EJR-Quartz

Stellar Stories and the Team that Tells Them

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Erica Rolfe, EJR-Quartz | Aerospace Defense Review | Top Space Communications Agency in EuropeErica Rolfe, Co-Founder and Managing Director
The European Space Agency (ESA) conducts world-class science, unlocking the secrets of the universe. It launches and operates satellites that connect people, monitor the climate and guide drivers to their destinations. Its astronauts launch to the International Space Station. And it trusts EJR-Quartz to relay these achievements to the world.

EJR-Quartz enables ESA and its other clients to communicate with their chosen audiences through carefully crafted, culturally attuned communication.

“Ever since we started over 25 years ago, our motto has been ‘Content Matters.’,” says Erica Rolfe, Co-Founder and Managing Director. “In a world where people are drowning in inaccurate, trivial or morally dubious content, we deliver carefully crafted, verified content from trusted sources to tell your story.”

Content Matters

With Ariane 6’s inaugural launch in July 2024, Europe regained its place as a world space power. EJR-Quartz crafted the content for the flagship communication campaign for the first flight, working closely with ESA’s communications officers.

“Our editors were present in all meetings from early campaign discussions to launch-day planning, developing strong relationships across the project,” says Erica. “This ensured access to informative and pre-approved content that helped us translate technical terms or political messages into a language a wide audience could understand.”

As engines were tested and payloads were shipped, the world turned to ESA’s website for timely updates, including articles, visuals, interviews and multimedia explainers provided by EJR-Quartz.

Social media channels lit up with engaging Ariane 6 content for months before launch. The team tailored content to each channel’s audience, from short-form Instagram reels written and presented by EJR-Quartz editors to longer videos.

  • Content matters. In a world where people are drowning in inaccurate, trivial or morally dubious content, we deliver carefully crafted, verified content from trusted sources to tell your story.


“The entire EJR-Quartz consortium came together to make sure Europe knew why Ariane 6 matters,” says Erica. “I am proud and grateful to work with such knowledgeable, talented teams on such an important topic.”

Strength in Diversity

Established over 25 years ago as a two-person partnership, EJR-Quartz employs 75 people of 20 nationalities in six European countries.

“We have a diverse team of dedicated people who give their all and are extremely passionate about their work,” says Erica. “Sometimes I am blown away by their creativity and enthusiasm.”

EJR-Quartz recently won a five-year multi-million-euro contract to supply all corporate communication services for ESA, including editing, video, live TV, graphics, media relations, outreach services and logistics. It now leads a consortium with a service team of 100 people.

It is also helping other international organisations communicate their messages. For instance, the Copernicus Marine Service provides free, open-access data on the state of the oceans.

EJR-Quartz was asked to increase awareness among the general public about ocean climate indicators and encourage companies to explore the data provided. It assembled a team of editors to work with web developers to create user-friendly portals with stories and educational material.

Human at Heart

For the past 15 years, EJR-Quartz has been a valued partner in the international communication strategy of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), driving global awareness of DLR’s research. It has won the contract to support DLR corporate communications with English-language activities at a competitive tender four times.

The EJR-Quartz team, working with DLR, has introduced new technologies like AI to improve workflows, resulting in timely, high-quality translations and original production of DLR content, meticulously reviewed for scientific accuracy and adherence to corporate messaging.

“AI can support in producing translations,” says Erica “But when it comes to producing content for a specific target audience, quality control by an informed, mother-tongue editor is essential.”

EJR-Quartz’s long-standing relationships with DLR’s corporate communications team ensure English content is published concurrently with the German, enabling global partners and international media to access and report on the latest news in real time.

“Space organisations must maintain trust as the world becomes ever more complex geopolitically,” says Erica. “Space is vital to daily life. To maintain credibility, space organisations need carefully crafted, verified content for their communications.”

Deep Dive

Interpreting Space for Public Trust and Policy Impact

Executives responsible for communicating space programmes face a problem that extends beyond visibility. Public missions operate under scientific scrutiny, political sensitivity and international attention, yet their work is often mediated through fragmented narratives, rushed announcements or technically dense language that fails to travel. In science communication, credibility is not created through volume or reach alone. It emerges from disciplined editorial judgment and the ability to translate complex work into narratives that remain accurate while engaging non-specialist audiences. Space organisations now operate in an environment where information moves faster than verification and errors, oversimplification or poorly contextualised messages can undermine years of institutional trust. Launch campaigns, climate data releases and research milestones require coordination across engineers, policymakers, researchers and media teams, often under time pressure. The challenge lies in ensuring that communication keeps pace with events without sacrificing factual integrity or alignment with institutional intent. Agencies evaluating external partners tend to look for evidence that an agency can embed itself early, understand internal dynamics and remain dependable when circumstances shift. Another pressure point is linguistic and cultural translation. European and international space bodies frequently publish across languages, audiences and geopolitical contexts. Literal translation or surface-level editing risks distorting scientific meaning or misrepresenting political nuance. What matters is sustained editorial involvement by teams who understand both the subject matter and the organisation behind it, allowing messages to be released concurrently across markets without loss of meaning or authority. Scale also introduces complexity. Large programmes demand a mix of long-form analysis, visual explanation, live coverage and social distribution, all adapted to different audiences while maintaining a coherent narrative. Agencies that rely on interchangeable resources or generic production models struggle to maintain consistency over time. Buyers increasingly favour partners built around experienced editors and subject specialists who can move between formats while protecting tone, accuracy and institutional voice. EJR-Quartz exemplifies this approach through longstanding work with major European space institutions. Its role has extended beyond content production into sustained collaboration, embedding editors within campaign planning and internal discussions so communication decisions are informed rather than reactive. That model has allowed it to support major launch campaigns, ongoing research communications and multilingual publishing without fragmenting message control. The firm’s emphasis on verified content, editorial accountability and cultural adaptation reflects an understanding that science communication functions as an extension of institutional responsibility, not a promotional layer. Its services span written, visual and digital formats, yet the unifying thread is editorial stewardship rather than channel optimisation. Teams are assembled based on subject knowledge and contextual fit, enabling consistent interpretation of complex material across articles, live broadcasts, explainers and social platforms. In an era where automated tools can accelerate production but not judgment, EJR-Quartz has taken a cautious, integrated stance, using technology to support efficiency while retaining human editorial oversight. This balance has proven valuable in maintaining accuracy, protecting institutional credibility and ensuring that global audiences receive information that is both timely and trustworthy. For organisations seeking a communications partner capable of sustaining credibility under scientific, political and public scrutiny, EJR-Quartz stands out as a clear reference point. Its depth of experience, editorial-led structure and demonstrated ability to operate inside complex space programmes position it as a premier choice for agencies that view communication as a strategic extension of mission delivery rather than a downstream activity. ...Read more
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EJR-Quartz

Company
EJR-Quartz

Management
Erica Rolfe, Co-Founder and Managing Director

Description
EJR-Quartz delivers high-quality, carefully crafted content and hands-on support for all communication activities. Established in 1999, it directly employs 75 people of 20 nationalities in six European countries, and can call on its extensive network of trusted and experienced freelance specialist writers.