HPS Romania and OHB Germany sign major subcontract for ESA’s LISA mission!
Just a few months after ESA and OHB sealed the groundbreaking prime contract for LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna), another milestone follows for us:
👉 HPS Romania (HPS-RO) has counter-signed the multimillion-euro supplier-contract with OHB Germany to deliver the thermal radiators – a critical subsystem for one of ESA’s most ambitious science missions to date.
🌌 About the LISA mission:
LISA is a 100% civil cornerstone mission of ESA’s science program. It will be the first space-based observatory to detect and measure gravitational waves – tiny ripples in space-time that provide insights into black hole mergers, galactic evolution, and the fundamental physics of our universe.
🔺 To achieve this, three spacecraft will fly in triangular formation across 2.5 million km, using laser interferometry with unprecedented precision.
☝🏻 Role of HPS Romania:
HPS-RO, located in Bucharest, will supply ultra-lightweight thermal radiators, ensuring instruments and electronics remain within optimal temperature ranges by radiating excess heat into space. Without this function, the mission’s extreme sensitivity would be compromised.
👉🏻 Scope of the contract
– Covers Phases B2 and C/D, spanning several years
– Includes development of mission-specific manufacturing processes over the next two years,
– Followed by serial production: ~50 sandwich panels for all three LISA spacecraft (up to 1.5 x 2.0 m each, with hundreds of inserts and thermal coating)
👏🏻 Successful ESA Programmatics:
This contract marks a extraordinary success for ESA’s and Romanian industrial policy, showing how New Member States (Romania is ESA member state since 2011) can deliver flight-critical products for flagship missions. Founded in 2016 and supported by ESA initiatives, national programs, and HPS Germany’s own investment, HPS Romania has quickly grown into a key contributor to Europe’s space infrastructure.
💬 “We are deeply proud that Romania, through HPS-RO, is stepping into a frontline role on a global mission of this scale. This contract proves what consistent support, national policy, and strategic industrial partnerships, like with OHB, can achieve. And we are sincerely grateful to our Customer Chain for the huge trust in our technical capabilities and work force.”
— Astrid Draguleanu, COO of HPS Romania.
🔥 HPS Romania’s Thermal Hardware portfolio:
– Radiators
– Multi-Layer Insulation (MLI)
– Thermal Straps.
🛰️ Additional heritage in:
– Secondary Structures
– Ground Purge Equipment
– MGSE (Mechanical Ground Support Equipment).
(📷: 1st picture by OHB)
#LISA #ESA #HPS #OHB #Romania #Space #ThermalHardware #EuropeanSpace
