OHB Secures ESA Studies for Lunar Infrastructure Project

European space exploration is poised for a significant leap forward as OHB System AG, a subsidiary of OHB SE, has been contracted by the European Space Agency (ESA) to conduct feasibility and preliminary design studies for OASIS – an Outpost for Advanced Scientific Investigation Station. The contract, announced October 19, 2026, signals a commitment to establishing a long-term, shared infrastructure on the lunar surface, designed to support sustained scientific research and technological innovation.

According to OHB SE CEO Marco Fuchs, the OASIS project represents a shift from individual lunar missions towards a more sustainable, infrastructure-based approach to lunar exploration. The platform is envisioned to provide core services—including power supply, communications, and data storage—to multiple payloads, enabling long-term research and reducing the logistical burden and costs associated with each individual mission. By sharing central infrastructure, future lunar missions could significantly lower complexity, mass, and overall expense.

OHB will act as the prime contractor for the ESA studies, taking responsibility for the overall system concept and collaborating with partners on system requirements and preliminary design. The modular and scalable design is intended to accommodate a range of scientific instruments, technology demonstrators, and robotic systems, laying the groundwork for sustained research and exploration activities. The OASIS infrastructure is designed to integrate with other European space programs, including the European lunar lander Argonaut and the lunar communications infrastructure Moonlight, creating a cohesive framework for future lunar endeavors.

The OASIS project aligns with broader European ambitions for lunar exploration. The modular nature of the envisioned infrastructure, with shared resources for power, communication and data processing, represents a significant step toward enabling sustained scientific activity on the Moon. While the current announcement focuses on the study phase, successful completion will position OHB to potentially participate in the development and deployment of this critical lunar infrastructure.