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Category: 2017/2018

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ESKIMO – The Next Generation Kickstage

ESKIMO
3rd place

ESKIMO – The Next Generation Kickstage

ESKIMO

The launch capacity of launch providers is not always sufficient to meet the increasing demands on the flexibility of microsatellite operators. Levity Space Systems is developing an electrically propelled microlauncher kickstage, to transport small satellites into higher orbits beyond the microlauncher capabilities. The additional stage establishes a new alternative for satellite operators, by expanding mission capabilities and reducing launch costs, while increasing the launch performance of the microlauncher. The goal is to provide satellite operators with the opportunity to use microlaunchers as a viable alternative to conventional rockets, as they are able to reach low Earth and lunar orbits, reducing launch times, as well as reliable satellite constellation maintenance by specifically replacing defective satellites.

Benefits:

  • Transport of small satellites into higher orbits (access to lunar orbit using microlaunchers)
  • Reduction of the launch interval from 24 to 3 months
  • Reduction of launch- and opportunity costs
  • Deployment and maintenance of microsatellite constellations
  • Avoidance of secondary payload restrictions
  • Increasing number of possible satellite concepts and applications

Levity Space Systems
Aachen, Germany
Andres Luedeke
www.levity.space
andres.luedeke@levity.space

Levity
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PVT-GAMERS – “Improved Pressure-Volume-Temperature Gauging” Method for Electric Propulsion Systems

2nd Place

PVT-GAMERS – “Improved Pressure-Volume-Temperature Gauging” Method for Electric Propulsion Systems

In the new era of electric propulsion, where propellant tanks are larger and missions are longer, the accuracy of classic mass retrieval methods has become obsolete. The knowledge of the exact amount of remaining propellant is critical for optimising a spacecraft’s lifespan. A team from Luleå University of Technology has developed the “Improved Pressure-Volume-Temperature Gauging” Method. This method uses existing technology readiness levels (TRL 9) sensing technologies and it improves the physical modelling of the available propellant as well as the accuracy of the classic Pressure-Volume-Temperature (PVT) retrieval techniques. Thanks to smart use of the spacecraft’s telemetry, its implementation will help spacecraft propulsion systems providers, spacecraft operators, telecommunication companies, and space agencies to increase the lifespan of space missions.

Benefits:

  • More accurate gauging of spacecraft propellant mass
  • Technology scalable to any propellant tank size
  • Extension of the lifespan of space missions and their profitability
  • Low-cost implementation using the existing spacecraft telemetry systems
  • Propellant control system as a transferable technology to any one-phase pressurised vessel in any sector
Winner

Luleå University of Technology (LTU)
Luleå, Sweden
Prof Dr María-Paz
www.atmospheres.research.ltu.se
maria-paz.zorzano.mier@ltu.se

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Biocontroller – Platform Technology for the Improvement of Microbes Applied in Space Missions

Biocontroller
Overall Winner

Biocontroller – Platform Technology for the Improvement of Microbes Applied in Space Missions

Biocontroller

Microbes are a ticking time bomb for long-term space missions. Microbes evolve thousands of times faster than humans and, in space, they are no longer kept in check by the inexhaustible diversity of the Earth’s biosphere. Regulating the evolution of microbes is crucial to prevent microbes from evolving in undesired directions and becoming tremendous threats to human health. The OPE Group’s expertise lies in controlling the evolution of microbes. For this purpose, OPE designed innovative bioreactors and developed IoT-enabled hardware and software to train microbes to be beneficial to space travellers. The technology allows in-situ resource utilization and resource recovery during deep space missions.

Benefits:

  • Cost-effective support of human life on spacecraft
  • In-situ resource utilisation and resource recovery during deep space missions to produce clean water, food, fuel, soil fertilisers, chemicals, medicines and a large variety of other materials
  • Stable and robust foundation for new ecosystems on celestial bodies to foster population
  • Reinforcing the space travellers’ microbiome for disease prevention and well-being
Mathijs Martens

OPE Group
Heemstede, The Netherlands
Mathijs Martens
www.ope-group.org
 martens@ope-group.org

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Golden Fleece – In-Space Nanometal 2D Printing Demonstration

