OHB Space UK has entered into an agreement with Thales Alenia Space for the crucial assembly, integration, and testing (AIT) activities of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) EnVision mission, which is destined for Venus. This preliminary authorization to proceed (PATP) was signed this week during an event celebrating the first anniversary of OHB’s UK subsidiary. Valued at approximately €24 million (approximately £20.7 million), this contract represents one of the company’s initial international assignments in the United Kingdom.
Thales Alenia Space is the prime contractor for the EnVision mission. In January 2025, they were awarded a €367 million contract by ESA for the satellite’s development. Beyond the work undertaken by its UK branch, OHB will also contribute through its German entity, OHB System, which is responsible for the satellite’s mechanical, thermal, and propulsion subsystems.
The launch of EnVision is currently slated for November 2031, aboard an Ariane 64 rocket.
The Role of EnVision
EnVision is set to be a leading European scientific mission dedicated to studying rocky planets. ESA aims to investigate Venus comprehensively, “from its internal core to the upper layers of its atmosphere,” examining the complex interactions between the planet’s atmosphere, surface, and interior.
A primary objective of the mission will be to determine if Venus remains geologically active. High-resolution radar instruments will map the surface to detect signs of recent volcanism and ground deformation, while spectrometers will analyze atmospheric composition and surface minerals.
The mission will also seek to understand if Venus once possessed conditions more akin to Earth’s, potentially including the presence of liquid water. By comprehending how Venus evolved into its current hostile environment, scientists hope to gain a better understanding of the evolution of rocky planets, including Earth.
Following its launch in 2031, the probe is expected to take approximately 15 months to reach Venus. Upon arrival, it will perform a maneuver known as Venus Orbit Insertion, during which its engines will be ignited to slow down sufficiently to be captured by the planet’s gravity.
The spacecraft will initially enter a highly elliptical orbit. From this point, a lengthy aerobraking phase will commence, lasting about 11 months. During aerobraking, EnVision will repeatedly pass through the upper layers of Venus’s atmosphere, utilizing the slight atmospheric drag to gradually reduce its speed. This technique will allow for the orbit to be lowered and circularized without expending significant amounts of propellant.
Once the final operational orbit is achieved, the mission will begin its primary scientific phase, which is anticipated to last at least four years.
