The European Space Agency canceled the call for proposals for the purchase of commercial services for the transportation of cargo to the International Space Station (ISS). These services were to help the agency meet its obligations under the Common System Operating Costs Framework (CSOC) station, which determine the joint responsibility of the ISS partners for the contribution to the general maintenance of the station, including crew and cargo transportation.
ESA has fulfilled its CSOC obligations in the past, transporting cargo to the ISS aboard an automated transport vehicle. Most recently, the agency agreed to supply European Service Modules for use aboard NASA's Orion spacecraft to meet these obligations. To ensure the permanent presence of Europeans on board the station until its planned decommissioning in 2030 year, the agency is once again preparing to provide certain services in kind.
3 ESA published a call for proposals as part of its CSOC Cargo Commercially Procured Offset initiative in October (3CPO), looking for commercial transport services to the ISS for delivery from 4900 to 5000 kilograms of cargo under pressure to the orbital laboratory. According to the competition, the mission was to act as a "strategic compensator" to provide flight capabilities for ESA astronauts. However, it provided, that potential purchases will be continued only if, that member states will agree to finance the initiative at a meeting of the Agency's Council of Ministers 26 and 27 November 2025 year.
After a meeting at the end of November, the ESA announced, that the Member States "agreed to take short-term measures to guarantee the access of European astronauts to the International Space Station until the planned end of its operation in 2030 year ». Although at first it seemed to signal a positive decision regarding the 3CPO initiative, the agency officially canceled the call 17 December, referring to "implementation of software adjustments". Although no further details were provided in the announcement, some insight into the decision was offered during a press briefing after the 342nd meeting of the ESA Council, which happened 17 and 18 December.
During a briefing, Director of Human and Robotics Research Daniel Neuenschwander was asked about the delay in the flight of European Space Agency astronaut Raphael Ligeois to the ISS. Although it was expected, that Liegeois will go to the ISS in 2026 year, Neuenschwander could not confirm, when the mission is currently expected.
"He will make the flight on time, which will clearly be before the next meeting of the Council of Ministers", said Neuenschwander. Expected, that the next meeting of the ESA Council of Ministers will take place at the end 2028 year, and this means, that the possibility of Liege's flight may be delayed for up to two years.
Neuenschwander explained, that the delay is due to ongoing discussions about the agency's "transportation manifesto.", noting, that "there are two options". However, he added, that funding decisions and commitments, adopted during the meeting of the Council of Ministers 2025 year in Bremen, will fully cover the agency's obligations to CSOC for the Liege flight.
Source: https://europeanspaceflight.com