Golden Fleece
3rd Place Airbus Challenge

Golden Fleece – In-Space Nanometal 2D Printing Demonstration

Golden Fleece

Golden Fleece is an intelligent solar sail concept used for spacecraft propulsion. ABM Space and AMEPOX Microelectronics developed a production process with a 2D-printing technology, allowing the solar sail to be covered with in-situ nanometal ink to place electronic circuits on the sail substrate. Nanometal has outstanding and diversified mechanical, thermal and electrical properties which can be used for various applications in the field of space materials. The development of this 2D-printing method will facilitate in-orbit production and utilisation of metals gained in the future, particularly in-situ from the Moon and asteroids. The technology enables flexible production in space, spare parts production from lightweight material and mass production from future in-situ resources.

Benefits

  • Flexibility of electronics production in space
  • Flexibility of production of lightweight structures in space
  • Nanosilver as a biocide allows sterile structures and reductions in cleanroom costs
winner

ABM Space sp. z o.o. CCO
Torun, Poland
Mateusz Józefowicz
www.abmspace.com
office@abmspace.com

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FISHinSPACE – Zebrafish Larvae to Study Vertebrate Physiology in Space

FISHINSPACE
2nd place

FISHinSPACE – Zebrafish Larvae to Study Vertebrate Physiology in Space

FISHINSPACE

The Zebrafish larvae are the ideal model to study vertebrate physiology in space and to transfer the results to humans. In the “FISHinSPACE” project, the GIGA – Université de Liège will send a platform for microscopic observation of such zebrafish larvae into space. The device for automatic observation of individual larvae is a cheap and highly efficient system model for studying an entire living organism in space conditions. The biggest benefits of this model are the optimisation of human life in an extreme environment, and the exploitation of the space environment to research common health issues.

Benefits:

  • Zebrafish larvae are highly suitable to study vertebrate physiology under space conditions
  • Exploiting the space environment as a proxy for researching common health issues, such as aging, osteoporosis, or blood circulatory problems
  • Space flight market will benefit as life in extreme environments becomes easier
  • Pharmaceutical industry will benefit from an adaptable platform to develop and test new medicines

Université de Liège GIGA-Research
Liège, Belgium
Dr Marc Muller
www.giga.uliege.be
m.muller@uliege.be

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Cloud Computing on the ISS Using Bartolomeo

overall winner

Cloud Computing on the ISS Using Bartolomeo

Modern satellites, especially micro and nano satellites, have little in-orbit processing capabilities and data storage capacities. The satellites are dependent on sending their data regularly to a ground station. Golbriak Space OÜ is developing a cloud computing infrastructure on the International Space Station (ISS) using the Bartolomeo platform, to serve other spacecraft that would not be able to afford on-orbit processing otherwise. The “Bartolomeo cloud” could be realised through a compact high-performance computing data centre installed on the ISS, interfaced to customer spacecraft through an optical and a radio frequency (RF) antenna terminal installed on the ISS. Potential ISS cloud services could reduce the time between data acquisition and availability, in order to introduce new capabilities such as automated feature detector for Earth observing spacecraft, enhanced spacecraft autonomy (cognitive satellites) and real-time machine learning on space data.

Benefits:

  • Reduction in time between data acquisition and availability
  • In-orbit spacecraft have the ability to use machine learning services
  • Opportunity to extend missions
  • Complementary services e.g. data storage and high-bandwidth data downlink
winner

Golbriak Space OÜ
Tallinn, Estonia
Simone Briatore
www.golbriak.space
info@golbriak.space

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Shapecomm – Shaping the Future of Satellite Communication

shapecomm picture
overall winner
3rd place

Shapecomm – Shaping the Future of Satellite Communication

shapecomm picture

Current communication systems are experiencing great technical changes but do not fully reach the theoretical data rate limits. Satellite communication, in particular, requires flexibility and higher transmission rates to cope with current demands, e.g., for inflight entertainment systems or high throughput satellites. Shapecomm showcased the innovative technology of “Probabilistic Amplitude Shaping” (PAS) and “Distribution Matching” (DM), which achieved a 2.5-fold rate increase in an optical transmission experiment over the Atlantic Ocean conducted by Facebook and Nokia Bell Labs. Based on the patented technology, the company’s objective is to develop a transceiver architecture building upon the DVB-S2X standard, which could support new standardization endeavours, possibly culminating in DVB-S3.

