For space applications, the reliability of any component with respect to mechanical failure is a key requirement, especially in the case of ceramic components, where a single defect at a critical position may lead to crack initiation, growth and fracture of the component under mechanical or thermomechanical load. Instead of proof testing, an automatized and reliable method based on Computed Tomography (CT) non-destructive testing methods supported by a fast data evaluation would reduce ceramic components development risk and cost.

The constantly raising worldwide interest in the execution of rendezvous, proximity and capture operations for on-orbit services such as repair, refuelling, and tugging has highlighted the lack of clear and widely accepted technical requirements and their associated verification and validation methods for ensuring that rendezvous and proximity operations are conducted in a safe manner.Previous activities (e.g.

The spectral filter is a critical element to reject unwanted background and straylight onto the receive detector during day and night operation. The activity consists in elaborating its optimized design (interference filters vs. fiber Bragg gratings vs. volume Bragg gratings) after trade-offs taking into account the overall design of the optical antenna (e.g. numerical aperture of the beam, tunability vs. spectral width, etc.).

After Beagle 2 failure, one of the recommendations from the Commission of Inquiry concluded that future planetary entry missions should include a minimum telemetry of critical performance measurements and spacecraft health status during mission critical phases such as entry and descent. In case a relay satellite would be available, the data would be transferred to it, which will act as an Orbiter.