Genesis: A Unique Geodetic Satellite Mission at the Foundation of Navigation

Genesis is an ESA mission conducted by the ESA Navigation Directorate as part of the FutureNAV program. Its primary objective is the contribution to the improvement of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) towards an accuracy of 1mm and a long-term stability of 0.1mm/year. Secondary objectives include the contribution to a high number of other scientific disciplines (geodesy, geodynamics, earth rotation, geophysics, atmosphere and ionosphere sciences, metrology, relativity…) [1].

The Genesis Space Segment consists of a single spacecraft in MEO (400kg, 6000km altitude, 95° inclination) co-locating for the first time in space the four geodetic instruments used for the realisation of the 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 a Ground Station) and will make use of the existing ground infrastructure, operated by the Services of the International Association of Geodesy: GNSS sensor stations network of the IGS, SLR stations of the ILRS, VLBI antennas of the IVS, and DORIS beacons of the IDS. The scientific mission data will be processed, archived, and distributed by ESA 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’ fully calibrated satellite will establish precise and stable ties between the key geodetic techniques, implementing a unique dynamic space geodetic observatory. As the ITRF is recognised to be the foundation of countless space and ground-based applications, Genesis will have a major impact on almost any space mission and 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 option for extension), with a launch currently planned in 2028. Antwerp Space, as payload prime, is responsible for the geodetic instruments. Industrial activities were kicked-off in April 2024, the System Requirements Review was successfully closed-out in Q4 2024, the System Preliminary Design Review was successfully carried out in Q4 2025, and work is on-going to consolidate the design towards a Critical Design Review starting in Q4 2026.

On the scientific side, a Genesis Scientific Exploitation Team (GSET) was set-up and members appointed in Q2 2024. This structure encompasses representatives of ESA, a lead Scientific Coordinator and Co-Coordinator, as well as five Working Groups covering the four geodetic techniques and their combination. The GSET includes members of the international geodetic services and will interact with them for the coordination of the ground infrastructure. Two successful Genesis Scientific Workshops were held in February 2024 and April 2025, and a third will be held in March 2026. The GSET has been actively supporting the mission development, the requirements/design consolidation, and will play a key role in the future exploitation of the mission data.

This presentation will provide an up-to-date overview of the Genesis mission from a system, programmatic, and scientific point of view.

[1]: Delva et al. Earth, Planets and Space 75, 5 (2023)