Blackswan Space completes €80k Pre-Phase A ESA System Study for In-Space Proof of Concept-3 (InSPoC-3)

Blackswan Space has successfully delivered an €80k study for the European Space Agency (ESA) under the In-Space Proof of Concept 3 (InSPoC-3) initiative. The project focused on advancing on-board autonomy and shared intelligence for future in-space transportation systems, laying the groundwork for autonomous orbital logistics.

The study analyzed the evolving space ecosystem through 2050, identified key technology gaps, and proposed a roadmap for enabling autonomy in critical mission operations. Central to the findings was the need for Visual-Based Navigation (VBN) and autonomous Rendezvous, Proximity Operations, and Docking (RPOD)—essential capabilities for scalable in-orbit servicing and logistics.

Blackswan Space recommended a preliminary In-Orbit Demonstration (IOD) mission featuring repeated RPOD trials and integration of its proprietary VBN technology. The report also highlighted Europe’s strategic challenge in adopting advanced AI hardware, urging a shift toward GPU-based solutions to accelerate autonomy.

“This work marks a crucial step toward reusable, intelligent space infrastructure,” the report concludes, emphasizing early prototyping and cross-initiative alignment as next steps. Blackswan Space will continue developing its VBN/RPO Kit and Mission Design Simulator, supporting ESA’s vision for autonomous space operations.