What Germany is building in defence tech (2026)
Apr 30
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Liège, BelgiumHoeilaart, Belgium
Labège, FranceLiège, BelgiumHoeilaart, BelgiumLabège, France
Products & Solutions
Flight Software
On-board software that controls satellites and launchers during their operational life in space, managing communication with ground control and commanding all equipment on board. Spacebel has delivered flight software for ESA missions including PROBA-3, Euclid, ALTIUS and, most recently, the RAMSES asteroid rendezvous mission in partnership with OHB Italia.
Ground Segment IT Systems
Mission operations and data processing infrastructure for satellite control centres, mission planning, payload data ground systems and instrument simulators. Built on cloud-native microservices architecture, the systems incorporate machine learning and AI-assisted automation. Reference implementations include PROBA control centres, the ALTIUS Payload Data Ground System and the Hera Cubesat Mission Operations Centre.
Modelling and Simulation
Simulation products for satellites, probes, launchers and ground infrastructure, supporting software validation, operator training and hardware-in-the-loop testing. The department, active since 1994, has built simulators for more than 40 ESA and CNES missions including Proteus, PROBA, Hera, Pleiades, CSO and Euclid. Named tools include BASILES, VTS, PrestoTools and PrestoPlot.
Small Satellite Systems
End-to-end Earth observation spacecraft development, covering the full lifecycle from user requirements and system definition through integration, launch and in-flight commissioning. The offering enables government customers to independently manage and access territorial information using flight-proven European technology.
Data Management
Web-based spatial data infrastructure and Earth observation catalogue systems built on standards from OGC, ISO and W3C, deployed with cloud-native Kubernetes and Docker architectures. Notable systems include the ESA Earth Observation Catalogue, ESA Federated Earth Observation, the Copernicus Space Component Interoperability Layer and the Copernicus Global Land Datacube.
AI and EO Applications
Geospatial decision support tools and Earth observation services for environmental monitoring, forestry, agriculture, hazard management and natural resources management. Applications are delivered to space agencies and government bodies, providing actionable intelligence from satellite-derived data.
Videos
SPACEBEL - Corporate teaser
SPACEBEL - Over 50 Space Missions
About
Spacebel is a Belgian space systems and software engineering company founded in 1988 and headquartered in Liège, Belgium, with additional offices in Hoeilaart and Labège, France. With around 120 staff and over 35 years in the industry, it has contributed software and systems to more than 50 space missions across Earth observation, defence, science, telecommunications, navigation, launchers and space situational awareness.
Offices
Liège, BelgiumHoeilaart, BelgiumLabège, FranceCustomers & Partners
European Space Agency (ESA)CNES (French Space Agency)European Commission / Joint Research CentreCommittee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS)OHB Italia
Timeline
2026-02
ESA's MTG-S1 weather satellite delivered first data with Spacebel software contributions; Proba-3 recognised at Astro Awards 2026.
2025-12
Awarded ESA RAMSES mission on-board software contract in partnership with OHB Italia, supporting the Apophis asteroid rendezvous.
2023
On-board software contributed to the launch of ESA's Euclid dark universe mapping satellite.
2011
Received ESA Group Achievement Award.
1994
Modelling and Simulation department established, later growing to more than 40 engineers.
1988
Founded in Liège, Belgium as a space systems and software engineering company.
Products & Solutions
Flight Software
On-board software that controls satellites and launchers during their operational life in space, managing communication with ground control and commanding all equipment on board. Spacebel has delivered flight software for ESA missions including PROBA-3, Euclid, ALTIUS and, most recently, the RAMSES asteroid rendezvous mission in partnership with OHB Italia.
Ground Segment IT Systems
Mission operations and data processing infrastructure for satellite control centres, mission planning, payload data ground systems and instrument simulators. Built on cloud-native microservices architecture, the systems incorporate machine learning and AI-assisted automation. Reference implementations include PROBA control centres, the ALTIUS Payload Data Ground System and the Hera Cubesat Mission Operations Centre.
Modelling and Simulation
Simulation products for satellites, probes, launchers and ground infrastructure, supporting software validation, operator training and hardware-in-the-loop testing. The department, active since 1994, has built simulators for more than 40 ESA and CNES missions including Proteus, PROBA, Hera, Pleiades, CSO and Euclid. Named tools include BASILES, VTS, PrestoTools and PrestoPlot.
Small Satellite Systems
End-to-end Earth observation spacecraft development, covering the full lifecycle from user requirements and system definition through integration, launch and in-flight commissioning. The offering enables government customers to independently manage and access territorial information using flight-proven European technology.
Data Management
Web-based spatial data infrastructure and Earth observation catalogue systems built on standards from OGC, ISO and W3C, deployed with cloud-native Kubernetes and Docker architectures. Notable systems include the ESA Earth Observation Catalogue, ESA Federated Earth Observation, the Copernicus Space Component Interoperability Layer and the Copernicus Global Land Datacube.
AI and EO Applications
Geospatial decision support tools and Earth observation services for environmental monitoring, forestry, agriculture, hazard management and natural resources management. Applications are delivered to space agencies and government bodies, providing actionable intelligence from satellite-derived data.
Videos
SPACEBEL - Corporate teaser
SPACEBEL - Over 50 Space Missions
About
Spacebel is a Belgian space systems and software engineering company founded in 1988 and headquartered in Liège, Belgium, with additional offices in Hoeilaart and Labège, France. With around 120 staff and over 35 years in the industry, it has contributed software and systems to more than 50 space missions across Earth observation, defence, science, telecommunications, navigation, launchers and space situational awareness.
Offices
Liège, BelgiumHoeilaart, BelgiumLabège, FranceCustomers & Partners
European Space Agency (ESA)CNES (French Space Agency)European Commission / Joint Research CentreCommittee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS)OHB Italia
Timeline
2026-02
ESA's MTG-S1 weather satellite delivered first data with Spacebel software contributions; Proba-3 recognised at Astro Awards 2026.
2025-12
Awarded ESA RAMSES mission on-board software contract in partnership with OHB Italia, supporting the Apophis asteroid rendezvous.
2023
On-board software contributed to the launch of ESA's Euclid dark universe mapping satellite.
2011
Received ESA Group Achievement Award.
1994
Modelling and Simulation department established, later growing to more than 40 engineers.
1988
Founded in Liège, Belgium as a space systems and software engineering company.
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