ESA's Open Space Innovation Platform (OSIP) seeks novel ideas for new space research activities. Campaigns invite solutions to specific problems whilst Channels welcome ideas on more general topics. Those run by Discovery & Preparation, including the Open Discovery Ideas Channel, specifically look for ideas that could be implemented as system studies, early technology developments, or PhD or postdoc research co-funded by ESA and a university.
Discovery & Preparation started the following activities in 2023 as a result of ideas submitted via OSIP. Click on the title of an activity to find out more via the Activities Portal.
Utilising machine learning techniques to develop physics-informed generative design algorithms for additive manufacturing, Universidad Nebrija (Spain) – implemented January 2023
Deep-space food production based on single-cell protein production by means of gas fermentation, Solar Foods (Finland) – implemented January 2023
New approaches for the validation of vision-based navigation, Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse (France) – implemented January 2023
Silicon carbide bandgap reference using hybrid construction techniques for operation over -100°C to 250°C and 1Mrad TID, Nascent Semiconductor (United Kingdom) – implemented January 2023
Development of an order of magnitude better bromide broadband IR polariser and acousto-optic tunable filter, BBT-Materials Processing (Czech Republic) – implemented January 2023
Non-invasive vestibular prosthetics for use in altered gravity: ascertaining practical utility and neuronal integrity, Karolinska Institutet (Sweden) – implemented January 2023
Enabling healable composite manufacturing with towpreg for space applications, CompPair Technologies (Switzerland) – implemented February 2023
Innovative unit for the ECLS System used for air revitalisation focused on air disinfection and cleaning (ADC) - Clean Air in Space, Lukas Bucher (Austria) – implemented February 2023
Thermoelectric high-entropy oxides for power supply in the space equipment, Empa (Switzerland) – implemented February 2023
Novel Memristor-based neural network accelerators for space applications, TU Delft (Netherlands) – implemented March 2023
Development of an open-source toolkit of simulated EnVision and VERITAS image products by means of Magellan and Earth observation analogue data, Imperial College London (UK) – implemented March 2023
Towards sustainable and high-yield farming in space using nitrogen-fixing legume symbionts as inoculants, University of Zürich (Switzerland) – implemented March 2023
An inventive high-thrust micro-propulsion system compatible with small-satellites' safety and budget requirements, Sirin Orbital Systems (Switzerland) – implemented March 2023
High density Lithium Niobate integrated photonic circuits for high-speed low-voltage modulators, Luxtelligence (Switzerland) – implemented March 2023
3D printed bone-like scaffolds as a potential means to infer on the osteogenesis process in microgravity, Fondazione E. Amaldi (Italy) – implemented March 2023
Fluorinated plasma-based oxygen extraction from lunar regolith, Dublin City University (Ireland) – implemented March 2023
Multifunctional sandwich composite space debris detector, University of Surrey (UK) – implemented March 2023
Lunar Geology Orbiter (LUGO), TRL Space Systems (Czech Republic) – implemented March 2023
A technology-independent framework for edge AI deployment onboard satellites, and its characterisation on NanoXplore FPGAs, Università di Pisa (Italy) – implemented March 2023
Novel machine learning approach based on Graph Neural Network (GNN) to address the complex micro-physics of material strength properties for the design and verification of new spacecraft components, University of Oxford (UK) – implemented April 2023
Reliable and fast processing of urine allows for water and nutrient recovery in space, Cranfield University (UK) – implemented April 2023
Improving and leveraging OpenMP for the efficient and safe use of new high_x0002_performance hardware platforms, Barcelona Supercomputing Center (Spain) – implemented April 2023
Spatio_x0002_temooral fusion and artificial intelligence for plastic debris detection, Planetek Italia (Italy) – implemented April 2023
Task-driven super-resolution of Sentinel-2 images, KP Labs (Poland) – implemented April 2023
FSS-constellations for avalanche detection with passive radar SLIDE, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft (Germany) – implemented April 2023
Few-shot anomaly detection in satellite telemetry, KP Labs (Poland) – implemented April 2023
RISC-V-based SoC featuring a soft-GPU hardware accelerator for artificial intelligence on board, Università di Pisa (Italy) – implemented April 2023
Distributed, scalable and reliable onboard system software based on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) onboard computers, University of Strathclyde (UK) – implemented April 2023
Optimised artificial intelligence HPDP interface using Klepsydra streaming, Klepsydra Technologies (CH) – implemented May 2023
Fused Fiber Layer Deposition (FFLD) of lunar regolith, Aalen University (DE) – implemented May 2023
Real-time in-situ monitoring of particle deposition with on-chip electronic dust counter, Politecnico di Milano (IT) – implemented May 2023
An open source FPGA toolchain for a European space-grade FPGA, YosysHQ (AT) – implemented May 2023
Towards exascale reconfigurable and rad-hard accelerated computing in space, Politecnico di Torino (IT) – implemented May 2023
A photonically referenced extremely stable oscillator, Cycle (DE) – implemented May 2023
Detection of methane pipeline leakages based on a multimodal satellite data fusion and time series approach, OHB Digital Connect (DE) – implemented May 2023
