ESA FIRST! Award Ceremony
16 January 2024
17:30 – 19:30
ESA Headquarters Nikis
8-10 rue Mario Nikis
70015 Paris
We are excited to present our upcoming ESA FIRST! Award Ceremony, which will be held on 16 January 2024 at 17:30 at ESA Headquarters Nikis in Paris.
This event will present the top-ranked proposals submitted to the FIRST! (Future Innovation and Research in Space Transportation) Invitation to Tender. The companies behind the proposals will soon be able to start negotiations with ESA. The FIRST! 1 project focuses on four technology areas:
Reusable thermal protection for launchers
Inovative joining technologies
Advanced composite structures
Lightweight stainless steel stage tanks and structures.
These companies will have the opportunity to present their proposed activities to ESA, member states, investors, and Space Transportation service providers at the award ceremony.
About FIRST!
FIRST! is an initiative of the ESA STS Future Launchers Preparatory Programme (FLPP). Through a series of procurements in open competition, the initiative’s goals are to identify innovative and promising technology disruptors benefitting future European space transportation (ST) and to accelerate their de-risking through rapid prototyping and testing.
Agenda
The agenda of the event is as follows:
17:30 Welcome and presentation by ESA
17:50 Winning presentation – Advanced composite structures
18:05 Winning presentation – Reusable flexible thermal protection for launchers rear part
18:25 Break
18:35 Winning presentation – Innovative mechanical joining technologies for metallic and composite structures
18:50 Winning presentation – Lightweight stainless-steel tanks and structures
19:10 Inspirational speech
19:25 Conclusion & next steps by ESA
19:30 – 20:30 End of online event and cocktail