ESA missions with downlink in X-band are limited to 10 MHz of bandwidth and 8.75 Mbps of data, using the current GAIA modulation. GAIA-NIR is requiring higher data rates and it is pushing the limits at X-band.The CCSDS-131.2-B standard defines 27 Adaptive Coding and Modulation (ACM) modes that are intended to allow fine control of information rate in a given bandwidth to optimise data throughput by minimising the required link margin.

EXOMARS features a multi-stem drill, pioneered by the MIRO driller (TRP result in 2001), capable of acquiring samples 2 meters down in the ground. Multi stem drills are the right solution for shallow depths, however for reaching deeper they present problems that are too difficult to solve within the constraint of space missions. Drillers of this type require a cumulated length of pipe as long as the depth reached, which translates into a large mass. Furthermore friction increases with depth so for any drill larger than few meters, the well must be lined.

Achievements and status: ​

The capacity of developing navigation algorithms for data fusion are key aspects covered in SCRIPT. Fusion
navigation solutions based on ranging, direction of departure (DOD) and direction of arrival (DOA) and GNSS based
on single and multiple anchors and peers for outdoor-to-indoor scenarios are developed.
Our own concept in the field of data fusion for indoor/outdoor location, based on a Sigma Point Kalman Filter
(SKPF), the hybrid filter that combines a particle filter with the classical Kalman filter, is used. The SW Receiver

The space mission development process tends to show several commonalities across projects. Indeed, systems often use the same generic set of technologies, with similar assumptions and requirements. The use of a Digital Assistant would be able to recognise such commonalities and propose suggestions during the early phase of system development based on previous projects. This would speed the definition stages, while also allowing to re-use potential lessons learned and hopefully to avoid simple mistakes/omissions.

In 50 years of Space Exploration, the total distance covered by rovers on Mars and the Moon is about 200km, an average of 4km per year. Future exploration rovers are expected to travel one or two orders of magnitude more.This requires designing rovers that are intrinsically faster than what has been built so far.

Future human space exploration, including missions to the Moon and beyond, will require a paradigm shift in the current approach to in-flight exercise countermeasures, particularly when it comes to exercise devices (e.g. CEVIS, T2, ARED to name a few). Exploration vehicles will be significantly smaller, requiring exercise hardware to be smaller, lighter and less complex than current devices, and ideally multi-functional, capable of stressing the musculoskeletal (MSK) system, the cardiovascular (CV) system and other associated system (e.g. neuro-vestibular - NV).

Currently EO missions are operated in S/X-Band with payload data in X-Band. New EO missions will have payload data in K-Band and TTC still in S-Band. In the long term TTC will be moved to X-Band still keeping payload data in K-Band. Presently only US suppliers are able to provide antenna radomes operating over different frequency bands. It is intended to develop an European alternative to US suppliers in the domain of high/multi-frequency application like the one needed for future Earth Observation missions.