Sener, one of five European companies awarded the prestigious European Commission prize for game-changing innovations in access to space

The Sener engineering and technology group has been selected by the European Commission as one of the five winning companies of the European Prize for Game-Changing Innovations for European Launch Solutions, a new award recognising the most advanced and transformative technologies for the future of Europe’s access to space. This recognition places Sener among the continent’s leading players in space innovation and strengthens its role in the development of critical capabilities for Europe’s strategic autonomy.

The prize, awarded for the first time in 2026, recognises innovations in the space launcher sector that go beyond the technological state of the art and have not yet been commercialised, ranging from technologies and products to processes and key infrastructures across the space access value chain. Unlike other funding instruments, the award is not aimed at complete launch systems, but at disruptive components and solutions with the capacity to transform operations.

NAVITERM, a solution for safer, more flexible and more cost-effective access to space

The European Commission has selected NAVITERM (Navigation and Autonomous Vehicle Integrated Termination Module), an AFTU (autonomous flight termination unit) developed by Sener, for its innovative nature and its potential impact on the safety and operation of European launch vehicles. This onboard unit is capable of detecting anomalies in the launcher and autonomously deciding whether to terminate the mission in order to avoid risks. The award recognises Sener as the first European company capable of offering a marketable AFTU developed entirely in Europe, in a context where equivalent solutions from other markets are not available to third parties.

NAVITERM replaces traditional flight termination systems, which rely on complex ground infrastructures, with a fully onboard solution. By integrating all mission logic within the launcher itself, the system eliminates the need for tracking stations, dedicated antennas and control centres during the critical launch phase.

In this way, NAVITERM acts as an autonomous decision-making unit installed on board. At present, the command to abort a mission in the event of a failure rests with control centre personnel, based on information received through a complex launcher tracking system; NAVITERM proposes transferring this monitoring and decision-making capability to the vehicle itself, increasing safety, reducing costs and boosting launch cadence. Unlike traditional systems (based on antennas, radars and ground commands), NAVITERM operates completely independently thanks to redundant sensors and a hybrid navigation unit that detects deviations from the flight plan and executes termination without human intervention.

In essence, NAVITERM acts as an “onboard brain”, capable of interpreting in real time whether the launcher remains within the safety parameters established for the mission. If this is not the case, it activates the corresponding procedure: engine shutdown or self-destruction, as planned, based on a series of safety considerations translated into mathematical operations that are fully repeatable and certifiable on the ground. This architecture makes it possible to significantly reduce per-launch costs and enables more agile and efficient operations for launcher manufacturers, new operators, spaceports, agencies and regulatory bodies. The savings stem both from the simplification of onboard equipment and the elimination of ground-based assets. In addition, it allows for a higher launch frequency and launches from more locations, without relying on the availability of antennas or specialised ground personnel.

The solution is underpinned by fully functional prototypes and a clear roadmap towards full technological maturity by 2029, including flight tests, qualification and certification, all supported by a 100% European supply chain. NAVITERM has been designed with a modular and configurable architecture at both hardware and software level. This allows it to be adapted to local regulations, different launchers and each mission profile.

“Being one of the five European companies awarded this prize by the European Commission is an extraordinary recognition of the work of our people and reaffirms Sener’s technological leadership in critical launcher systems. We are pleased to contribute with NAVITERM to Europe’s future access to space”, says Diego Rodríguez, Director of Space and Science at Sener.