+32 (0)10 48 72 70 info@stariongroup.eu

Every day, space science missions help us understand more about our planet, our solar system and the universe. Our space science experts who help this happen think they have the best jobs in the world.

These engineers have extensive experience of working across the spectrum of science missions, from the design of the instruments to long-term data preservation. In between, they deliver development, planning, testing, validation and execution of instrumentation, software and operations, as well as mission scheduling and financial and administrative management.

Operating at the heart of European space science

Support for breakthrough missions

Our engineers work at the centre of European space science programmes, covering heliophysics, astronomy, planetary missions and human and robotics exploration. Among the many missions they have supported – and still support – are some familiar names:

  • James Webb and Hubble Space Telescopes, Euclid, Gaia and XMM-Newton – studying our galaxy and the universe beyond it
  • Solar Orbiter – observing the Sun, our nearest star
  • Juice and BepiColombo – getting up close to planets in our solar system
  • Rosetta – the first spacecraft to place a lander on a comet.

That’s not all. Other missions we’ve been involved with include: Cheops, LISA and LISA Pathfinder, Mars Express, Proba, Planck, Plato, Soho and Ulysses.

Main image credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI; J. DePasquale, A. Koekemoer, A. Pagan (STScI)

Research and engineering for ESA

Starion has nearly 60 staff supporting the European Space Agency’s (ESA’s) science missions at the European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC) in Madrid, Spain, including many working in the ESAC Science Data Centre Archive (ESDC).

ESAC is home to ESA’s astrophysics and planetary missions, and is where science operations are conducted. Here we provide:

  • Initial mission design and feasibility of science operations
  • Science operations planning
  • Translation of data from the satellites’ scientific instruments into usable data products
  • Data archiving for over 40 missions for the international scientific community
  • Administrative support.
Artist's impression of the James Webb Space Telescope copyright ESA

Our space science services

Through engineering, management support and software development, we help turn ideas into data, and data into information through:

  • Development of operational software to support mission preparation, mission control and operations, including AI-based operations support applications
  • Cloud-based software solutions supporting seamless deployment and monitoring of applications to multiple cloud platforms and edge computing devices
  • Design, development testing and operations of the scientific data archives for all ESA space missions
  • SPICE software operations to convert ESA orbit, attitude and spacecraft clock correlation data into the corresponding SPICE formats
  • Consultancy and support to the Science Ground Segments of the planetary missions for SPICE and ancillary data management.

Image: artist’s impression of the James Webb Space Telescope © ESA

Space Systems Engineering

Starion’s heritage in space systems engineering dates back over three decades. We provide engineering and management support, and software development and deployment.

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Mission Operations

Starion’s experts provide full lifecycle support for space mission operations, utilising our component-based ASTRAL ground segment solution and MOIS tool suite.

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Earth Observation

Starion’s experts provide scientific, technical and system engineering support to programmes that exploit satellite Earth observation (EO) data for maximum impact.

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How can we help?

Get in touch to discuss your system engineering requirements and we’ll put you in touch with someone who can help.

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