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

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

12. December 20187. March 2023

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

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

11. December 20183. May 2019

SPUTNIC-Piezo

SPUTNIC-Piezo: Spacewheel Unbalance TerminatioN with Intelligent Control of Piezoactuators

Manufacturing tolerances and the related imbalances in reaction wheels lead to vibrations in satellite structures. These vibrations are detrimental to the performance of sensitive payloads such as telescopes and cameras, which can produce poor image quality as a result (see illustration). SPUTNIC technology combines piezoelectric actuators with conventional ball-bearings to support rotating wheels. Since the unbalanced wheel is allowed to spin on its main axis of inertia, SPUTN IC’s sophisticated control algorithm nearly eliminates all imbalance vibrations. This innovation not only reduces the stress on components to increase their useful life; it also enables sensitive payloads to reach their full potential.

Benefits:

Eliminates vibrations in reaction wheels
Enables sensitive payloads to achieve optimal performance
Simple, lightweight structure with low energy consumption
Failsafe design enables reaction wheels to remain functional even when system is inactive

TU Darmstadt – Institute lor Mechatronlc Systems in Mechanical Engineering (IMS)
Darmstadt, Germany
Stefan Heindel
www.ims.tu-darmstadt.de
info@ims.tu-darmstadt.de

11. December 20187. March 2023

SUMSENS – Structure-Borne Ultrasonic Multi-Hop Sensor Network for the Temperature Monitoring of Satellites

The mechanical and thermal integrity of spacecraft will be crucial for future space missions lasting months, years, or even longer. Traditionally, wired sensors are used to measure all relevant parameters. SUMSENS offers the integration of a holistic wireless sensor network using the satellite structure itself for communication, in order to provide in-situ monitoring of the mechanical and thermal subsystem status. The SUMSENS sensor network consists of smart temperature sensor nodes, communicating among themselves via structure-borne ultrasonic waves. The core of each sensor node is a microcontroller platform providing all required data operations.
SUMSENS integrates Augmented Reality (AR) to support visual system integration, monitoring and maintenance. The technology can be transferred from space to ground transportation.

Benefits:

Wireless sensor network instead of heavy, space-consuming network infrastructure consisting of cable clutter
Cost reduction due to flexible installation, easy expandability, low energy consumption and reduction of communication traffic
Reliable, fail-safe network architectures
Modularity, allowing flexible installation
High-level structural integration

Fraunhofer LBF
Darmstadt, Germany
Dr Torsten Bartel
www.lbf.fraunhofer.de
torsten.bartel@lbf.fraunhofer.de

11. December 20187. March 2023

Silent Running – Intrinsic Structural Vibration Reduction for Carrier Rockets Using Metamaterials

When launching and flying a rocket, vibrations must be reduced to such an extent that they do not cause damage to the payload and structure. In the “Silent Running” project, MT Aerospace and Fraunhofer LBF are using carbon-fibre-reinforced plastics (CFRP) with metamaterials, in order to reduce the vibrations that affect on the payload and structure during acceleration. Metamaterials combine the benefits of active and passive vibration reduction and are used, in the automotive industry, amongst others. “Silent Running” specifically targets to minimise vibrations in the upper stages of future Ariane carrier rockets. The innovative vibration dampers should be integrated into the load-bearing structure of the carrier rockets, so that the heavy damping elements conventionally used are no longer required.

Benefits:

Efficient rocket stages and complex payloads with longer service lives by minimising vibrations in the stage structures
Efficient rocket stages and complex payloads with longer service lives by minimising vibrations in the stage structures
Transporting of satellites with effective payloads and thus improved payload/cost ratio per launch
Spin-off into the automotive, aerospace and shipping industries

Fraunhofer LBF
Darmstadt, Germany
Sara Perfetto
www.lbf.fraunhofer.de
sara.perfetto@lbf.fraunhofer.de

5. February 20177. March 2023

MESA

MESA: lmproving Europe's Access to Space

In the next decade, Europe will need a replacement for the International Space Station (ISS) – a new environment in which payloads can be tested in microgravity and the extreme conditions of space. Levity Space System has set its sights on providing public and private institutions with frequent, affordable access to space. MESA – Europe’s first modular and stackable satellite structure – is designed to facilitate microsatellite launches, in-orbit demonstrations, and the hosting of experiments. lt will be launched as a secondary payload between the upper stage and primary payload of the Arianespace launch vehicles VEGA-C+ and -E.

