Space

Space is one of Luxembourg’s most strategic priorities — a cornerstone of its economic diversification and technological leadership. At the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), space is not a distant frontier but a cross-cutting research and innovation theme. Building on expertise in advanced materials, remote sensing, telecommunications, and digital twins, LIST contributes to shaping the future of sustainable space exploration and the in-space economy.

Through its partnership with the Luxembourg Space Agency, LIST co-founded the European Space Resources Innovation Centre (ESRIC), the world’s first centre dedicated to space resources. Together, we work to advance national and European capabilities in space resources prospection, the development of innovative materials for space, and the design of sustainable, long-duration missions.

We drive research in space resources and harness satellite technologies for environmental monitoring and disaster response.

Our fields of action

The responsible use of space resources is set to transform future exploration. With multidisciplinary expertise and the world-leading European Space Resources Innovation Centre (ESRIC), LIST is uniquely positioned to shape this emerging field. Our ambition is to contribute directly to future missions and deliver the science, technologies, and facilities needed to support a global space resources community.

Building sustainable off-Earth infrastructure requires a deep understanding of local environments and available materials. This includes designing systems for oxygen and metal extraction, regolith handling, volatile capture, closed-loop life-support, and surface infrastructure—while minimising waste and long-term environmental impact. LIST brings together scientific instrumentation for space resources in situ analysis, remote sensing, data-driven exploration, and advanced space technologies to create the foundations for responsible resource utilisation beyond Earth.

LIST develops novel materials to enable sustainable, durable, and high-performance space systems. Our work includes advanced coatings to protect satellites from atomic oxygen, stray light, and drag in Very Low Earth Orbit, and lightweight, resilient composites—hybrid, vitrimer, thermoplastic, and biodegradable—developed and tested at LIST's Sustainable Composite Materials & Manufacturing (SCMM) Innovation Centre to extend satellite lifetimes and reduce mission costs.

We also pioneer printed sensors and in-space manufacturing for spacecraft, integrating temperature, strain, and piezoelectric devices directly onto panels, deployable structures, and propulsion systems. These technologies are demonstrated on CubeSat missions and other mission-ready prototypes, supporting next-generation satellites, launchers, and in-space sensor networks.

LIST is enabling a reliable and sustainable in-space economy by combining advanced communication, energy, AI, and training technologies. We design hybrid terrestrial-satellite networks, integrating 5G and AI-driven controllers for seamless global connectivity and autonomous network adaptation.

Our work includes compact, high-efficiency energy systems and microgrids for resilient space operations, and laser diagnostics to characterise next-generation propellants for precise orbital manoeuvres. We embed explainable AI into space robots for autonomous navigation and decision-making, and use augmented reality tools to train the next generation of space explorers, visualizing hazards and simulating complex mission scenarios.

Explore the European Space Resources Innovation Centre

Launched in 2020, ESRIC is an initiative of the Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA) and the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) in strategic partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA).

Our solutions

We are driving forward a new generation of space solutions that strengthen performance, sustainability, and innovation across the sector. From Strayprotect, which delivers advanced stray-light suppression coatings for high-precision space optics, to PRISE, which develops pioneering technologies that support safer and more reliable space operations, LIST provides tools that enable missions to push farther with greater confidence. Through the ESRIC Business Incubator, we also empower emerging space start-ups with technical expertise, facilities, and tailored support to accelerate their ideas from concept to market.