This activity aims to understand better the complete environmental impacts of space missions, filling the knowledge gaps from previous studies. This in turn allows identification of areas where impacts are concentrated (hotspots) in order to focus future attention for making improvements.

The project aimed to establish a structured approach to an optimised part or component by applying Concurrent Design methods. It intended to incorporate all necessary disciplines and competencies that are required for a potential spacecraft part. Within the activity, advanced manufacturing included various novel techniques, not only additive manufacturing. It means that the Concurrent Design approach was developed for the engineering of units to be built with a broad range of advanced manufacturing technologies.

The main tasks of this activity are the following: 1) Metrological assessment and gap analysis of existing thermal imaging methodology, data processing and uncertainty assessment, related but not limited to aerospace applications.

Due to the harsh nature of outer space, stringent requirements and performances are required from space systems. Thanks to evolving environmental awareness and the building up of a knowledge base at ESA, we are becoming more wary of the environmental impact of space activities on Earth. Through the GreenSat project, ESA wants to evolve from the assessment to reduction of environmental impact through redesigning an existing satellite mission. The project allows ESA to check the feasibility of implementing ecodesign in the development of space missions.

Mostly in the last decade, a number of initiatives have unfolded, also in Europe, for the development of a dedicated orbital launcher to serve the micro- and nano-satellite market demand with an addressable market varying by up to 100% across launch and demand studies. These initiatives as a result aim at specifically addressing light satellite customers’ claimed pain points including time and date availability, orbit selection, responsiveness, pricing, volume restrictions or complexity.

The Arctic Mission System Study involved two parallel studies conducted by consortia led by OHB Sweden and Thales Alenia Space. The scope of the studies were to identify needs in the Arctic region that could be met with mission architecture containing space elements, to propose such mission architectures, to define the elements of one of the architectures in some detail and to propose a plan to implement it.

Resulting from an ever increasing public pressure, the quest to be environmentally friendly is transforming the competitive landscape, as eco-friendly design results in a new frontier of innovation. As a public sector intergovernmental organisation, ESA is committed to prioritising environmental concerns in all its activities. Through its Clean Space initiative, the Agency is pioneering an eco-friendly approach to space activities.

Recent trends in miniaturisation of space hardware combined with the provision of affordable and standardised spacecraft components and structures is opening up space to new players and is rapidly increasing the traffic into orbit.