System modelling tools allow analysis of the propellant chemical and fluid dynamic behaviour through the complete propulsion system, from the tanks through the connecting pipes, valves, manifolds, combustion elements and nozzles. These tools support the design and verification of rocket propulsion systems and troubleshoot anomalies during the utilisation phase.The appearance of new propulsion concepts necessitates extensions of these numerical tools.

The millimeter wave domain is also known as the extremely high-frequency (EHF) spectrum ranges from 30 to 300 GHz. Early works on atmospheric propagation in EHF evidenced encouraging future usage for satellite communications. The allocated W-band for satellite services (71-76 GHz and 81-86 GHz) seems to provide a favourable attenuation window related to oxygen absorption. The exploitation of W-band may offer many advantages for wireless communications, which make it suitable for satellite links, such as: broad bandwidths for high data rate information transfer (e.g.

Medical imaging capabilities available in the ISS are today limited to an ultrasound scanner. While ultrasound offers a number of advantages, it also has several constraints, in particular in terms of operator dependence and difficulty in acquiring a high-quality images. In the field of medical imaging, ESA has for several years sponsored a number of activities focusing on ultrasound.

The presence of autonomous software systems as well as artificial intelligence components in onboard software is becoming increasingly widespread in space missions. As autonomous software is finding its way into more and more missions, having a unified approach for the product assurance of this type of software that can be made applicable across projects is essential.Many of the software product assurance requirements currently in place for space missions could be impacted by autonomous software, from fundamental topics like criticality analysis, down to detailed software quality metrics.

Currently extensive mission preparation / mission customisation ("missionisation") activities are required for each specific launch trajectory. This approach is costly and each launch can take place only within a narrow set of conditions (e.g. wind) risking postponement, increasing cost even further. Using a more aircraft like approach with guidance and control preparation according to flight envelope not per trajectory, while increasing operational availability and safety early in the development process is essential to achieve the benefits of recurrent space transportation flight.

Lessons learnt on the use of grease lubricants for applications in space mechanisms confirm their high chemical stability on long-term storage (LTS), due to intrinsic inertness of their fluorocarbon-based components which could be affected only via catalytic effect of metal compounds. What is observed even in widely used space-qualified greases is physical delamination leading to separation of the base oil and the solid filler. This delamination affects the lubricant?s viscosity and dielectric properties.