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While AI technologies have shown promise in various applications in the space industry, their adoption within spacecraft flight software has yet to happen in a significant manner. This is due to a number of factors, including the relatively low computing power available onboard traditional spacecraft, the long development process required in the industry and the lack of opportunities for in-orbit demonstrations. In ESA's OPS-SAT satellite, Airbus teams identified a unique opportunity to quickly test promising algorithms in orbit as the industry seeks to resolve the issues listed above.

Following on from the successful Venus Express mission (2006 – 2014), the EnVision mission is a mission to observe the surface of Venus at an unprecedented resolution, investigating signs of active geology and looking for evidence of the past existence of oceans. EnVision is meant to help in the understanding of why this most Earth-like planet has turned out so differently and open a new era in the exploration of our closest neighbour. EnVision is proposed as a joint mission with NASA, with payload elements funded by the ESA Member States.

The interest in HAPS is increasing in many areas, from military and security to commercial services. On the telecommunications side, HAPS are seen as relays to provide internet services worldwide, and as a possible complement to satellites. On the Earth observation side, the near-space location of the HAPS enables new services or could improve the existing satellite ones. From the satellite or from the HAPS market sides, it is important to understand how both systems can offer complementary services, and what the possible synergies between them are.