CARIOQA-PHB – CARIOQA-PMP

Spotlight on the CARIOQA mission at the G2 Symposium 2026

julian — Fri, 06 Nov 2026 13:12:34 +0000

The Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris (IPGP) will host the G2 Symposium 2026 from 16 to 18 November in Paris, bringing together researchers and experts in geodesy and geophysics to share the latest scientific findings and discuss key national and international challenges. Organised annually by the Geodesy and Geophysics Group (G2), the symposium provides a platform for scientific exchange, particularly encouraging the participation of early-career researchers, postdoctoral researchers and PhD students.

This year’s programme will address a wide range of topics, including space geodesy and gravimetry, Earth observation, remote sensing, instrumentation and quantum sensors.

On 17 November, among the various presentations scheduled, Félix Perosanz from CNES will deliver a presentation entitled “CARIOQA : le premier accéléromètre quantique dans l’espace” (CARIOQA: The First Quantum Accelerometer in Space). The presentation will take place from 16:30 to 16:50 in the IPGP Amphitheatre, as part of the session “Mesure du champ de pesanteur” (Gravity Field Measurement).

This will be followed by a presentation from Yanis Abdelmoumni-Prunes (Laboratoire Temps Espace), entitled “Simulation of atom interferometry in space for the CARIOQA mission”, from 16:50 to 17:10.

Together, these presentations will provide an opportunity to showcase the CARIOQA mission, highlighting its technological innovations and the potential of atom interferometry for advancing space-based gravity measurements.

Learn more about the event

Earth observation from space and quantum innovation in the spotlight at the 5th Space Meetings Week in Région Sud

julian — Tue, 03 Nov 2026 10:33:38 +0000

From 16 to 22 November, Région Sud (France) will host the 5th edition of Space Meetings Week in Région Sud (Semaine des Rencontres du Spatial en Région Sud), sponsored by Thales Alenia Space, a partner of the European CARIOQA-PHB project.

This week-long programme will bring together key players from the regional space ecosystem, highlighting career opportunities, technological innovation, New Space, deeptech and emerging technologies.

Several discussions will directly address challenges closely aligned with the objectives of the CARIOQA project, such as the exploitation of data generated by satellites and Earth observation systems, as well as the growing strategic importance of quantum technologies for Europe’s technological sovereignty, particularly their potential to strengthen Europe’s autonomy, competitiveness and leadership in advanced space technologies.

Learn more about the different sessions.

CARIOQA-PHB General Assembly held at CNES in Toulouse

julian — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 08:00:26 +0000

The CARIOQA-PHB project General Assembly took place on 7 October at CNES in Toulouse, bringing together the project partners and Project Officer to review progress, strengthen collaboration and discuss the next steps in the project’s implementation.

Building on the project review held the previous days, the General Assembly provided an opportunity for all partners to exchange views on progress across the different tasks of the project, including both technical developments and cross-cutting activities such as communication and dissemination, exploitation, and the assessment of user needs.

Discussions covered several key topics, including the technical trade offs, the project’s communication and dissemination strategy, and the coordination mechanisms needed to strengthen collaboration between research organisations and industrial partners, among others.

Beyond reviewing progress, the meeting offered a valuable forum to identify challenges, align priorities and collectively discuss decisions and potential adjustments. By bringing together the full consortium, the General Assembly helped reinforce coordination across the project and establish a shared understanding of the actions and priorities for the rest of CARIOQA-PHB project.

CARIOQA-PHB project holds a technical review at CNES in Toulouse

julian — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 12:54:48 +0000

On 5 and 6 October 2026, the CARIOQA-PHB project held its technical review at CNES in Toulouse, France.

During the review, the scientific and indsutrial partners presented the latest progress and key developments of the project to a panel of external reviewers from CNES and the DLR, all experts in quantum sensors and space technologies.

Following the presentations, the reviewers had the opportunity to submit questions to the consortium members, which will be addressed during a dedicated question-and-answer session at a later date.

This type of technical review is an essential part of managing a project as complex and technically demanding as CARIOQA-PHB. It provides an independent assessment of the project’s progress, helps ensure that its scientific and technical objectives remain on track, and offers valuable guidance to the scientific and industrial partners through external expert feedback.

Through this process, CARIOQA-PHB continues to strengthen its scientific and technical approach and support the successful implementation of its objectives.

Exploring Earth’s gravity: understanding the challenges behind the CARIOQA mission

julian — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 14:23:35 +0000

What is geodesy, what is gravity, and why is it important to measure it? A new educational video published by the International Association of Geodesy (IAG) and its component Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS) offers an accessible introduction to these fundamental questions.

Although the video is not directly related to the CARIOQA mission, it provides an excellent introduction to the scientific challenges underpinning its objectives. Through practical examples, it illustrates how precise measurements of the Earth’s gravitational field can help us better understand our planet, including changes in water distribution, ice mass and sea levels.

