Scotland is playing a role in a European space mission that aims to send a reusable spacecraft into orbit and bring it safely back to Earth in 2026.

A Scottish aerospace electronics firm will supply onboard monitoring systems for the PHOENIX 2.1 mission, a reusable spacecraft designed to travel into Low Earth Orbit, operate for several weeks, and then return its cargo safely to Earth.

Edinburgh-based Aurora Avionics will provide two modular data acquisition units which will be built into the PHOENIX 2 vehicle. The spacecraft is being built by European space transportation and re-entry logistics provider ATMOS Space Cargo, which will operate the vehicle throughout the mission.

Oren Smith-Carpenter, Chief Executive of Aurora Avionics, said the partnership marks a significant step for the company as it expands into orbital missions.

“Working with ATMOS Space Cargo shows that our systems can support complex space missions that go beyond launch and into long-duration operations in orbit,” Smith-Carpenter said.

“Their vision is to enable commercial space missions that can operate independently and return safely to Earth without relying on space stations. That ambition aligns closely with our focus on delivering robust, adaptable flight systems for demanding environments.

“This contract highlights the flexibility of our technology, which is now being used not only during launch but throughout entire missions that require continuous and reliable data capture.”

PHOENIX 2 is designed to complete a full journey to space and back. It will carry out operations in orbit before returning payloads to Earth in a controlled descent, complementing existing crewed space station infrastructure.

The onboard systems supplied by Aurora Avionics will record environmental and structural information during every stage of the mission. This includes monitoring temperature, pressure and the physical stresses placed on the spacecraft, including during re-entry and recovery.

That information will help engineers validate the vehicle’s performance and support the development of future missions.

Aurora Avionics, founded in 2023, designs and manufactures modular avionics systems. Avionics are the electronic systems that control and monitor a spacecraft’s operations. Often described as the vehicle’s nervous system, they allow it to gather information, remain stable, adjust its position, manage power and communicate with Earth.

Without these systems, a spacecraft could not be guided, operated or safely recovered.

The company’s modular approach means its systems can be stacked and adapted to suit different mission needs. This allows partners such as ATMOS to tailor the technology to match specific flight profiles.

ATMOS Space Cargo, headquartered in Germany and France, is developing reusable orbital logistics platforms. Its PHOENIX 2.1 vehicle is planned to launch in 2026 as part of a wider multi-flight programme.

The aim is to create independent European capability to send scientific and industrial payloads into Low Earth Orbit and return them safely to Earth.

At present, opportunities to bring research and manufacturing payloads back from space are limited. Many missions rely on crewed space stations, including the International Space Station, which is currently planned to be decommissioned by 2030.

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By developing a reusable return vehicle, ATMOS aims to address long-standing challenges in spaceflight, including limited return capacity and the high cost of one-off systems.

Aurora’s data acquisition systems will support this effort by collecting the detailed mission data required to assess vehicle performance across launch, orbital operations and return.

Designed for repeated use, the PHOENIX vehicle family is intended to reduce operational complexity and improve efficiency over time. The collaboration will support ATMOS engineers during the validation phase of the mission.

Jeffrey Hendrikse, co-founder and Chief Technical Officer of ATMOS Space Cargo, said Aurora demonstrated a clear understanding of the demanding requirements of space transportation providers.

“We needed a reliable and adaptable system that integrates cleanly into our spacecraft. Their engineering approach and ability to respond to our technical requirements make them a strong partner for this mission.”

The PHOENIX 2.1 mission will gather data during a multi-week period in orbit. The information collected will support validation across all phases of the spacecraft’s journey.

Smith-Carpenter added: “We are proud to contribute to a programme that supports Europe’s ambitions in return logistics and space-based research. Missions such as PHOENIX 2 require systems that are flexible, resilient and built to perform in extreme conditions — and that is exactly what we deliver.”

The mission forms part of wider European efforts to establish commercially viable return capabilities for scientific and industrial payloads from Low Earth Orbit, independent of crewed space station infrastructure.