TRL 3 Element concept is elaborated and expected performance is demonstrated

TRL 4 Element functional performance is demonstrated by breadboard testing in

TRL 7 Performance is demonstrated for the operational environment, on the ground or if

Figure 1 – SO TRL summary table (source: ISO TRL document 16290).

You might also like