Performance of nanosatellite systems is reaching a level sufficient for supporting Earth Observation applications, while instrument development focuses on miniaturization. By using a multitude of cooperating and cost effective satellites, nanosat technology could be a serious competitor for conventional EO missions

Libration Point Orbits (LPO) and Highly Elliptical Orbits (HEO) are often selected for astrophysics and solar terrestrial missions as they offer vantage points for the observation of the Earth, the Sun and the Universe. No guidelines currently exist for LPO and HEO missions' end-of-life; however, as current and future missions are planned to be placed on these orbits, it is a critical aspect to define a sustainable strategy for their disposal, with the objective to avoid interference with protected regions.

The awareness of the risk of uncontrolled accumulation of man-­‐made objects became significant in the late 70's and since then, a number of space debris mitigation guidelines have been published by various organizations. The general aim is to reduce the growth of space debris by ensuring that space systems are designed, operated, and disposed in a manner that prevents them from generating debris throughout their lifetime, assuring the sustainable space utilization.

GNSSBICS is a feasibility study carried out in the frame of the ESA’s General Studies Programme (GSP)
by DEIMOS-Space, Deimos-Engenharia and ESA.
This activity investigated what G/S infrastructure would be necessary to develop a System, named as GNSS-BICS (GNSS Bias Calibration System), in charge of providing, under demand, the GNSS MEO S/C SISBAF (Signal-In-Space Biases Amongst Frequencies), from GNSS observations gathered by GNSS multi-frequency receivers on-board LEO satellites (potentially from different missions).

The COBRA (COntactless deBRis Action) concept was studied under ESA contract and then internally by ESA, as part of ESA ́s SysNova technology assessment scheme which uses “technology challenges” and competitions to survey a comparatively large number of alternative solutions. The concept was originally proposed by an industrial consortium led by GMV form Spain with Politecnico di Milano and Thales Alenia Space from Italy. The concept came first in response to a challenge for mission concepts and technologies capable of providing a contactless Earth-bound object orbit modification system.

While most Earth Observation missions based on passive optical methods are intended to measure the light “reflected” by the surface, FLEX uses a completely innovative approach based on the measurement of the light “emitted” as fluorescence by terrestrial vegetation. Such fluorescence emission by vegetation has never been measured from space, which makes FLEX a true Explorer mission providing a type of information never available before.

The Swedish PRISMA IRIDES experiment (Iterative Reduction of Inspection Distance with Embedded Safety) encompassed the transfer of the PRISMA MANGO spacecraft to the non-operational and un-prepared CNES PICARD spacecraft with close range rendezvous and inspection. The rendezvous and inspection phases were intended to be performed by on-ground calculated deltaV manoeuvers based on the available relative-navigation data.

Chlorophyll fluorescence (CF) is a natural spectral emission resulting from the interaction of plant chlorophyll pigment with visible light (typically 400‐700 nm). In photosynthesizing tissues, red and far‐red light can be emitted from any chlorophyll‐containing plant tissues which are exposed to light: primarily foliage, but also green stems, green exposed roots, floral structures, many fruits, and green seeds.

In conclusion this Phase A-B1 study contract has provided:
• Confirmation that the mission concept described in phase 0 is feasible and relevant
• Consolidation of mission objectives and mission requirements
• An updated mission architecture and system design solving many of the problem areas identified in Phase 0
• A roadmap for distribution of relevant documentation and tools to experimenters throughout the project