The Low-Cost Solar Panel Assembly GSTP Project has the high-level objective of increasing the European TRL level for innovative, high power to volume ratio, versatile, low-cost solar arrays, in this way contributing to cover the gap in this area with US manufacturers and to improve Europe global competitiveness. This new generation of solar power systems are also key to electrical-propelled missions in the whole range of orbits of interest

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.

For an extended stay on the Moon, humans require habitation with substantial protection from space radiation and micrometeorites. The lunar regolith is a readily available resource in-situ, which can be thermally treated to build lunar habitats/infrastructure and extract oxygen/water. Due to the volumetric heating characteristic intrinsic to microwave heating, it is a more energy-efficient process than solar or laser sintering for large-scale manufacturing and construction.

Optical high-resolution payloads require very high structural and thermal stability to work at their top performance. Performing a thermal analysis and being able to perform De-Risk activities is surely critical for what concerns optical payloads which is a highly competitive market.

The goal of this study was to develop a design for a lunar habitat in the close vicinity of one of the lunar poles and to demonstrate the feasibility of the suggested design in view of the available resources. The habitat should operate self-sufficiently in the long term by producing and recycling its own oxygen and food inside large greenhouses and almost exclusively by using solar irradiation power. The proposed  concept features a combination of:

Grid stiffened structures are a type of CFRP structure that is created by arranging multiple ribs in a type of lattice network. Each rib is created from unidirectional pre-preg plies and is joined together in nodes. For this particular application/technology also a skin is foreseen to close the gaps left in the grid structure. This type of configuration allows for structures with a very high specific strength and specific stiffness. The activity seeks to further develop the technology for use in a launcher inter-stage application.

Large apertures (antennas and telescopes) and long baselines and focal lengths in space have applications for telecommunications, Earth observation and scientific missions. Astrophysics missions need deployable structures mostly for the creation of long base lines of interferometers and large focal lengths, e.g. for X-ray telescopes. Missions currently in early phases may require for instance deployable booms of up to 100 m deployed length and positioning accuracy within a sphere of 1 mm radius or better and rotations lower than 0.005 degree.

Background and justification:

• The powder characterization method PowderGenetics forms the basis for later evaluation and correlation strategies. Among the numerous variables along the whole additive manufacturing chain, PowderGenetics is a way to allow powder material to become measured, compared and evaluated. It aims to become one constant within the process.

Achievements and status: