- 1ESA Directorate of Navigation, ESA/ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands
- 2ESA Directorate of Operations, ESA/ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany
- 3ESA Directorate of Science, ESA/ESAC, Villafranca del Castillo, Spain
Genesis is an ESA-approved mission dedicated to GNSS Science conducted by the ESA Navigation Directorate. Its primary objective is the contribution to the improvement of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) accuracy (1mm) and long-term stability (0.1mm/year). Secondary objectives include the contribution to a high number of other scientific disciplines (geodesy, geodynamics, earth rotation, geophysics, earth gravity field, atmosphere and ionosphere sciences, metrology, relativity…) [1].
The Genesis Space Segment includes a single spacecraft in MEO (6000km altitude, 95° inclination) co-locating for the first time in space the four geodetic instruments used for the realisation of ITRF: a GNSS receiver, an SLR reflector, a VLBI transmitter and a DORIS receiver. The Ground Segment is composed of a Mission Control Centre (including Ground Station) and will make use of the existing ground infrastructure, operated by the Scientific Community: GNSS sensor stations network, SLR stations, VLBI antennas and DORIS beacons. The scientific mission data will be processed, archived, and distributed by ESA’s Data PROcessing, Archiving and Delivery facility (PROAD), under the responsibility of the Navigation Support Office and the GNSS Science Support Centre, in close collaboration with the scientific community.
Genesis mission will implement a unique dynamic space geodetic observatory, allowing an extraordinary combination of innovative technology and fundamental science. As the ITRF is recognised to be the foundation for all space- and ground-based space mission activities, Genesis will have a major impact on almost any space missions and, in particular, on Navigation and Earth Science.
On the industrial side, the company OHB Italia has been contracted by ESA as prime for the development, qualification, launch and 2 years operation of the mission, with a launch date in 2028 [2]. Antwerp Space (B), as the major sub-contractor of OHB-I, oversees the payload and geodetic instruments. Industrial activities were kicked-off in April 2024, the System Requirements Review was successfully closed-out in Q4 2024, and work is on-going towards a Preliminary Design Review in Q4 2025.
In parallel, on the scientific side, after a successful Genesis Workshop held in February 2024 [3], a Genesis Science Team was set-up and members appointed. This structure includes representatives of ESA, a lead Scientific Coordinator and Co-Coordinator, as well as five Working Groups covering the four geodetic techniques and their combination. Genesis Science Team has been actively supporting the mission development (in particular consolidation of requirements) and will play a key role in its future exploitation.
The paper will provide a detailed description of the scientific objectives, mission, and system overview, and a programmatic status of the Genesis Mission.
[1]: Delva et al. Earth, Planets and Space 75, 5 (2023)
[2]: https://www.esa.int/Applications/Satellite_navigation/ESA_kicks_off_two_new_navigation_missions
[3]: https://www.esa.int/Applications/Satellite_navigation/The_geodetic_community_meets_Genesis
How to cite: Fusco, G., Gidlund, S., Waller, P., Morlet, C., Perez Lissi, F., Sakalauskaite, E., Enderle, W., Schoenemann, E., Berton, J.-C., Gini, F., and Navarro, V.: Genesis: A Unique Space Geodetic Observatory, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-8240, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-8240, 2025.
