ESA Renews InCubed Programme with AIKO to Expand Autonomous Space Solutions with orbital_OLIVER.

AIKO proudly announces that the European Space Agency (ESA) has renewed its InCubed contract for the development of orbital_OLIVER, AIKO’s innovative onboard automation solution for satellite operations. This renewal, following the successful conclusion of the project’s first phase, reaffirms ESA's confidence in AIKO’s pioneering approach to enhancing space mission autonomy. 

The initial validation phase of the orbital_OLIVER project product, conducted under the ESA InCubed Programme from May 2021 to July 2023, was marked by significant achievements. AIKO’s solution demonstrated its capacity to autonomously optimise satellite operations, reduce mission costs, and enhance responsiveness to unexpected events. Through a successful in-orbit demonstration and collaboration with partners such as Tyvak International, D-Orbit, and UNIBAP, orbital_OLIVER exceeded expectations in delivering reliable performance across multiple objectives. 

The renewal of the contract extends the support to orbital_OLIVER’s development, validation, and commercialisation for another two years, validating the excellence of AIKO’s work in the first phase. This continuation highlights ESA’s belief in orbital_OLIVER as a key technology for the future of satellite operations, particularly as the industry shifts towards greater autonomy and the management of increasingly complex satellite constellations. 

“We are honored by ESA’s decision to continue investing in orbital_OLIVER,” said Lorenzo Feruglio, CEO of AIKO “The Program renewal is a testament to the value of our work, and it encourages us to further develop this solution to meet the growing needs of the space industry. Our technology is set to revolutionise satellite operations by reducing dependence on ground control and unlocking new possibilities for mission scalability.” 

In this next phase, AIKO will focus on enhancing orbital_OLIVER’s hardware integrability, refining mission planning and telemetry features, and expanding its compatibility with onboard applications from AIKO and third-party providers. These developments will make orbital_OLIVER even more accessible and valuable for a broader range of space missions, from single satellites to vast constellations.