Nebula Public Library

The scientific goal of the study was the investigation of the
electromagnetic and mechanical response of relevant basalt-like
materials after near-field radiation exposure, to assess the performances
of microwave-assisted drilling technology.

The objective of the APPS study has been to investigate the feasibility, architectural and system design, and potential performance of a non-nuclear system whose single goal is to provide survival and servicing support to a planetary payload element, in order to ensure its operations despite the absence of sunlight for extended periods. The principle aim is to advance concepts and overall approaches to meet this goal, and to provide a framework for the future development of key technologies.

The NEMS – Near-Earth Exploration Minimum System internal ESA study, conducted at ESA's Concurrent Design Facility (CDF) between March and April 2011 aimed at investigating and reporting on the main trade-offs, system drivers and critical risk areas associated with even the most basic human exploration beyond Earth-Moon system. The (purely theoretical) mission scenario addressed the transfer a crew of 3 astronauts from the Earth to an accessible Near-Earth Asteroid (NEA) and their safe return to Earth before 2030. Dust contamination was identified as a major concern.

This document describes the activities and the findings performed in the frame of the ODET-μ (Optical DETection in Microfluidics) project by Kayser Italia, a SME enterprise.
In this project, technologies for the integration of optical components were reviewed to define the “state of the art” in the field of integrated optics for detection on Lab On a Chip devices (LoCs).
LoCs are microfluidics based systems aiming at the miniaturization onto a single substrate (chip) of several functionalities that typically would require an entire biological laboratory.