The driver behind the MoBaTe activity was to propose ways to improve the current software development and validation lifecycle using MBSE techniques to shift some of the system validation activities to the early stages of development. The roadmap to achieve this included identifying strategies, required model properties, modelling tools and languages needed to move from a requirements-based approach to a model-based approach. All this considering existing and established workflows and tools currently used by ESA.

Due to the ongoing miniaturisation and increased performance of electronics devices, alternative cooling methods are required, specifically mechanical pumping loops (MPL). Passive two-phase loops are not capable of cooling ESA's expected power densities up to 300 W/m², so pumped two-phase loops are forecasted to replace their passive counterparts. According to Lapensée et al., “the most important component of a MPL is the pump and a pump failure directly results in MPL system failure, a reliable pump is therefore of vital importance". Wits et al.

Achievements and status:
•Review of the State of Art of probes for Plasma Thrusters.
•Definition of probes requirements.
•Design and fabrication of several RFCLP, a couple of FC and an RPA.
•Integration and assembly of the probes at UC3M premises using different UC3M-SENER owned HPTs prototypes.
•Validation (by test) of the probes: RFCLP and FC pairs comparison, and RPA-LIF validation.
•Post-processing tool for results processing and interpretation.
Benefits:

The objective of the project was to design, develop and test the compaction device breadboard in a regolith simulant testbed. An experimental test campaign aimed to verify that the compaction device can be successfully used to improve the surface geotechnical properties of two different regolith simulants: GreenSpar-250 analogous to lunar Highlands, and AGK-2010 analogous to lunar Mare regions.

To develop large-scale infrastructure on the Moon, many different systems will have to be shipped to the Moon to produce the necessary components. This means that the traditional design of systems cannot be assumed and a production machine cannot be expected to provide its own power especially when power demand is in the 100 kW – 1 MW range.

The project demonstrates a proof-of-concept of a next generation bio-inspired morphing wing inspired by academic research of the Peregrine Falcon morphology. Asymmetric span morphing has previously been demonstrated for UAV roll control via in-plane partial span change. This design has full bird-like span change and a unique out-of-plane modality. This offers novel drag reduction characteristics when made to form an airflow channel in conjunction with a fixed surface such as the fuselage, in “cupped wing” flight.

Radioisotope generators provide electrical power for spacecraft by converting the energy released by the decay of radioisotope fuel into electricity. Non-thermal converters (voltaic devices) make use of the photoelectric effect much in the same way a solar cell does. They are much easier to miniaturise for future chip-sized deep space probes, however performance quickly degrades due to radiation damage.

The project, named in short 'Plastic Monitor', was part of the ESA Discovery Campaign on Remote Sensing of Plastic Marine Litter, funded by the Discovery element of ESA’s Basic Activities. Plastic Monitor aimed to assess the feasibility of detecting heavy plastic pollution loads in an Indonesian river using satellite imagery and ground truth data, and to demonstrate how remote sensing can enhance the quantification and monitoring of plastic input into the marine environment.

The specific objectives of the project were to:

We aim to develop a novel control theory methodology using input-output process models for error mitigation in signal processing data-paths that operate in radiation prone environments.  In this approach, difference equations are used to characterize the process with perturbation corresponding to faulty digital circuits.