The use of Solar energy applying conversion processes based on higher temperatures (use of solar concentrators) and thermodynamic cycles (e.g. Stirling cycle) can provide high conversion efficiencies. For such process high temperature loop heat pipes (LHP) can provide efficient means to transport the heat from the solar concentrator to the thermodynamic cycle (e.g. Stirling engine).

The study will be focused on the prototyping of SiC MOS capacitor structures with the main goal to characterise the overall quality and stability of the gate oxide to SiC interface to gate stress as well as the radiation performances of SiC gate oxide in terms of SEE and TID testing.

Stainless steels are major manufacturing materials used in spacecraft and ground support structures on applications requiring corrosion resistance including storage and handling of liquids and waste, propulsions systems, components within thermal protection systems and fasteners such as high-reliability and high strength bolts. Passivation of stainless steel has two purposes: 1) it is necessary to remove ?free iron?

There is a fundamental issue in the electronic box design that the power density is increasing. In addition, system integrators prefers the dry thermal interface since it allows the unit to be dismountable. However, the thermal interface has a conductive limit where the only method of increasing the heat transfer would be to increase the surface area as well as the contact pressure and reducing the interface filler thickness.

This development has been performed as a result of the need for qualification of an helix antenna dedicated
using metallic 3D printing

The European space industry and ESA programs lack information on RF breakdown (Multipactor) when ferrites and dielectrics are used.

FPGAs are increasingly being used to implement complex and critical functions on-board the Satellite at both Platform and Payload level. The new European Space FPGA software tool chain is intended to be used in the end to end FPGA Development Lifecycle to ensure that the devices are correctly programmed, starting from the functional specification of the device behaviour through to the final Verification and Validation in the target environment.

Spasolab was created in 1984, at INTA (E) premises, as an ESA external laboratory dedicated to Solar Cell and Panels Testing. The laboratory aimed at supporting ESA programmes and activities at different maturity levels, ranging from the development to the production phases, throughout the design and qualification ones.A list of Spasolab solar cell test laboratory capabilities is provided in the following:? Complete characterisation of space of Space Silicon and Gallium Arsenide solar cells (Type approval tests).?