Ground-Based Facilities (GBF)

ESA provides scientists with an opportunity to conduct research necessary to advance knowledge relevant to the effects of space on humans and/or biological life in general, as well as on physical or material science and systems, aiming to enable space exploration. Proposals shall address these research questions through ground-based experimental studies making use of the facilities.

The data obtained shall improve the current knowledge in the areas of interest, e.g. to develop diagnosis tools and countermeasure protocols for humans in space, to gain insights on the effect of space conditions on microbes or to develop new shielding techniques to protect equipment from space radiation. In addition to supporting the needs of human space exploration missions, the information obtained is relevant to improve Earth-based technologies and/or medical protocols.

ESA has various facilities in its ground-based facilities portfolio.

Proposals can be submitted on the OSIP platform