European researchers designed a universal connector prototype to service active satellites and cut space debris, EL PAÍS reported on Thursday.
The prototype emerged from the Space USB project funded by the European Union, which concluded its initial phase in late 2025. Raphael Boissonnade of Thales Alenia Space in France coordinated the project to address the lack of shared connection points across different spacecraft architectures.
“We offer the same plugs, but with services and technology different,” Boissonnade told EL PAÍS. The system allows servicing spacecraft to dock and add power, data, and thermal lines to existing hardware.
Spacecraft currently rely on fragmented designs created by competing manufacturers without shared communication standards. Mehmed Yüksel of the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence told EL PAÍS that Europe relies on three distinct interfaces.
The project team built a common passive interface prototype to test compatibility with those established designs. Laboratory trials at Thales Alenia Space proved the connector works mechanically and electrically with HOTDOCK, SIROM, and iSSI hardware.
“We have managed to interconnect all devices, which shows that standardization is possible,” Boissonnade told EL PAÍS. The prototype secures connections using a rotating cylinder or a series of latches designed for autonomous robotic arms.
The European Commission and the European Space Agency signed a joint declaration in June 2026 supporting an In-Orbit Servicing mission pilot. That mission aims to test inspection, repair, and refueling capabilities by 2030.
A proposed European Space Law would mandate that specific EU-owned spacecraft include dedicated service interfaces.
“If there is a great demand for maintenance services, we believe that standardization will be necessary,” Boissonnade told EL PAÍS.
