Engineering scalable
infrastructure for space.
A patented laser platform lifted to 30–40 km — above 99% of atmospheric turbulence — opening a new operating layer below orbit. Developed with our partners — B2SPACE provides the critical stratospheric platform and flight-operations expertise.
Next-generation heat rejection for high-power orbital systems. Our Quasi-LDR (Quasi Liquid Droplet Radiator) uses controlled jets and confined sprays for up to 10× mass & volume reduction versus solid panels — without the fluid-loss failure modes of classical droplet radiators. Built for Stratolaser and orbital data centres; experimental prototype in development.
Developed from years of research — lightweight, low-power soft grippers using smart actuators and sensors engineered specifically for space (such as shape-memory alloys). Built for the extremes of orbit (−150 to +120 °C, hard vacuum), they conform to irregular, uncooperative targets with no cooperation required — for on-orbit servicing, debris capture and satellite assembly.
& SSA
- cm-level orbit determination — vs ~100 m from radar
- Tracks objects down to ~10 cm
- Picosecond time-of-flight · hundreds of objects/night
- Delivered as an SSA data service
Avoidance
- Contactless Δv via photon-pressure — µN-class thrust
- Shifts a conjunction by metres, no contact
- No propellant or hardware on the target
- Active space-traffic management on demand
- Ablation-based Δv to lower perigee
- Removes derelict objects to controlled re-entry
- Works on tumbling, uncooperative targets — no docking
- Lower laser power than ground · fraction of spaceborne cost
From the stratosphere
to orbit.
One focus: making orbit sustainable through contactless laser operations — from today's EU-funded demonstrations to full-scale deorbiting.
The Stratolaser concept is born and matured at the Universidad de Sevilla (GRVC) with CLPU — Centro de Láseres Pulsados — establishing the physics of contactless laser ranging, nudging and ablation from a stratospheric platform.
Stratolaser wins a European Innovation Council (EIC) Pathfinder Challenge grant — Horizon Europe, ≈ €4M, Grant Agreement No. 101223245 — to prove contactless laser operations from the stratosphere.
Spun out of the GRVC Robotics Laboratory to bring Stratolaser to market — turning EU-funded research into a company focused on sustainable orbital operations.
Optical detection, AI target acquisition and fast-steering-mirror pointing — the building blocks of precise laser ranging and ablation, running in the lab today.
The Stratolaser demonstration: the first contactless laser ablation between two stratospheric balloons, flown from the ATLAS Flight & Experimental Test Centre — with contributions from all project partners.
FRV's first recurring, non-grant revenue — cm-level laser ranging sold as a Space Situational Awareness (SSA) data service, pursued through a planned EIC Transition project. In parallel, a small CubeSat carrying retroreflectors flies early in-orbit ranging tests.
Active collision avoidance through photon-pressure nudging — enabled by MW-class laser systems and our Quasi-LDR thermal architecture.
Ablation-based removal of derelict objects — closing the loop on a sustainable orbital economy.
Built on a
world-class network.
Europe's leading stratospheric balloon company. B2SPACE provides the balloon platform that lifts the Stratolaser system to the stratosphere — a mission-critical role in the project. Specialists in high-altitude scientific and commercial balloon operations.
STRATEGIC PARTNER
World-leading aerial robotics research group and founding laboratory of FRV Space Technologies. Co-located at our founding university, GRVC brings unmatched expertise in autonomous UAV systems, computer vision, and control theory.
FOUNDING LAB
Europe's premier centre for high-power, high-repetition-rate laser R&D. Strategic partner for the core laser technology underlying Stratolaser's debris removal and ranging capabilities.
TECHNOLOGY PARTNER
Germany's foremost institute for radar, sensor systems and space surveillance. Home of the TIRA radar — the Tracking and Imaging Radar — which will be used for initial debris tracking and characterisation in Stratolaser experiments.
RESEARCH PARTNER
One of Europe's oldest and largest research universities, with world-class space engineering and orbital mechanics departments. Research collaboration on mission design and debris dynamics.
ACADEMIC PARTNER
Spain's national centre for ultra-intense pulsed laser science, operating some of Europe's most powerful laser systems. Key partner for high-peak-power laser R&D and pulse shaping applicable to Stratolaser.
TECHNOLOGY PARTNERThe people behind
the mission.
Deep-tech expertise from the world's leading space and robotics institutions.
PhD in Space & Aerial Robotics. Principal Investigator of STRATOLASER EU Pathfinder. Research experience at NASA JPL, TU Delft and EPFL.
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Specialising in Artificial Intelligence, Computer Vision and Software Engineering.
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Mechanical Engineering. Structural design, thermal systems and hardware integration.
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PhD in Aerodynamics and Robotics. Simulations, system modelling and dynamics analysis.
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Mechanical and manufacturing engineer specialising in fabrication and production processes for space hardware.
Director of the GRVC Robotics Laboratory and Scientific Director of CATEC. One of Europe's leading figures in aerial robotics and autonomous systems research.
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Associate Professor in Aerial Robotics at TU Delft. International expert in morphing aerial systems, manipulation and bio-inspired robotics.
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Professor at MIT, leader of the MIT AURA Lab. Formerly EPFL. Mechanical engineering for aerial, aquatic and space systems.
LinkedInWhat's happening
at FRV.
FRV Signs the Zero Debris Charter at ESA's Space Debris Week
FRV Space Technologies took part in Space Debris Week 2026 — organised by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Spanish Space Agency (AEE) in Seville — and signed the Zero Debris Charter, formalising our commitment to debris-neutral space operations.
FRV Space Technologies Officially Incorporated
Built on the GRVC Robotics Laboratory and the EU-funded Stratolaser project, FRV marks the transition from research to company — with a clear mission: making orbital space sustainable.
Stratolaser EU Project Kicks Off in Seville
The international consortium behind the EIC Pathfinder-funded Stratolaser project gathered in Seville for its official kick-off — marking the start of a new chapter in active space debris removal.
READY TO SHAPE
THE FUTURE OF
SUSTAINABLE SPACE?
Whether you are a researcher, investor, space agency, or technology partner — if you share our vision of a sustainable orbital economy, we want to hear from you.