D-Orbit and the EIC Accelerator: A Robotic Arm for Satellite Repair

D-Orbit, founded in 2011 near Como, runs ION, a space tug that carries satellites to their final orbits, and is developing GEA, a robotic spacecraft to inspect, dock with, reposition and extend the life of satellites in geostationary orbit. It was selected in the EIC Accelerator's June 2023 cut-off with blended finance and received an EU grant of €2.50 million for ASTROLIFT, a €4.20 million project from February 2024 to April 2026, according to CORDIS. The project covers one key component: a torque-controlled robotic joint for GEA's robotic arm.

The only public report, to January 2025, says D-Orbit completed the requirements and architecture for the joint and preliminary specifications for the whole arm, while the mechanical design, torque sensor and control software for a breadboard model were "ongoing" and its components were being procured, with the model to be "manufactured and then tested" in later phases, according to the CORDIS reporting page. The project ended in April 2026 without a public final report or announced test results. GEA's first mission, RISE, developed with the European Space Agency, is "scheduled for launch in 2029", according to D-Orbit.

Where D-Orbit Stands Now

In October 2024 D-Orbit signed a €119.6 million contract with ESA for RISE, Europe's first life-extension mission for a geostationary satellite, according to SpaceNews. In January 2026 it closed a $53 million Series D led by Azimut Group, "earmarked for strategic mergers and acquisitions" and in-space computing, and said it would also develop "the robotics necessary for complex in-orbit servicing tasks", according to SatNews. D-Orbit's accounts are filed in Italy but were not accessible in free sources for this article.

The Technology: A Robot Arm That Can Feel

Geostationary satellites cost €50 million to €400 million to build and launch and are usually retired when they run out of fuel, the report says. GEA is designed to dock with them and keep them working for up to seven more years. Torque-controlled joints let a robotic arm sense and control the force it applies, which the report says is needed for inspection, capture and servicing. That joint is what ASTROLIFT funds.

What the EIC Award Promised, and What the Record Shows

The award covered the design, manufacture and testing of a breadboard joint and the design of the arm. At the halfway point the design work was well advanced and parts were on order. Whether the breadboard joint was built and passed its tests is not public. Whether the joint is used on the RISE mission, due in 2029, three years after the EIC project ended, is not public.

1. Joint and arm requirementsDeliveredPer first report.
2. Breadboard joint designIn progressJanuary 2025.
3. Breadboard testsUnverifiedNo final report.
4. Flight usePendingRISE, 2029.

The Money

The EU grant covered 59% of the project. D-Orbit's ESA contract for RISE is nearly fifty times the size of the grant. Whether the EIC Fund invested under the blended award has not been announced; the Series D reports name Azimut Group as lead.

What Cannot Be Checked

Why Europe Should Care

Servicing satellites in orbit could save operators the cost of replacing satellites and reduce space debris, the report says. RISE is Europe's first attempt at geostationary life extension. The EIC grant is a small part of that effort, and its specific contribution will only be visible when GEA flies.

The Verdict

D-Orbit and the EIC have not been asked for comment for this article. It is based entirely on public records and published statements, linked throughout.