Thinking tomorrows' space – Research trends of the ESA advanced concepts team 2002–2012

• Technological and conceptual visions beyond traditional planning horizons.
• Research topics preparing the future of space.
• Analysis of research trends.

This paper presents technological and conceptual visions beyond the traditional planning horizon of space agencies. It relies on the research and reflections within the larger advanced concepts research community created by and around the European Space Agency's Advanced Concepts Team as well as the results of a two-day long symposium in July 2012, including Europe's first space ‘un-conference’, focussed on re-thinking the future of space beyond the traditional thought boundaries of the space sector.For this purpose it reviews visions and expectations formulated at the creation of the ACT, results obtained and fundamental changes that are expected to shape space activities and the space sector in a 10–15+ years time frame, while relaying these to specific ongoing research activities.