The European EnVision mission is gaining a strong Czech contribution. A consortium of Czech companies – TRL Space, AerialComm, G.L. Electronic, and Sawtronics – has won a prestigious tender from the European Space Agency (ESA), securing a €2.6 million contract (approximately CZK 65 million) to develop and manufacture a key scientific instrument: VenSpec-H. This instrument will analyze the chemical composition of Venus’s atmosphere and help answer questions about its past. The ceremonial signing of the cooperation agreement took place today at the Moravian Museum in Brno. In addition, the technology will carry a symbolic element: the silhouette of the Venus of Dolní Věstonice. This year marks 100 years since the discovery of this ancient figurine, which bears the name of the Roman goddess Venus, just like the planet that the European spacecraft will explore.
The EnVision mission, led by ESA in collaboration with NASA, aims to help scientists understand why Venus—despite having a similar size and composition to Earth—has become such a hostile environment. The spacecraft will examine the relationship between geological activity and the chemical composition of the atmosphere, contributing to our understanding of the planets’ differing evolutionary paths. The mission launch is scheduled for December 2031. Czech engineers and researchers are playing a significant role in the development of the VenSpec-H infrared spectrometer, one of the mission’s key scientific instruments.
“Czech experts are becoming a fully recognized part of top-tier European space research. This proves we have the know-how to succeed even in the most prestigious international missions. Our participation in EnVision also shows that the Czech Republic can engage in complex projects with global impact and act as a reliable and respected partner,” said Václav Kobera, Director of the Department of Intelligent Transport Systems, Space Activities, Research, Development and Innovation at the Ministry of Transport.
The instrument’s development and production are being carried out by four Czech companies led by TRL Space. “This is a key milestone for us, building on our long-term efforts to participate in European scientific missions not just as suppliers, but as true co-creators of solutions,” said Petr Kapoun, CEO of TRL Space.
In addition to project leadership, TRL Space is responsible—together with Sawtronics—for the development of the instrument’s electronics. Technology testing for functionality validation will be conducted by AerialComm (a TRL group member), and final assembly and quality control of the electronic boards will take place at G.L. Electronic.
“Collaborating with this Czech industrial consortium brings benefits not only technically, but also in terms of a broader European scientific integration. We value their expertise, professionalism, constructive communication, and ability to engage in international project coordination throughout all phases of the instrument development,” said Eddy Neefs from the Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy, which is responsible for the scientific design and overall coordination of the VenSpec-H instrument.
This Brno-based group of companies will handle the entire process, from design to the production of the complete electronics system for the VenSpec-H instrument. They will prepare several test units and one final unit, which will become part of the spacecraft headed to Venus. Without this electronics system, the instrument would not function—it is what enables the collection and processing of scientific data.
“We are already developing models and simulations of how data from the spectrometer will look in real conditions in orbit. The goal is to interpret the atmospheric spectrum correctly from the very first transmission,” said Martin Ferus from the J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry at the Czech Academy of Sciences. He added: “Industry cooperation is essential in this project. Without the technical background and experience of companies that can design, build, and test electronics according to strict space standards, we as a research institution could not be involved to such an extent. This collaboration allows us not only to contribute to the scientific design but also to influence how the instrument will function in real conditions in orbit.”
