Sustained exposure to high-energy radiation can cause significant damage to both human and spacecraft life in space. Understanding the effects of radiation, as well as developing technology to counter its effects, necessitates a thorough understanding of the radiation environment.
The current capability allows us to study radiation around the near-Earth environment through statistical and analytical models. However, there is a paucity of empirical data that can aid accurate assessment of the environment. Digantara intends to fill this gap through actionable intelligence by measuring proton fluence and, as a result, proton radiation in near-real-time using in-situ radiation monitors. Digantara is developing ROBI – Radiation Monitor. The name ROBI means ‚Sun‘ in Sanskrit/Bengali, signifying the extensive presence of protons in space. ROBI is a proton fluence monitor that measures proton flux in real time. High-energy protons account for 95% of any solar event. Thus, measuring proton fluence is a good measure of ionising radiation in the near-Earth environment.

Benefits:

• Miniaturised device: ultra-compact, extremely adaptable
• Ultra-low power consumption
• Digital output eliminates the need for supporting circuitry
• Diverse applications from the medical sector to human space flight

Humans are heading back to the Moon. Artemis and the Lunar Gateway programme are on their way and the next step will be the lunar ground station. But one major problem for a sustainable outpost on the Moon remains: Moon dust (regolith) doesn’t have the right material properties to either store energy efficiently or to be an ideal construction material. The result would be to transport massive quantities of material from the Earth. Orbit Recycling has developed a new composite: ALReCo. Using a unique method, regolith is mixed with material from space debris to enhance its physical properties. ALReCo shows improved thermal capacity and conductivity in order to store energy much better. ALReCo is better suited to construction elements and the integration of aluminium structures, and flanges with regolith parts could become a modular framework for the upcoming Moon base. By turning waste into valuable material, ALReCo reduces not only the amount of space debris but the amount of material that needs to be transported from Earth as well.

Benefits:

• ALReCo enables a self-paying space debris recycling concept
• ALReCo reduces material transportation during the construction of the lunar ground station
• ALReCo offers flexible use cases, from construction elements to energy storage solutions

The civil UAV market with a worldwide market volume of USD 6.56 billion in 2018 is expected to grow to USD 43 billion by 2024*. Market growth in the coming years will be driven by the large number of new commercial applications, in particular by the use of unmanned stratospheric flight systems for telecommunications and Earth observation services. For perennial operation at high altitudes, these aircraft require an extremely large wingspan with the lowest possible structural weight. When flying in the troposphere, conventional aircraft configurations face a particular risk that greater turbulences could lead to cracks and fractures in the aircraft structure. The Berlin-based company AlphaLink Engineering GmbH is currently developing a compound aircraft that can solve this structural-mechanical lightweight construction dilemma by connecting multiple aircraft modules at their wingtips through mechanical
joints. After intensive research at Technische Universität Berlin, the patented technology is now being tested by AlphaLink in the form of test vehicles and flight trials. The compound aircraft is the first electrically powered stratospheric aircraft that achieves both long operating times and high payloads.

* SESAR, European ATM Master Plan, Roadmap for the safe integration of drones into all classes of airspace, 2018

Benefits:

• Secure, unmanned operation for low-cost Internet access in remote areas
• First flying platform with a modular approach
• Technology is fully scalable as a complement and alternative to satellite systems
• Year-round operation possible just powered by solar energy
• Can be used as “flying camera” or “mobile antenna”

The growing human population, associated challenges related to climate change, and the insufficiency of existing terrestrial sensing systems require new sources of Earth observation (EO) data. Critical parameters like non-photosynthetic vegetation (NPV) and evapotranspiration (ET) are not properly estimated by existing operational EO systems. NPV is important for estimating fire risk, tillage intensity, and the risk of soil erosion due to water and wind. ET is important for agricultural production and water usage. AgSat will offer an advanced multispectral satellite concept that will not only measure those parameters, but also include on-board artificial intelligence and data processing to minimise data downloads while using laser-based systems for more efficient data transmission. AgSat will deliver custom, need-driven, cloud-free data products directly to stakeholders within minutes of acquisition. Science data will be available to end users under an open data policy.

Benefits:

• Data continuity with Sentinel-2/Landsat missions
• Open data for science products
• On-board anomalous event detection (fires, floods) and data product creation, including downlinking to end users