New scientific missions require Ka-Band high power sources for the data return. Limitation on maximum antenna size and minimum required data rate can be overcome by increasing the transmitted power. At present, there is no off the shelf TWT(A) in the allocated frequency band (31800-32300 MHz) in Europe with 120W saturated output power. Instead, a 250W TWT in the range 17700 - 20200 MHz is under qualification and the feasibility of 100W TWT in the range 37500 - 42500 MHz has been recently demonstrated by test in a breadboard.

Many astronomical space missions observe at wavelengths which are absorbed by the atmosphere, as for example some infrared, ultraviolet or x-ray bands. Especially UV and x-ray optics have very stringent alignment tolerances due to the small wavelengths. Consequently, telescopes and instruments can only be tested at their operational wavelengths under vacuum conditions. Traditional methods for fixing optical elements and subassemblies (eg.

Metallic Glasses (MG) are a class of alloys which retain an amorphous structure in the solid state, when cooled from the liquid state. Formation of a fully amorphous structure for large cross sections (up to > 1 cm) is now possible for several alloying systems referred to as Bulk Metallic Glasses (e.g. Fe-base, Ti-base, Al-base, Mg-base, Ca-base, Zr-base).

Metallic Glasses (MG) are a class of alloys which retain an amorphous structure in the solid state, when cooled from the liquid state. Formation of a fully amorphous structure for large cross sections (up to > 1 cm) is now possible for several alloying systems referred to as Bulk Metallic Glasses (e.g. Fe-base, Ti-base, Al-base, Mg-base, Ca-base, Zr-base).

The supra-THz (>3 THz) bands have been recently proposed for low Earth orbit THz remote sounding missions such as LOCUS (Low-Cost Upper-atmosphere Sounder). In order to achieve coherent detection, heterodyne receivers at supra-THz frequencies are under development by integrating in a single waveguide cavity a Schottky based mixers fed by a Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL) as Local Oscillator (LO). Thanks to the QCL, enough LO power is available to drive the mixer.