Benefits:

Flexible, modular structures for space transports
Sustainable R&D in space in the post-ISS era
Turnkey launch solutions and microsatellite deployment in constellations
MESA subsystems capable of transporting technologies and experiments directly from labs into space

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

5. February 20177. March 2023

Bake In Space

Bake in Space

The objective of Bake in Space is to make fresh bread – in this case, common German rolls – aboard the International Space Station (ISS). To that end, the project is building a space-ready oven that will be capable of baking a dough mixture designed for this unique weightless environment. The idea is to use this endeavour as a stepping-stone to providing fresh food that will benefit the wellbeing and general quality of life of those living and working in space. Bake in Space is leveraging the business opportunities afforded by the commercialisation of the ISS and is contributing directly to NASA and ESA’s goals for the long-term exploration efforts of humankind.

Benefits:

Bulk dough packages for future astronaut missions (also suitable as unique gifts for people on Earth)
Branded products for space conferences and other events
Oven will be made available on a pay-per-use basis to other researchers interested in exploring its uses on the ISS
Project will generate spin-off IP and products that could be used for B2B and B2C activities on Earth

Bake in Space GmbH
Bremen, Germany
Sebastian D. Marcu
www.bakein.space
sebastian@bakein.space

22. May 20167. March 2023

MPBUS – Modular Power BUS for Space Vehicles

MPBUS is a decentralised power distribution architecture for spacecrafts, capable to transmit data over the same two power wires, allowing both weight reduction and cost reduction, due to harness design, assembly and integration tasks simplification.

Two front ends, for power sources and for consuming energy devices
No Power Distribution Unit (PDU), each device has its own power/load management
Smart Battery Management: on-board computer can decide which of the distributed batteries is active
MPBUS branches can be jettisoned (launchers stages)
Up to 3 Mbps per data comms

JMP ingenieros Sl
Eduardo Remìrez
eduardo.remirez@jmpingenieros.es

22. May 20167. March 2023

MA61C – Multipurpose Adapter Generic lnterface Connector

MA61C is a universal adapter that connects any subsystem to any spacecraft platform, reducing costs and time of satellite manufacturing. Once MA61C is connected with the satellite subsystem and the on-board computer, it powers up and integrates them.
The advantages are:

Integration of subsystems without programming (plug & play)
Compatibility with most used subsystems
Design based on requirements and specifics from its customers
Reuse of off-the-shelf subsystems

Space Products and Innovation UG
Giulia Federico
MA61C@spinintech.com

Cooperation Partners:
University of Bremen – ZARM Wirtschaft Foerderung Bremen GmbH

17. May 201618. July 2019

OSS4SPACE – Open Sandwich Structures for Space

Open Sandwich Structures (OSS) are a new type of free form and full design oriented structural panel technology for the construction of low Earth orbiting (LEO) satellites (mega constellations).
Unlike the three constituent (sheet/core/sheet) type of sandwich panels, OSS encompasses a panel structure made of only two material sheets without any addition of core material. Compared to current closed cell panel technology, that leads to reduced material costs, a much simpler production process and a higher productivity for space structures

PLYTechnologies GmbH
Antonio Valente
antonio.valente@ply.pt

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

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

Infused Thermal Solutions

Infused Thermal Solutions

SPUTNIC-Piezo

SPUTNIC-Piezo: Spacewheel Unbalance TerminatioN with Intelligent Control of Piezoactuators

SUMSENS – Structure-Borne Ultrasonic Multi-Hop Sensor Network for the Temperature Monitoring of Satellites

SUMSENS – Structure-Borne Ultrasonic Multi-Hop Sensor Network for the Temperature Monitoring of Satellites

Silent Running – Intrinsic Structural Vibration Reduction for Carrier Rockets Using Metamaterials

Silent Running – Intrinsic Structural Vibration Reduction for Carrier Rockets Using Metamaterials

MESA

MESA: lmproving Europe's Access to Space

Bake In Space

Bake in Space

MPBUS – Modular Power BUS for Space Vehicles

MPBUS – Modular Power BUS for Space Vehicles

MA61C – Multipurpose Adapter Generic lnterface Connector

MA61C – Multipurpose Adapter Generic lnterface Connector

OSS4SPACE – Open Sandwich Structures for Space

OSS4SPACE – Open Sandwich Structures for Space

INNOspace Masters

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