December 18, 2025

Launch of ESA ASCEND: 7 Companies Adopt NeXosim

press release

Modern space missions are defined by increasingly complex systems, tight schedules, and high integration costs. Validation of onboard computer software and subsystem integration often begins only after physical hardware is delivered. This traditional workflow leads to late error detection, costly iterations, and an increased risk of delays or mission failure. The industry is actively seeking tools that allow for earlier testing, better predictability, and reduced technical risk.

The ASCEND program answers these challenges. Executed by Asynchronics under the ESA PUSH (Programme for USerbase enHancement) competition and funded by the European Space Agency, the project leverages two core tools: NeXosim, an open platform for creating and running space system simulations, and NeXosim.io, an online marketplace of ready-made digital models that companies can utilize to design and test their solutions.

ASCEND enables users to build faithful digital twins of components and entire satellite systems, implementing a “shift-left” approach—moving testing and validation to a much earlier stage in the project lifecycle. Simulations can be used in fully virtual environments as well as in Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) configurations, long before physical flight hardware is available.

“From the beginning, we assumed that ASCEND was not meant to be just a technology demonstrator, but a real tool for changing how we work in space projects,” says Adam Chikha, COO of Asynchronics. “We wanted to give companies the opportunity to safely test digital twins in practice—on their own use cases—without cost or licensing barriers. For us, this is also an investment in a mature, European simulation ecosystem that will scale alongside the market.”

The first edition of the ASCEND program features seven leading entities from the European space sector: ClearSpace, Creotech Instruments, InSpace Propulsion Technologies (ISPTech), ISISpace, Łukasiewicz-ILOT, and SatRev.

Selected through a competitive process, these companies and institutions receive 17 months of free access to the commercial library of digital models available on the NeXosim.io platform. They also benefit from a comprehensive engineering support package, including technical webinars, individual implementation workshops, and a dedicated support channel. Participants will use the simulation environment to validate software, integrate systems, and prepare for HIL testing.

Participation requires the active engagement of at least one engineer and a commitment to providing feedback, which will serve to further develop the digital twin ecosystem in the European space sector.

“Participation in the ASCEND project and detailed knowledge of the NeXosim software allows us to better utilize the potential of Digital Twins in streamlining work on both individual subsystems and entire satellites”, says Przemysław Kaźmierczak, Systems Engineer at Creotech Instruments S.A. “The dynamic development of digital modeling for satellite components simplifies mission planning and enables fuller utilization of Creotech’s HyperSat platform capabilities, including more efficient payload integration and accelerated new product development.”

The SatRev team adds: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to learn about innovative solutions in the field of numerical simulation and their potential application to the development of our satellite subsystems. We look forward to future meetings with great interest.”

ASCEND is designed as the first step in a long-term process to popularize system simulations within the European space sector. Over the coming months, the program aims to generate real-world, production-grade applications of NeXosim in participant projects and expand the shared library of models available to the wider market.

Looking further ahead, the initiative contributes to lowering mission costs, shortening integration times, and increasing the reliability of European space systems. For Asynchronics, ASCEND lays the foundation for deeper cooperation with ESA, integrators, and hardware manufacturers, and drives the development of an open, interoperable digital twin standard for the space industry.