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Exploring New Horizons: Using Robot Framework in Aerospace and Galileo Projects

· 3 min read
José María Martín Blázquez
José María Martín Blázquez
Validation Engineer, GMV Aerospace and Defence

A preview of our upcoming RoboCon 2026 talk

RoboCon 2026 Preview Series

In the lead-up to RoboCon 2026, we’re publishing a series of guest posts from contributors across the conference program. Each post previews a session and highlights ideas, approaches, or experiences related to Robot Framework.

This post was written by José María Martín Blázquez as part of the RoboCon 2026 Preview Series.

The conference theme 2026 is the Aurora Borealis.

Robot Framework is widely known for its versatility in automating tests for web applications, APIs, and enterprise systems. However, its potential extends far beyond those conventional domains. In our talk for RoboCon 2026, we will present how Robot Framework is used not only in satellite data-processing systems, but also in one of Europe’s largest and most iconic space programmes: Galileo, the European Global Navigation Satellite System.

In aerospace environments, test activities must comply with strict standards, configuration control, and traceability obligations. Over the past years, we have built an ecosystem of tools and conventions that integrates Robot Framework with requirements management (including DOORS), automated generation of test procedures, structured validation workflows, and extraction of test evidence. This approach has been successfully applied in missions such as MTG, CO2M and EPSSG, and more recently expanded to the Galileo Control Center. As part of the session, we will dedicate a section to explaining how Robot Framework is being used within the Galileo Ground Control Segment, highlighting test environments used, how Robot Framework is used and adaptations made for the Galileo context.

Why this topic? A note from the authors​

Our motivation for bringing this topic to RoboCon is simple:
we want to show a new and perhaps unexpected scope where Robot Framework is already delivering substantial value. While the aerospace sector is not typically highlighted in the RF community, it represents an exciting frontier where automation must be both flexible and fully compliant with engineering standards.

We have been following RoboCon for years through published videos and past sessions, and we have always admired the openness, innovation, and collaboration within the Robot Framework community. The talk “Robot Framework as a Compliance Enabler” (RoboCon 2024) was particularly inspirational. It demonstrated how test automation can become a driver for governance and quality — a concept that aligns perfectly with the needs of both satellite missions and Galileo operations.

That talk encouraged us to submit our proposal, and here we are: ready to contribute our experience back to the community.

Why this topic matters​

By presenting these use cases — from scientific missions to the Galileo Ground Control Segment — we aim to:

  • Expand the community’s understanding of what Robot Framework can achieve
  • Demonstrate how RF supports traceability, compliance, and automated documentation, even in highly regulated industries
  • Share concrete adaptations and architecture choices that enable RF to perform in mission-critical environments
  • Encourage other sectors (medical devices, railway, defense, utilities…) to explore RF for their own complex systems
  • Strengthen the bridge between the Robot Framework community and the aerospace engineering ecosystem

Robot Framework has proven to be a powerful, adaptable, and reliable tool in these demanding contexts, and we are excited to show real examples of how this works in practice.

Part of the RoboCon 2026 Preview Series

This post is part of a series highlighting sessions and ideas from across the RoboCon 2026 program. More previews will follow, covering a wide range of Robot Framework–related topics, use cases, and industries.

👉 The full RoboCon 2026 program is available at robocon.io.