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Suborbital
Suborbital platforms open a powerful window into the space environment by offering brief yet authentic experiences of microgravity. Through drop towers, parabolic flights, and sounding rockets, researchers can access space-like conditions above Earth’s atmosphere to explore how systems, materials, and living organisms respond beyond normal gravity. These platforms enable rapid, repeatable experimentation, bridging the gap between ground laboratories and orbital missions.
From validating cutting-edge technologies and autonomous systems to advancing biomedical research and fluid physics, suborbital research de-risks future missions while accelerating innovation. The insights gained not only strengthen our readiness for human and robotic space exploration, but also translate into practical advances on Earth, fueling progress in science, industry, and sustainability.
Related Platforms

Sounding Rocket
Sounding rockets are a unique mission platform for providing truly excellent levels of microgravity.

Drop Tower
Drop towers provide true free-fall conditions for short-duration microgravity research, enabling scientists to study...

Parabolic Flights
Parabolic flights are the only sub-orbital carriers that allow scientists to conduct experiments in...
Related Open Calls
CORA Drop Tower
Through this Continuously Open Research Announcement, ESA provides scientists access to the ZARM Drop Tower in Bremen, Germany for...
CORA Parabolic Flight
Through this Continuously Open Research Announcement, ESA provides scientists with an opportunity to fly their research on a...
CORA Topical Teams
Through this Continuously Open Research Announcement Opportunity for GBF, ESA provides scientists the opportunity to set up dedicated...
Exploration Science – Sounding Rocket Experiments
Six minutes of high-quality microgravity for your scientific experiment !
calendar_month Deadline: May 19, 2025
AO-2024-lunarPF
Through this Announcement of Opportunity, ESA is soliciting for research experiments to be implemented during a lunar gravity...
calendar_month Deadline: October 11, 2024
calendar_month Deadline: April 26, 2024
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