Typical isolation systems currently used are limited to passive isolators, based on viscoelastic elements. Other passive existing technologies include eddy-current dampers, the so-called D-struts and shunted piezo electric transducers. Active systems include voicecoil and piezo actuators and active eddy current dampers. This proposal is prompted by recent developments in the frame of TEC Technology Assessment supported work on electromagnetic shunt dampers connected to a negative resistance circuit showing promising performances.

Reaction wheels exhibit dominant magnetic field emissions that shall be reduced to allow the reaction wheel use on magnetically susceptible missions without negative impact on scientific objectives. Conventional reaction wheels use brushless DC motors with relatively high magnetic flux densities in large air gaps without any dedicated compensation or 'magnetic balancing' of the motor magnets. The motor external magnetic field together with contributions from further components, (ball bearings), combine to a significant magnetic dipole moment.

The objective of the study was to investigate the performance and shielding abilities of lunar regolith-based geopolymer when reinforced with basalt fibres and cured under environmental conditions of the lunar surface. The geopolymer building materials should be suitable for
3D-printing on the Moon. Since there is a very limited supply of water on the moon, the study also focuses on lunar geopolymers with a reduced amount of water in the recipes, without the need for raw materials that cannot be resourced locally on the Moon.

Predictive capability of thermo-elastic analyses for distortion (stability) and strength is not satisfactory, as shown by the recent examples of GAIA, Pleiades, Herschel, Planck, but also with the ongoing work for Bepi Colombo and Solar Orbiter, while the requirements for stability keep getting more challenging. The analytical models are usually not correlated by tests on ground wrt to thermo-elastic predictive capability, hence the performance verification is limited to analyses and unacceptable/unquantified levels of uncertainty remain.

Background and justification:

In this activity, lunar regolith simulants were characterised based on their thermal behaviour, particle size distribution and composition, in order to inform the choice of consolidation method for functionally graded materials (FGMs) – powder characterisation results are provided in the 'conference paper' deliverable.

Firstly, an extensive literature review study (deliverable 'Literature Review') identified Digital Light Processing (DLP) and Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) as promising consolidation techniques.

Developing a high-performance, but low cost satellite with very high resolution products would open the Earth Observation market to a new audience, creating a path for new applications and ultimately encouraging competitiveness.

These products are currently not often covered by the space industry and access is very limited. As such a new low cost satellite, with turnkey technology could open the market considerably. A new activity, with GSTP Element 2 and Spain, has developed a spacecraft to do just that.