Space technology down to Earth in Hannover
ESA will showcase space technologies transferred to innovative earthly applications at the Hannover Messe industry trade fair in April. The space apps will range from iPhone heart measurements and a 3D-video camera to anaesthetic containers.
Visitors to ESA’s ‘Space Apps’ booth will discover a wide range of novel solutions for use on Earth – all made possible thanks to technologies developed for European space programmes.
Impressive products and technology spin-offs will illustrate the huge untapped potential of adapting advanced space technology for other businesses.
“Europe's space programmes are an important driving force for the economy, not only when delivering the target services, such as telecommunications, navigation or remote sensing, or discovering new frontiers in space but also when the leading-edge technology is transferred to non-space systems and sectors,” explains Werner Dupont of MST Aerospace, the lead technology broker for ESA’s Technology Transfer Programme and co-organiser of the Space Apps booth.
From jogging gear to oil-rig tanks
The ‘PulsEar’ device developed by Swiss company CSEM is a fully integrated heart-rate measurement system. The heart sensor is embedded in a commercial earphone and the heart rate is displayed in real time on an iPhone.
PulsEar's underlying monitoring technology was originally designed to study human behaviour during future long space missions – perhaps to Mars.
Dutch company Cosine has developed an easy-to-use hand-held high-definition 3D camcorder to make films directly for your home 3D TV.
It is a direct spin-off from the camcorder developed for ESA to stream live 3D via satellite from the International Space Station.
Heavy-duty and complex industrial technology has also been transferred thanks to ESA. The VETIS float uses high-strength and corrosion-resistant titanium and steel alloys developed for the Ariane 5 rocket’s hydrazine propellant tanks.
Developed by German company Formtech, VETIS can be used as a float for regulating liquid levels in tanks of aggressive fluids in the offshore industry.
Portuguese company Omnidea adapted a metal-forming technology originally developed to produce aluminium liners for telecommunication satellites. Now it produces containers to store anaesthetic liquid.
ESA set up a European technology broker network to bring space-derived technology and expertise to companies throughout Europe operating in a non-space sector.
German lead broker MST Aerospace will be at the Space Apps booth to discuss with visitors how to use the special technologies developed for space in their specific fields.
More than 200 projects have already been completed.
How to find ESA Space Apps
The ESA Space Apps exhibition booth will be located in Hall 2 at stand D56 at the Hannover Messe industry trade fair from 4–8 April.
It will be easy to find: let Ariane 5’s impressive three metre-tall Vulcain main engine guide you there.
ESA’s Technology Transfer Programme Office (TTPO)
The TTPO’s main mission is to facilitate the use of space technology and space systems for non-space applications and to demonstrate the benefit of the European space programme to European citizens.
The office is responsible for defining the overall approach and strategy for the transfer of space technologies, including the incubation of start-up companies and their funding. For more information, please contact:
ESA’s Technology Transfer Programme Office
European Space Agency
Keplerlaan 1
2200 AG, Noordwijk
The Netherlands
Tel: +31 71 565 6208
Email: ttp@esa.int
