CNES NESS/NESS+ interference-detection satellites
CNES contracted French smallsat maker U-Space to build the NESS technology-demonstrator nanosatellite (launched 2023) and, in a follow-on December 2024 award, two additional operational 'NESS+' satellites, to detect and locate ground-based sources of GNSS interference.
NESS is a sub-5kg CNES technology-demonstrator nanosatellite, built by U-Space with the Syrlinks/Safran 'Spectrolite' payload, designed to detect and localize terrestrial transmitters that jam or spoof GNSS signals (e.g. Galileo); it launched October 9, 2023 on Vega flight VV23 under a contract CNES awarded U-Space in November 2019. In December 2024, CNES extended the relationship with a new contract for two additional, operational 'NESS+' satellites reusing the same design, targeting a 2027 launch.
Award detail
- Agency
- CNES (French space agency)
- Award ID
- Ceiling value
- Vehicle
- Awarded
- 2019
- Period of performance ends
Recipient1
Programs0
No linked records yet.
Frequently asked
- What is the CNES NESS/NESS+ interference-detection satellites contract?
- NESS is a sub-5kg CNES technology-demonstrator nanosatellite, built by U-Space with the Syrlinks/Safran 'Spectrolite' payload, designed to detect and localize terrestrial transmitters that jam or spoof GNSS signals (e.g. Galileo); it launched October 9, 2023 on Vega flight VV23 under a contract CNES awarded U-Space in November 2019. In December 2024, CNES extended the relationship with a new contract for two additional, operational 'NESS+' satellites reusing the same design, targeting a 2027 launch.
- Which agency awarded the CNES NESS/NESS+ interference-detection satellites contract?
- The CNES NESS/NESS+ interference-detection satellites contract was awarded by CNES (French space agency).
Sources & citations3
Each claim links to its underlying source. Confidence reflects how directly the source supports the claim.
- 1
CNES awarded U-Space a 2019 contract to build NESS, an interference-source detection satellite demonstrator launched Oct 2023, and has since commissioned NESS+, two recurring satellites targeting a 2027 launch
CNES: CNES renouvelle sa confiance à U-Space pour produire deux satellites récurrents de NESSVerified2026-08-02 - 2
CNES's own NESS project page confirms the original technology-demonstrator contract was awarded to U-Space in November 2019, with the satellite launching October 9, 2023 on Vega flight VV23.
CNES: NESSVerified2026-08-08 - 3
CNES extends its NESS interference-detection mission with a new contract for two additional NESS+ satellites, following the success of the original 2023-launched demonstrator, targeting a 2027 launch.
European Spaceflight: CNES Extends Mission to Identifying Interfering Terrestrial TransmittersVerified2024-12-11