The European Space Agency (ESA) has awarded a contract to develop Europe’s first reusable rocket stage recovery vessel, marking a major milestone in the continent’s push toward sustainable and cost-efficient space launch operations.

The contract was awarded to a consortium led by Naval Group (France) in partnership with CMN Shipyard, Airbus Defence and Space, and CNES, France’s national space agency. The vessel will be designed to recover and transport reusable rocket first stages after launch, supporting ESA’s long-term reusability strategy under its Future Launchers Preparatory Programme (FLPP).

According to ESA, the recovery vessel will be used to retrieve rocket boosters from the Atlantic Ocean following controlled splashdowns. It will feature advanced dynamic positioning systems, heavy-lift cranes, and modular deck configurations to accommodate different rocket designs under development by European launch companies such as ArianeGroup and PLD Space.

The project will also include the development of automated securing and handling systems to minimize turnaround times between launches, aligning Europe’s reusability efforts with global leaders like SpaceX.

Naval Group stated that the new vessel will combine maritime engineering with aerospace logistics, “bridging the gap between the ocean and orbit” by creating a specialized platform capable of safely recovering, inspecting, and reconditioning reusable rocket stages.

The vessel is expected to be delivered by 2027, ahead of planned flight tests for ESA’s Themis reusable rocket stage demonstrator.

ESA’s Director of Space Transportation, Daniel Neuenschwander, described the program as “a critical step toward a sustainable and competitive European space transportation ecosystem.”