ClearSpace has signed a term sheet with satellite operator Eutelsat, setting a framework for cooperation on the Phoenix geostationary orbit (GEO) life-extension mission and the development of future commercial in-orbit services, from the Grand Duchy.
The agreement, announced on 21 October 2026, was highlighted a day earlier at NEO Space in Luxembourg, where representatives of both companies joined the Newtech in Space session to discuss Phoenix and their shared vision for geostationary life extension services. It outlines a pathway from the development of Phoenix’s servicing capabilities towards future commercial service agreements.
Under the framework, Eutelsat is expected to contribute its operational expertise, helping shape service requirements, mission design and demonstration planning. The term sheet also provides a basis for exploring the use of a Eutelsat satellite in the in-orbit demonstration, subject to further agreement.
For operators, life extension could offer greater flexibility in managing geostationary fleets and more value from assets already in orbit. Frédéric Piro, Chief Engineering Officer at Eutelsat, said the technology could help the company deliver its broadcast and connectivity services for longer while giving it more options in planning the evolution of its fleet.
The Luxembourg dimension is explicit. Sabrina Andiappane, Managing Director of ClearSpace Luxembourg, described the agreement as a step in connecting technology development with the operational needs of the market, and in building a commercial in-orbit servicing business from Luxembourg. Phoenix is now advancing under the European Space Agency’s Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) programme, building on its initial development under Luxembourg’s national space programme, and ClearSpace’s Luxembourg operations lead the mission.
The broader Phoenix programme is estimated at approximately €100 million. The first demonstration mission is targeted for 2030, with commercial services to follow in the early 2030s. The announcement comes about a month after ClearSpace signed a contract with ESA for the next phase of Phoenix, adding a potential customer to the institutional backing already in place.
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