THz waves are demonstrated as an efficient tool for non-destructive testing (NDT) but remain time-consuming and complex to use, particularly for curved parts. One solution is the multi-beam topology, using Luneburg lenses. However, this solution is generally unpractical above 40 GHz due to significant insertion losses caused by the materials used to produce the required graded-index profile.

The Doherty concept has proven to be a very effective technique for designing amplifiers, which maintain a high efficiency over a wide range of operating conditions. This technique is extensively used in terrestrial applications like base stations where power efficiency is getting more and more attention. Power efficiency is also of concern for space and the Doherty concept could certainly help in designing more efficient PAs. Ka-band is now being considered for mobile services that could offer very high capacity as compared to the existing ones at L-band.

Accurate localisation of assets on planetary bodies will be crucial in future exploration missions when it comes to autonomous vehicles navigation and accurate positioning. On Earth, dedicated systems in L-band are typically used for navigation and localisation.

Although Single Event Effects (SEE) have been known for many years to be a major source of anomalies in spacecraft, problems are multiplying because of technology evolution and the inability of analysis techniques to keep pace. New mechanisms in SEE generation are emerging, and "classical" analysis algorithms and software (such as CREME-96) are becoming rapidly outdated due to their major simplifications in the physics and in the treatment of the sensitive "bit" geometry.

In recent years, the traditional MCT (Mercury Cadmium Telluride) technology for near-infrared (NIR) sensing has been developed further to manufacture APD (Avalanche Photo-Diode) arrays, which enables sub-electron readout noise measurements. This technology is now routinely used for wave-front sensing on ground-based telescopes using small format devices. Further effort to increase the size of NIR APD sensors as well as improving the MCT material properties (e.g. lower dark current) is needed such that they can be used for future ground and space-based scientific instrumentation.

The establishment of vegetation habitats, for on-site production of biomaterials and sustainable food production at ground space stations, is one of the biggest challenges for space exploration. High level of radiation, low temperature, low light intensity, low atmospheric pressure, and low oxygen in the atmosphere as well as high level of toxic compounds in soil are some of the most difficult hurdles to overcome in order to establish vegetation in space.