Implemented OSIP ideas — May 2021
ESA's Open Space Innovation Platform (OSIP) seeks novel ideas for new space research activities. Campaigns and Channels invite solutions to specific problems or ideas on more general topics, with those run by Discovery & Preparation, including the Open Discovery Ideas Channel, specifically looking for ideas that could be implemented as system studies, early technology developments, or PhD or postdoc research co-funded by ESA and a university.
Open Discovery Ideas Channel
In May 2021, the following ideas were implemented through the Open Discovery Ideas Channel.
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Asteroid collisions, a dynamical insight
Cranfield University / ESA NEOCC
The asteroid belt is believed to be grinding down through collisions, yet, surprisingly, only a few impacts between asteroids have ever been witnessed. But the record of these long sought collisions might be already out there. This co-funded research project aims to find evidence of past collisions between small to medium sized asteroids (<100 kilometres) from the dynamical analysis of their orbits, as retrieved from ESA's Near Earth Objects Coordination Centre (NEOCC) database.
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Additively manufactured high strength aluminium components combining bulk and graded lattice structures to save weight or to dampen a landing
KU Leuven
Additive manufacturing (3D printing) has significantly increased the potential of strong and lightweight metal lattice structures. For structural applications, the first steps are being made to investigate the use of these structures for weight reduction, and for improving mechanical characteristics such as stiffness, strength or energy absorption. This co-funded research project will take the technology to the next level, aiming to gain a fundamental understanding of the features determining the mechanical behaviour of real-life structural parts for space applications.
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Electrochemical splitting of CO2 for carbon and oxygen production in Mars conditions
National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics
The atmosphere of Mars consists (by volume) of over 95% oxygen and carbon, elements that are crucial for human life. However, most of it is stuck in carbon dioxide, which is a difficult molecule to break down. This co-funded research project will develop a reactor technology that uses solar power to drive the electrochemical splitting of carbon dioxide into solid carbon and gaseous oxygen, which are then separated and stored. On Earth, this technology has been touted as the solution to rising carbon dioxide levels. On Mars, it could solve two problems: energy storage and oxygen production.
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Enhanced probabilistic tools to improve verification and validation of space control systems
ONERA, the French Aerospace Lab / ISAE-SUPAERO
Current validation and verification activities in the aerospace industry mostly rely on time-consuming simulation-based tools. These classical tools have been used for decades to assess the performance of systems containing multiple uncertain parameters; whilst they are able to quantify the probability of more common phenomena occurring, they may fail to detect rarer, but critical combinations of parameters. In recent years, model-based analysis methods have reached a good level of maturity, but they also come with limitations. This study aims to combine simulation-based and model-based tools to improve the performance of validation and verification activities. It will demonstrate how to integrate these tools in a typical aerospace validation and verification scenario and significantly accelerate system design.
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100% biobased thermosets with high performances for structural materials and composites for space application
Côte d'Azur University, Institute of Chemistry of Nice
A thermosetting resin, or thermoset, is a polymer that can be cured or set into a hard shape. One of the most common types of thermosets are epoxy resins; due to their high strength and rigidity, epoxy resins are adaptable to nearly any application. But manufacturing epoxy resin releases polluting chemicals. Recently, safer epoxy resins have been developed using biobased molecules, but they do not yet perform as well as the original non-bio counterparts. This co-funded research project will explore whether biobased resins can be developed that perform well enough for space applications.
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Powder-based additive manufacturing for on-orbit manufacturing
University of Edinburgh
Taking everything with us will be too expensive; instead, long-term space exploration will rely on the in situ manufacturing of equipment and tools. Many in situ manufacturing techniques involve additive manufacturing (3D printing). Powder-based additive manufacturing is one promising manufacturing process that enables the rapid production of weight-sensitive/multi-functional parts in small volumes. The specific aim of this co-funded research project is to deliver a totally new powder-based additive manufacturing concept for a 3D printer working in microgravity.
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Identifying Earth-impacting asteroids using an artificial neural network
cosine
Read about this public idea in OSIP
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Autonomous trustworthy monitoring and diagnosis of CubeSat health
University of Luxembourg
Read about this public idea in OSIP
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Utilisation of a future optical ground station for plane-of-sky measurements to augment DDOR
German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Plane of sky measurements of spacecraft are currently performed using a combination of radio frequency ground stations employing the Delta-Differential One-way Ranging (DDOR) technique. But this technique relies on passive solar illumination and is not easy to do for more distant spacecraft. The signal from an optical communications terminal, however, is highly directive, and visible to optical ground stations even from planetary distances. This study will assess the feasibility of performing plane of sky measurements on a spacecraft carrying an optical communications terminal.
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Off-Earth Manufacturing and Construction
The following ideas were implemented through the OSIP Off-Earth Manufacturing and Construction Campaign.
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Advanced microcrystalline solar cell manufactured from lunar regolith
OHB
Read about this public idea in OSIP
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Combining ISRU and space debris for construction on the Moon
Technische Universität Berlin (TU Berlin)
Read about this public idea in OSIP
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