Benefits:

  • Increase the data rate limits of current communication systems, e.g. satellite communication links
  • Efficient use of existing resources (e.g. bandwidth), helping to serve and accommodate more users and provide a better experience to end users
  • Important enabler and pioneer for future applications that require high data rates
  • Transceiver modems can be designed and produced more flexibly and with lower costs
  • Economically efficient provision of reliable connections and high data rates in remote areas
winner

shapecomm UG
Munich, Germany
Fabian Steiner
www.shapecomm.de
contact@shapecomm.de

shapecomm
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GIMOD – Graphene Interferometric Modulation Displays for VR/AR

gimod
2nd place

GIMOD – Graphene Interferometric Modulation Displays for VR/AR

gimod

Future displays in astronaut helmets will need to integrate Virtual/Augmented Reality (VR/AR) capabilities for training and operation purposes. The screens of electronic devices with standard technologies consume the most power. Reflective-type displays (e.g. e-book readers) consume little power although current technologies cannot provide colourful images nor fast refresh rates to reproduce videos. Graphene Interferometric Modulation Displays (GIMOD) unite the advantages of the reflective-type technology (low power consumption) with those of standard technologies (video capability), in order to cater to the display requirements in future VR/AR visors. The SCALE project, implemented jointly with Gesellschaft für Angewandte Mikro- und Optoelektronik mbH (AMO) and Graphenea S.A., will commercialise the graphene technology to lead the new semiconductor industry of 2D materials.

Benefits:

  • Reflective-type display technology with high contrast in bright environments
  • Ultra-high resolution (>2500 ppi) with low power consumption
  • Ultimate refresh time (>1000 Hz)
  • Caters to the requirements of portable VR/AR visors
winner

AMO GmbH
Aachen, Germany
Dr Santiago Jose Cartamil Bueno
www.amo.de
santiago.cartamil@gmail.com

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Nucleus VR – Connecting People and Information Worldwide in Real-Time

overall winner

Nucleus VR – Connecting People and Information Worldwide in Real-Time

Human survival in space is highly dependent on life support systems, computers and equipment. Maintaining these complex systems requires support of hundreds of earth-based experts. Nucleus VR is removing the distance barrier, by allowing astronauts and experts to work simultaneously, as if they were together in the same place. Experts simply connect to the digital twin of the spacecraft and appear in the real spacecraft as a holographic companion. Data can also be placed on the digital twin and displayed in the real spaceship with Augmented Reality (AR). Thereby, challenges can be solved faster, and in a natural, intuitive and less stressful way.

Benefits:

  • Connecting astronauts and experts all over the world in the digital twin
  • The digital twin is built from existing CAD data using a simple drag-and-drop process
  • Many kinds of data can be pinned to the digital twin (live telemetry streams, PDF, video, 360° video)
  • Increase astronauts’ well-being through meetings with family and friends in relaxing virtual worlds
  • Compatible with most existing AR/VR (Virtual Reality) hardware: HTC VIVE, OCCULUS, Android AR, castAR, PC, HOLOLENS
finalist

NUCLEUS VR / EAB Engineering SARL
Lyon, France
Alexander Bolton
www.nucleusvr.net
abolton@nucleusvr.net

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Infused Thermal Solutions

infused thermal solutions
overall winner

Infused Thermal Solutions

infused thermal solutions

Technical components in space are often exposed to fluctuating temperatures, which can lead to degraded performances or reduced lifetimes. Infused Thermal Solutions (ITS) is an innovative concept to passively stabilize the temperature of thermo-elastic spacecraft components. This idea combines known concepts of phase change materials (PCM) with modern manufacturing techniques (3D printing). The phase change materials are embedded inside custom-printed, double-walled component structures, offering a standalone solution.

Benefits:

  • Temperature stabilisation
  • Reduced thermo-elastic deformations
  • Increased component lifetimes
  • Creation of complex lightweight “bionic” structures
  • Cost reduction
  • Technology transfer (spin-off), e.g. in the automotive industry
finalist

Fachhochschule Aachen
Aachen, Germany
Prof Dr Markus Czupalla
www.fh-aachen.de
czupalla@fh-aachen.de

infused thermal solutions
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