These real-world applications help put CARIOQA’s ambitions into perspective. By developing quantum technologies for highly precise gravity measurements, the mission aims to contribute to the advancement of future gravimetry and Earth observation capabilities.

Discover the video:

CARIOQA-PMP holds its 2nd stakeholder co-creation workshop

julian — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 08:50:01 +0000

On 30 June 2026, CARIOQA-PMP held its second stakeholder co-creation workshop at the HITec Building in Hannover, bringing together experts and stakeholders to explore the future of quantum space gravimetry. Through a combination of presentations and interactive group discussions, participants shared their perspectives on end-user needs and the requirements for a potential post-pathfinder quantum space gravimetry mission.

The workshop provided valuable insights into the priorities and expectations of future users, helping to identify key requirements for the next generation of quantum gravimetry missions in space.

Discussions highlighted the broad range of applications that a post-pathfinder mission could support, including climate monitoring, earthquake research, hydrology and fundamental physics. In the latter field, improved quantum gravimetry could contribute to testing fundamental aspects of quantum mechanics and searching for signatures of dark matter.

Participants also stressed that realising the full potential of quantum space gravimetry will require coordinated efforts at European and international levels. Key priorities include strengthening international collaboration, investing in research infrastructure and education, and developing robust, reliable and user-friendly quantum sensors.

The outcomes of the workshop will contribute to shaping the requirements and priorities for future quantum space gravimetry missions, ensuring that they respond effectively to the needs of the scientific community and wider user community.

Meet the expert : Thierry Jeannet

julian — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 09:57:14 +0000

As part of our series of portraits, we are pleased to introduce Thierry Jeannet from Thales Alenia Space, a partner in the CARIOQA-PHB consortium.

Thierry is Programme Manager at Thales Alenia Space, where he has been leading Thales Alenia Space’s contribution to the CARIOQA-PHB project since 2025. With more than 30 years of experience in the space industry, he has developed extensive expertise in satellite development, Assembly, Integration and Testing (AIT), avionics and industrial management.

Discover Thierry’s portrait, along with those of our other consortium experts, in our dedicated section.

Discover how CARIOQA’s quantum technology could advance space weather research

julian — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 11:57:09 +0000

As part of its communication and outreach activities, the CARIOQA mission is continuing its series of research spotlights, translating scientific publications from the mission consortium into accessible knowledge.

In this second edition, we explore a recent scientific article authored by members of the CARIOQA mission consortium, focusing on how the CARIOQA Quantum Pathfinder Mission could contribute to space weather research and improve future satellite gravimetry.

The study investigates the performance of CARIOQA’s quantum accelerometer through computer simulations of two possible orbital configurations: a 500 km circular orbit and an elliptical orbit ranging from 400 to 700 km. These simulations assess the forces acting on the satellite, including atmospheric drag and solar radiation pressure, to evaluate whether the instrument can operate reliably in space and achieve the sensitivity required to measure non-gravitational accelerations.

Discover the full results of the study and learn more about the potential of CARIOQA’s quantum accelerometer by reading our latest factsheet!

CARIOQA showcases quantum satellite gravimetry research at the 46th COSPAR scientific assembly

julian — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 08:06:42 +0000

The CARIOQA project will be represented at the 46th COSPAR Scientific Assembly, taking place in Florence, Italy, from 1 to 9 August 2026.

As part of the Assembly, Prof. Jürgen Müller (LUH) is co-organising the session “Advanced methods for geodesy, metrology, navigation and fundamental physics”, bringing together experts to discuss the latest advances in these research fields.

During this session, Nina Fleeting (LUH) will present the latest developments from the CARIOQA project in a talk entitled: “CARIOQA Pathfinder and Beyond: Simulations of Quantum Satellite Gravimetry Missions”

The presentation will take place on Tuesday, 4 August 2026, at 15:30 and will highlight how CARIOQA is advancing the development of quantum technologies for future satellite gravimetry missions through innovative simulation approaches.

The COSPAR Scientific Assembly is one of the world’s leading conferences in space research, providing an international forum for scientists to exchange knowledge and foster collaboration across disciplines. CARIOQA’s participation offers an excellent opportunity to showcase the project’s contribution to next-generation quantum sensing technologies for Earth observation and space applications.

More information about the session is available on the COSPAR website:
https://www.cospar-assembly.org/admin/session_cospar.php?session=1512

A poster of the CARIOQA-PHB project is now available !

julian — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 15:36:04 +0000

As the CARIOQA-PHB project progresses, the consortium is pleased to introduce its new project poster, a communication resource designed to present the project’s vision, objectives and contribution to the future of satellite-based Earth observation. The poster provides a concise overview of CARIOQA-PHB and its role within the broader CARIOQA Quantum Pathfinder Mission, highlighting how quantum technologies can pave the way for a new generation of space gravimetry.

Discover the poster!