Novespace: pioneering science where it matters, when it matters

Founded in 1986, Novespace, a subsidiary of the French space agency CNES, is a prime example of one of aviation's core missions: bringing the right people to the right spaces to drive positive global change. Novespace utilizes its specialized "flying laboratory," the Airbus A310 Zero G, to unlock the mysteries of microgravity for the advancement of science, medicine, and industrial innovation.

The mission: a purpose-engineered platform for decisive discovery

Presence matters in scientific research. The A310 Zero G offers a unique vertical arc flight path that creates 20-30 second periods of weightlessness (microgravity) allowing for physical, biological, and chemical phenomena to be studied without the masking effects of Earth's gravity.

• Pioneering technology: Novespace’s A310 Zero G features the world’s largest experimental area in any aircraft, providing 100m² of surface space and 200m3 of volume to accommodate up to 15 complex experiments per flight.
• Mission excellence: Specific high-precision piloting instruments were developed by Novespace with the support of Airbus to allow for the intense vertical arc maneuvers essential for weightlessness.
• Societal impact: 
  1. Human health: enabling physiological studies, such as researching cardiovascular issues in weightlessness, to develop life-saving countermeasures for both space exploration and medical advancement on earth.
  2. Scientific discovery: providing the unique conditions required to verify fundamental laws of physics, like Einstein’s "principle of equivalence," with a precision of 10^-10, a feat impossible to achieve within earth’s gravity.
  3. Economic & industrial growth: serving as a critical testbed for the "New Space" era, allowing emerging commercial companies to validate exploration and communication equipment under real-world conditions.

These missions do more than just transport people; they foster international collaboration to solve global challenges.

At Airbus, we are driven by an unwavering commitment to safety and excellence. Operating a high-precision laboratory like the Airbus A310 Zero G in a parabolic environment requires a high degree of specialized maintenance tailored to the unique structural stresses and fatigue caused by microgravity maneuvers. To ensure the aircraft operates with the same rigorous safety levels as a commercial airline, Airbus provides dedicated support to study and assess the long-term behavior of the airframe, as every aircraft responds uniquely to these demanding conditions. This transformation of a proven platform into a scientific tool is the result of years of expert study and adapted maintenance protocols, ensuring our aircraft remain reliable and safe where it matters most.

Acting toward the decarbonization roadmap

In line with Airbus’ decarbonisation ambition, Novespace is a critical early adopter and partner in the adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)*.

As part of the industry-wide intention to accelerate SAF adoption, Novespace has joined the Airbus SAF Book and Claim Demonstrator (ABCD). Airbus provides ACJ customers, like Novespace, with a way to buy certain amounts of SAF and "claim" the corresponding emission reduction, even if the fuel is used elsewhere. Airbus acts as a facilitator by leveraging its global procurement scale to mitigate price volatility and secure predictable, cost-effective rates. This solution also ensures SAF records are traceable, and overcome fragmented regional sustainability standards.

Novespace currently uses 6% SAF in their fuel provision, which exceeds the European Union's request for 2030. With the support of their clients, they aim to reach 10% SAF quickly. 

Novespace has also decreased emissions by 10% through adapting operating procedures and training pilots to work with air traffic controllers, drawing on the “Decarbonising Operating Procedures” developed by Airbus for its customers.

As the space industry rapidly evolves driven by falling costs, private investment, and growing commercial demand, Novespace expects strong growth in its mission frequency. Novespace is significantly scaling its operations to meet this need, with the number of high-precision scientific flights estimated to reach 25 annually, a substantial increase from the previous five to seven yearly campaigns. Beyond increasing frequency, Novespace is committed to expanding its physical presence. While historically centered in Europe, the team is now targeting a global footprint to serve critical research needs in the USA, Asia, and Australia. By deploying this uniquely adapted laboratory to these regions, Novespace and Airbus Corporate Jets are ensuring that impactful scientific research is never limited by geography, bringing the right experts to the right spaces to shape the future of global innovation

"Our partnership with Airbus has been central to our success," said Thierry Gharib, President of Novespace."And we cannot imagine working with any company other than Airbus for our future fleet plans”.

*Sustainable aviation fuels ("SAF") refer to renewable or waste-derived aviation fuels that meet sustainability criteria such as those in ICAO's CORSIA or EU's Renewable Energy Directive and that are certified under a recognised sustainability certification scheme (covering the full chain of custody).