Present ESA Deep Space Stations are equipped with a 20 kW X-Band High Power Amplifier (HPA).

The goal of the Powersail project is to demonstrate the potential of amorphous silicon (a-Si) deposited on ultralight space-grade polyimide for solar power satellites (SPS). State of the art solutions are III-V compound semiconductor triple junction-based PV modules, which are 100 times too expensive and one order of magnitude too heavy to build a competitive SPS with terrestrial microwave energy collection infrastructure.

The purpose of the project COLA (Coincident Lasersheet Particle Monitor) was to perform a feasibility study for an in-situ lasersheet particles/debris detection system enabling the detection and identification of small sized space debris/meteoroids currently not detectable from ground and that can nonetheless present important hazards for space missions. The detection system must be able to determine and reconstruct particle shapes and trajectories for sizes and velocities ranging from 1 mm to 10 mm and 2 km/s to 20 km/s, respectively.

The main objective of the study is to investigate the technological feasibility of implementing the GE⊕-LPS concept, and its role as a prototype for proposed cislunar scenarios supplying electric power to Earth. The methodological approach to the study has been to identify and validate the most simple and effective solutions which ould be practically implemented with known and existing technologies and approaches.

Louvers are active thermal control elements that are typically placed over external radiators to be able to tune heat rejection from typically a factor 1 (fully closed) to 5 (fully open). The most commonly used louver is the bimetallic, spring-actuated, rectangular blade louver also known as venetian-blind louver. One of the known drawbacks of this technology is the mass and volume it requires, in particular with regards to the deployment of blades.

Novel GNC systems are based on on-board real-time optimized GNC systems to enable safe ascent, agile manoeuvring as well as ultraprecise stage landing on ships and ground. Modern space transportation and future exploration systems will be re-usable to contribute in reducing mission costs, while improving reliability, safety and performance. This activity shall establish novel GNC architectures and systems implementing Real-time Optimised GNC system for reliable and fault tolerant ascent flight, precise orbital guidance and control as well as for precision entry descent and landing.

The ESA Deep Space Network consists of three 35m beam waveguide antennas located around the globe. The 35m beam waveguide antennas employ an X-Band feed covering the Deep Space uplink band near 7.2 GHz and down-link band near 8.45 GHz. Simultaneous uplink commanding at 20 kW and low noise reception (Generation #2) is supported. In order to increase the transmit power capability of ESA Deep Space antennas it is currently considered to add a new high power feed and associated 80 kW High Power Amplifier.