The SPOTTED project addresses the critical issue of marine debris, particularly plastic pollution, by enhancing detection and monitoring capabilities. Utilizing advanced spatio-temporal fusion (STF) techniques and Artificial Intelligence (AI) with high-resolution satellite imagery from Sentinel-2 (S2) and PlanetScope (PS), the project aims to refine S2 data and develop AI algorithms for identifying landfills and floating debris.

Conventional high-speed video cameras present major limitations for space applications, they are heavy, bulky and require a lot of resources to operate and to space qualify. The study proposes the use of the neuromorphic camera technology for high-speed imaging in space. Neuromorphic cameras, also called event-cameras, offer advantages such as small size, low power consumption, and high temporal resolution, making them suitable for detecting fast phenomena like lightning and space debris. The advantages also make them relatively easy to space-qualify.

In this study we explore the potential of Large Language Models (LLMs) to interact with Earth Observation (EO) data with some promising first results. We source a first testing set for the BIG Bench framework. With 20+ subtasks, we aim for a large variety of questions which are currently beyond the capabilities of LLM and other models. Further, we implement a methodology to test proprietary state of the art models where token distribution may not be available.

In this project, a feasibility study for the PULSARS geostationary CubeSat system has been carried out. This involves the definition of a public protection and disaster relief use case using the satellite C-band, evaluation of a 16U CubeSat platform, and investigation into the spacecraft and ground segment technology required for coherent beamforming using a swarm of 20 independent spacecrafts. PULSARS mission design and system architecture are proposed, as well as a programme of technology development, enabling the spacecraft to operate for a minimum of three years.

The interest of having in the near future an available Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) service supporting future missions to and at the Moon is currently supported by both institutional and commercial initiatives. On the commercial side, multiple companies are developing business solutions targeting the Moon and several major European companies are proposing to team up to build a communications network on the Moon compatible to terrestrial standards. In parallel, NASA has recently announced its plans to a ?Return to the moon?

FMCW radar technology in the automotive industry radar market covers 24 GHz and 77 GHz bands with modulated bandwidths of up to 4 GHz, allowing simultaneously ultra-precise determination of target range and its relative velocity. Fine angular resolution with 0.1 deg steps at distance of 300 m and beam-steering capability has been recently demonstrated. FMCW systems have also proved their efficiency for detection of fast-moving objects with small cross-section such as drones.

In December 2019, the 3GPP standardization group approved a dedicated work-item for the implementation of a new set of 5G New Radio (NR) specifications allowing the integration with mobile broadband satellite networks. This is the first time ever that the space industry has this challenging opportunity of a full integration with terrestrial cellular systems, and to benefit from very large economies of scale.

Communication between crew and ground on future deep space missions will be impacted by communication delay (signal latency), caused by the finite speed of light and radio waves across great distances. The one-way latency caused by the distance between the Earth and the Moon is about 1.3 seconds. The actual latency at lunar distances during the forthcoming Artemis missions is expected to be even higher due to the various signal processing steps associated with the digital communication protocols. Estimates currently vary up to 10 seconds one way.

The millimeter wave domain is also known as the extremely high-frequency (EHF) spectrum ranges from 30 to 300 GHz. Early works on atmospheric propagation in EHF evidenced encouraging future usage for satellite communications. The allocated W-band for satellite services (71-76 GHz and 81-86 GHz) seems to provide a favourable attenuation window related to oxygen absorption. The exploitation of W-band may offer many advantages for wireless communications, which make it suitable for satellite links, such as: broad bandwidths for high data rate information transfer (e.g.