Before the assessment phase, each potential future mission must have an initial proposal. In the case of science missions, proposals come from the science community in response to a call for ideas under ESA's 'Cosmic Vision' programme. For robotic exploration missions, an initial proposal is provided by ESA on behalf of the participating ESA Member States.

The assessment studies are generally performed in three steps:

• Typically, the first step consists of a phase 0, or pre-phase A, mission study (carried out at ESA's Concurrent Design Facility, CDF), including the definition of the mission requirements, the preliminary payload definition, and the design of the mission concept.
• The second step is a consolidation of the mission concept through dedicated industrial studies, mainly devoted to the spacecraft design and evaluation. In parallel, any required technology developments are initiated and the instrument studies are actively promoted in the participating ESA Member States.
• The final step is a synthesis of the mission concept, including programmatic factors such as schedule, possible risks and cost.

The tasks of the Solar System and Robotic Exploration Missions Section include all system preparation activities related to the missions, in particular:

• Overall management and implementation of the assessment studies – including management of technical work on the spacecraft design and the science payload, general management of the study, technology development, and schedule monitoring.
• In the case of international collaboration on missions, SRE-FP interfaces with the partners on technical aspects.
• Preparation of technical and programmatic documentation and other inputs that are needed for the mission down-selection process, which takes place at the end of the assessment phase. Anticipation, definition, and request of appropriate support from ESA's Directorate of Technical and Quality Management (TEC) and ESA's European Space Operations Centre (ESOC), for the demands of the assessment studies.
• Anticipation, definition and request of appropriate support from the Research and Scientific Support Department (SRE-S) of SRE for the needs of the assessment studies, also providing technical support to the Study Scientists and the Study Science Teams.
• Contributing to the refinement of the Technology Development Plan by providing relevant inputs for the technology preparation of the above-mentioned missions, by ensuring that the proposed activities are consistent with the needs resulting from the system studies, and by following-up its implementation.
• Contributing to the process for renewing and updating the programmes of the Science and Robotic Exploration Directorate.

Supporting the Cosmic Vision programme

The Section performs the technical and programmatic evaluation of Solar System-related Cosmic Vision proposals, submitted by the scientific community to ESA. The following calls have been supported so far:

• Small (S-class) missions call (March 2012)
• Medium (M-class) missions calls (July 2010 and March 2007)
• Large (L-class) missions call (March 2007)

The initial mission proposals selected from these calls were studied in the ESA Concurrent Design Facility (CDF) and then underwent industrial studies. The following Solar System science studies have been performed, in close cooperation with SRE-S, the Science Planning and Community Coordination Office (SRE-C), the external Science Study Teams, and Industrial Study Teams:

• Laplace (L-class, 2007 call), later renamed to EJSM (in cooperation with NASA) and during a reformulation exercise in 2011 renamed to JUpiter ICy moon Explorer - JUICE: An in-depth study of Jupiter and its moons with a focus on the formation of the Jovian system, how the system works, and the possibility that Jupiter’s moon, Europa, is habitable. JUICE was selected as the first large (L-class) mission in ESA's Cosmic Vision programme in 2012.
• MarcoPolo-R (M-class, 2010 call): A mission to return a pristine sample of material from a primitive near-Earth asteroid for detailed analysis in ground-based laboratories. In February 2011, it was shortlisted with three other missions for further study. (See link to 'Four candidates selected for next medium-class mission in ESA's Cosmic Vision'.)
• Cross-Scale (M-class, 2007 call): A mission to revolutionise our understanding of three fundamental physical processes: shock waves, magnetic reconnection, and turbulence, which are associated with some of the most energetic phenomena in the Universe, from radio galaxy jets, supernovae remnants and cosmic rays to solar flares and magnetic storms. In February 2010, Cross-Scale was not selected to continue into the definition phase.
• Marco Polo (M-class, 2007 call): A mission to return to Earth an unaltered sample from a near-Earth asteroid, facilitating the characterisation of a primitive Solar System body. In February 2010, Marco Polo was not selected to continue into the definition phase.
• TandEM (Titan and Enceladus Mission) (L-class, 2007 call) : A mission to carry out an in-depth investigation of Titan, an Earth-like organic-rich world and the Saturn System, with special emphasis on Enceladus. In February 2009, TandEM/TSSM exited the Cosmic Vision programme when ESA and NASA chose EJSM-Laplace as the L-class outer Solar System mission candidate. (See link to 'NASA and ESA prioritize outer planet missions'.)

The Solar System and Robotic Exploration Missions Section provides the Study Managers and Payload Managers for the mission studies.

Supporting the Mars Robotic Exploration Preparation Programme

The Mars Robotic Exploration Programme, MREP-2 (previously known as MREP), is an optional programme being implemented in SRE. It is intended to prepare Europe's future contribution to the international exploration of Mars. 

The following studies have been performed for MREP:

• Mars Moon Sample Return (MMSR) – Ariane 5 launcher (CDF 2012)
• Mars Moon Sample Return (MMSR, CDF 2011)
• Mars Network Science Mission (MNSM, CDF 2011)
• Mars Atmospheric Sample Return (ASR, CDF 2010)
• Mars Sample Fetching Rover (MarsRex, CDF 2009)
• Mars Geodesy and Environment Network (MarsGen, CDF 2009)
• Mars Surface Station Assessment (MarsLev, CDF 2009)

CDF study reports can be requested from Peter.Falkneresa.int

 A number of industrial system studies have recently been completed:

• Mars Network Science Mission (INSPIRE) short assessment (2012)
• Mars Phobos Sample Return (PHOOTPRINT) short assessment (2012)
• Mars Sample Return Orbiter System study (2011)
• Mars Precision Lander System study (2011)
• Sample Fetching Rover (2011)

The technical feasibility of these system studies is supported by a range of dedicated technology development activities, as stipulated in the MREP technology development plan.

For further information on the Mars Robotic Exploration Preparation Programme, please follow the related link in the right-hand menu.

Technology Reference Studies

In preparation for the Cosmic Vision plan, the Solar System and Robotic Exploration Missions Section studied a series of embryonic planetary exploration mission concepts, called Technology Reference Studies:

• Planetary Entry Probes (2010)
• Near Earth Asteroid Sample Return (2007)
• Jovian System Explorer (2007)
• Cross-Scale (2007)
• Deimos Sample Return (2006)
• Interstellar Heliopause Probe (2006)
• Jovian Minisat Explorer (2005)
• Venus Entry Probe (2005)
• Solar Polar Orbiter (2004)

See also the overview on Technology Reference Studies (accessible from the link on the left-hand menu).

Missions of Opportunity studies

The Solar System and Robotic Exploration Missions Section carries out technical and programmatic studies for Missions of Opportunity.

The following studies have been performed for candidate Missions of Opportunity:

• KUAFU-B (2012)