Terma to support ESA Draco Mission on Advancing Re-Entry Safety for Future Space Operations

Terma has signed a contract with Indra Space to deliver a T3 Star Tracker for the Draco (Destructive Reentry Assessment Container Object) mission, planned for launch in 2027. Designed as a controlled “crash test” in space, the mission will see a small satellite complete a short operational phase before intentionally re-entering and burning up in Earth’s atmosphere to study how spacecraft disintegrate.

Terma's T3 Star Tracker plays a mission-critical role by providing continuous, high-precision attitude determination from deployment through final re-entry. Precise knowledge of the spacecraft’s orientation allows onboard sensor data to be accurately correlated with ground-based observations, enabling ESA and its partners to validate and refine re-entry models with unprecedented accuracy.  

“The Draco mission depends on reliable, continuous attitude information to achieve its scientific objectives. Our T3 Star Tracker delivers the precision and robustness required to ensure that every measurement captured during re-entry can be properly interpreted,” says Günther Lackner, Senior Vice President, Space, Terma.

Current re-entry predictions rely heavily on simulation and limited historical data. Draco will close that gap by providing direct measurements of how spacecraft structures behave under real atmospheric re-entry conditions. This will inform the design of future satellites, refine debris risk assessments, and support the development of international standards for controlled satellite disposal, critical as the number of operational satellites continues to grow rapidly. 

“Terma's proven track record in high-reliability space systems and their understanding of mission-critical requirements made them the right partner for this pioneering mission. The data we acquire will benefit the entire space community,” Simone Centuori, Indra Space Missions Director. 

Terma’s T3 Star Tracker’s low mass, low power consumption, and high reliability make it well suited to small satellite platforms, where every resource counts and mission assurance cannot be compromised. Terma is proud to provide the navigation backbone that makes this data possible, and to support ESA in advancing global space sustainability.

Learn more about Terma's Star Trackers.