Nebula Public Library

The knowledge bank of ESA’s R&D programmes

Format: 2023
Format: 2023
Format: 2023

223 results found
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Additive Manufacturing (AM) is starting to be used for space applications. For future missions, many components could be manufactured using AM, also including primary structures or other mission-critical parts such as RF hardware. Final products such as feed components, beam forming networks, low and high power filters and RF harness can benefit from the advantages provided by AM. The overall maturity of this manufacturing technique has been increased in the last years offering a great variety of materials, processes and post-processes required to achieve the final part.

Italy

GSTP

G61A-035ET

THALES ALENIA SPACE ITALIA SPA

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With the growing trend of industrial digitalization, Manufacturing, Assembly, Integration and Testing (MAIT) processes rely ever more in digital files and network connectivity. For In the advanced manufacturing field, Additive Manufacturing (AM) is a clear example of this digitalization. In AM, from design to the final product the information is processed and exchanged via computer files and network connection, allowing a freedom of access and utilization of the data.
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Belgium

GSTP

GT1Y-301SW

Nexova Cyber S.A.

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Background and justification :

France

GSTP

GT17-137TIc

THALES ALENIA SPACE FRANCE

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With the development of vibration-free AOCS technologies (magnetic bearing reaction wheels, microthrusters), cryocoolers (Stirling, Pulse Tube) will become the main source of microvibrations. To overcome this difficulty and cope with missions (Science and Earth Observation) that have more and more stringent pointing requirements, it is necessary to develop alternate cooling solution or to adapt current technologies to generate no mechanical disturbances.

France

TDE

T121-302MT

ABSOLUT-SYSTEM

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Science TTC systems, Earth observation instruments and Telecommunication system payloads are more and more calling for multi-frequency reflector-based high gain antennas. As examples, one may refer to altimeters, radiometers and SAR (e.g. COREH2O) for Earth Observation and high-gain data transmission antennas as for the JUICE mission requiring both X- and Ka-band frequencies. Multi-frequency and multi-polarisation operation is often required hence the need for Frequency/polarization Selective Surfaces(FSS) integrated with (sub)reflectors or partially reflective surface.

Spain

TDE

T707-502EE

SENER TAFS, S.A.U.

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Image

Robots are the most important assistants for astronauts during extra-terrestrial missions. All successful exploration missions in the past have proven the importance and the durability that robots have in extreme environments. For our next step on the lunar surface, it’s essential to redesign a more complete and multifunctional robotic system that can provide support for astronauts during the construction, exploration, research and everyday life tasks. This research study aims to create a new framework for reconfigurable robotics, going beyond the “traditional” intransigent robot.

UK

Discovery

20-D-T-TEC-03-a

Hassell

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This activity aims at developing a generic solution, adaptable to the various (but limited in number) types of interface rings, to insulate the exposed surface once the spacecraft has been separated from the launcher. It could consist in a series of MLI flaps with a passive mechanism keeping it away from the Launch vehicle Adapter in quot;open positionquot;. The flap is automatically deployed in quot;closed positionquot; to protect the interface ring from the external environment (cold Space, Sun flux, planet flux).

Austria

TDE

T721-S16MT

RUAG SPACE GMBH

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Background and justification:

  • The use of Additive Manufacturing (AM) technologies in the Space sector is gaining traction, although it is necessary to find new use cases and develop them up to TRL7 or TRL9 to be meaningful
  • The Spanish Space industry has important actors with high knowledge of their products and sector that could benefit from the experience CiTD and CATEC have in AM and improve their products through the use of these technologies

 Achievements and status:

Spain

GSTP

GT17-137TIap

CITD Engineering Technologies, S.L

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One of the main challenges in Additive manufacturing is to master all the steps ensuring that the final product is of sufficient quality to be used in a space mission. The first element to take into consideration is the raw material, normally a powder, that will be processed until obtaining a high end part. In this activity, an iterative approach will be used to unambiguously identify the main requirements for metallic powder procurement. This activity will target one of the priority materials identified in the roadmap (i.e.

United Kingdom

GSTP

G61A-018QT

THE MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY CENTRE SERVICES LTD

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Image

Lessons learnt on the use of grease lubricants for applications in space mechanisms confirm their high chemical stability on long-term storage (LTS), due to intrinsic inertness of their fluorocarbon-based components which could be affected only via catalytic effect of metal compounds. What is observed even in widely used space-qualified greases is physical delamination leading to separation of the base oil and the solid filler. This delamination affects the lubricant?s viscosity and dielectric properties.

Germany

TDE

T124-701QE

MATERIALES GmbH

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