ESA Technology Market Assessments: understanding the foreseen demand for Solar Array Drive Mechanisms • Mar 2026

In the frame of the 2nd Cycle 2025 of the European Space Technology Harmonisation process, ESA and Novaspace have carried out a market assessment study to estimate the demand for Solar Array Drive Mechanisms (SADM) technologies. 

The forecast suggests that more than 3.5k total SADM products will be addressable by European and Canadian suppliers over the next decade, with a significant upside in space markets considered a priori non-addressable (76% of the total). The study identifies Telecom as the application domain driving the demand, representing 60% of the addressable SADMs.  

Constellations are the prevalent architecture type in volume with 2,137 units (60%) vs. 1,435 (40%) for single satellites. Slip rings are an exception, with 78% of the addressable market demand generated by single satellites. 

The European Space Technology Harmonisation provides the framework and the key instruments needed to coordinate space technology at the European level. European and Canadian entities can request access to the harmonisation database containing the full market assessment reports and technology harmonisation dossiers through this link.