ESA Advances Ramses Planetary-Defence Mission with Key Contract
The European Space Agency (ESA) has advanced its Ramses planetary-defence mission into the main build phase by signing a EUR 81.2 million contract with OHB Italia on 10 February 2026. This contract initiates the spacecraft's construction, assembly, and testing phase. Ramses is designed to rendezvous with asteroid Apophis ahead of its exceptionally close Earth flyby in 2029.
Transition to Full Hardware Execution
This contract marks a significant milestone, transitioning Ramses from early preparation to full-scale hardware development. Previously, ESA had signed a EUR 63 million preparatory contract with OHB Italia in October 2024 to secure long-lead items and finalize the spacecraft design to meet the mission's tight schedule. With the new contract, the total value of ESA’s Ramses spacecraft work now amounts to approximately EUR 150 million.
Strategic Timing and Mission Objectives
The timing of the mission is as critical as its funding. ESA has scheduled Ramses to launch in April 2028 and arrive at Apophis in February 2029, allowing sufficient time to study the asteroid before its close encounter with Earth on 13 April 2029. During this flyby, the 375-meter asteroid will pass within 32,000 km of Earth’s surface, close enough for Earth’s gravity to potentially alter its rotation, surface, and internal structure.
Planetary Defence and Scientific Goals
Ramses is more than a scientific mission. ESA plans to use the spacecraft and its instruments to measure Apophis before and after the flyby, providing critical data on how asteroids respond to strong external forces such as tidal stress. These observations are vital for planetary defence, as understanding an asteroid’s structure, composition, cohesion, and porosity is essential for designing future deflection strategies if a hazardous object is ever found on a collision course with Earth. ESA has confirmed that Apophis poses no risk to Earth during its 2029 flyby.
Leveraging Proven Technology and Collaboration
The contract highlights ESA’s strategy to expedite development by reusing proven technology and expertise. Ramses is being developed using lessons, teams, and technology from ESA’s Hera mission. Additionally, the spacecraft will carry two deployable CubeSats to enhance its scientific capabilities. On the same day as the main spacecraft contract, ESA signed a separate EUR 8.2 million contract with Tyvak International to build one of these CubeSats, named Farinella.
Commitment to Planetary Defence
This contract underscores Europe’s commitment to transforming a rare celestial event into a valuable planetary-defence opportunity. Rather than merely observing Apophis during its flyby, ESA is funding a mission designed to collect high-value data at a critical moment when Earth’s gravity may induce measurable changes in the asteroid. The Ramses mission represents a significant procurement milestone and a clear example of contract activity directly supporting future asteroid-risk preparedness.