Space Strategy

Programme of Danish National Space Missions

The Danish Government will promote national space missions as a new strategic instrument through a programme inspired by the scientific Ørsted satellite, which is considered a significant driver for the development of today’s Danish space sector.

In the 1990s, the Ørsted satellite laid the foundation for several new technological and scientific competencies to be flown and tested in space, including power management, advanced star cameras and magnetometers, mapping of the Earth’s magnetic field, and knowledge of satellite system integration.

The programme for national space missions aims to contribute to build capacity within the Danish space sector by delivering results with high scientific, economic and/or societal value. This could include new scientific or commercial breakthroughs that place Denmark on the international space agenda, forge closer international collaborations, stimulate growth among startups, and inspire interest in both science and space exploration among children and young people. Space missions may therefore serve both commercial and scientific purposes.

Additionally, the missions can contribute to Danish defence, security and preparedness, the green transition, and the Danish business community. For example, they could be of benefit to the Armed Forces and emergency services in tasks such as navigation in the ice-filled Arctic waters, search and rescue operations, and military task management in priority regions like the Baltic Sea and the Arctic. They could also improve soil mapping, enhancing the ability to monitor and respond to changes in climate, nature and biodiversity, as well as strengthen weather and sea forecasts.

The programme will be administered by the Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science and will be funded as part of Denmark’s contribution to ESA’s voluntary programme activities. ESA will provide Danish actors with access to the necessary assistance regarding the mission's technical solutions and project management, as well as opportunities for international collaboration. The missions may also receive co-financing from private and public partners, both nationally and internationally.

Over the next ten years, the Government aims to select and fund up to four national space missions, including the Danish-led Máni mission as the first potential national mission. The Máni mission offers significant scientific and commercial prospects, aimed at improving Earth’s climate models and supporting future manned lunar missions.

The Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science, in cooperation with relevant authorities and aligned with ESA’s ministerial conferences held every three years, will issue calls for project proposals to implement new national space missions.