Passive protective shields for lunar and martian outposts, Université libre de Bruxelles (BE) – implemented May 2023
Optimising countermeasures against cardiovascular deconditioning and cerebral hemodynamics changes in long-term human spaceflights, Politecnico di Torino (IT) – implemented May 2023
Wearable sensors of astronaut postures, Università degli Studi di Firenze (IT) – implemented May 2023
Scaling-up capability of human-robot interaction supported approaches for robotically 3D-printing extraterrestrial habitats, Delft University of Technology (NL) – implemented May 2023
Leveraging high reliability low latency machine learning for imaging during very fast autonomous fly-by missions, University of Tartu (EE) – implemented May 2023
Erbium-doped photonic integrated circuit-based amplifier, Luxintelligence (CH) – implemented June 2023
Control of spherical robots for lunar cave exploration using telescopic linear actuators for locomotion, University of Tartu (EE) – implemented June 2023
Probabilistic data structures for secure and reliable RISC-V processor, University of Twente (NL) – implemented June 2023
Towards the understanding of the subsurface planetary oceans using ocean-induced magnetic field, Charles University (CZ) – implemented June 2023
Getting the most out of image-level labels: weakly supervised learning for hyperspectral image analysis, KP Labs (PL) – implemented June 2023
Reusable shape memory shock absorption elements for future landing systems using additive manufacturing, CSEM (CH) – implemented June 2023
Highly durable vacuum lubricant formulations based on ionic liquids, MATERIALES (DE) – implemented July 2023
Using spatial augmented reality to improve astronauts' situational awareness and training efficacy through a novel seamless transition between training and operation for future lunar missions, German Aerospace Center DLR (DE) – implemented July 2023
Development of tailored surfaces for a more efficient production of hydrogen and oxygen in-space via PEM electrolysis, KU Leuven (BE) – implemented July 2023
MARSCROP - Martian Regolith Salix Co-cropping for Perchlorate, University College Dublin (IE) – implemented July 2023
Data-driven robust guidance algorithms to approach a tumbling space debris, Carleton University (CA) – implemented July 2023
Communication signals of opportunity for reflectometry (OUTSOURCE), University of Sannio (IT) – implemented July 2023
The GRACE project: high-energy giant radio galaxies and their duty cycle, Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (IT) – implemented July 2023
A model to evaluate the effects of microgravity on the structural and functional properties of the blood-brain barrier [BBBinSpace], Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IT) – implemented July 2023
Bridge monitoring based on single pass SAR images, University of Strathclyde (UK) – implemented July 2023
Towards a new method for snow property estimation from space using bistatic radar, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich - ETH (CH) – implemented July 2023
Design and study of a novel slow wave planar structure for miniaturized TWTs operating at very low voltage, University of Palermo (IT) – implemented August 2023
Development of a wearable, closed-loop neuromodulation protocol for enhancing sleep quality and architecture during long-duration spaceflight, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich - ETH (CH) – implemented August 2023
Simulation toolbox for unconditionally secure on-chip satellite quantum communication networks operating in the telecom wavelength range, Karl-Franzens University of Graz (AT) – implemented August 2023
Large Language Model agent to interact with Earth Observation data, Ask Earth AG (CH) – implemented September 2023
Noise rejection in optical communication systems using quantum pulse gating, Quantum Optical Technologies sp. z o.o. (PL) – implemented September 2023
Tools for laser stabilization for space-based atom quantum sensors, FORTH (GR) – implemented September 2023
SpaceHopper - Towards small-scale legged hopping robots for low-gravity space exploration, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich - ETH (CH) – implemented September 2023
Synthesis of nanocatalysts for solar energy conversion in reduced gravitational environments, Universität Bremen (DE) – implemented September 2023
Flow NMR-based online biochemical control of microalgae cultivated in photobioreactor for spatial food supply, Nantes Université (FR) – implemented September 2023
Investigation of dust adhesion with an original combined experimental approach (DOCEA) to support planetary, lunar and asteroid missions, ONERA (Office National d'Etudes et Recherches Arospatiales) (FR) – implemented September 2023
Advanced thermodynamic modelling of the Am-U-Np-O-Pt-Rh system to support the design and safety demonstration of Am-based radioisotope power sources, TU Delft (NL) – implemented September 2023
PRe-amp- & filter-free sOlar blind iMaging for low EarTH orbit early warning and localisation of fire ignition using novEl galliUm oxide detector arrayS (PROMETHEUS), Nanovation (FR) – implemented September 2023
Generation of entangled photon pairs from nonlinear metasurfaces, Silicon Austria Labs GmbH (AT) – implemented October 2023
Compact, continuous ultracold strontium sources for optical clocks and matter wave interferometers, University of Amsterdam (NL) – implemented October 2023
High temperature ionic liquids for electrospray propulsion, Ienai SPACE SL (ES) – implemented October 2023
Powder bed additive manufacturing of transition metal dichalcogenides-based composites for space applications (BEAM-TMD), Kungliga Tekniska högskolan (SE) – implemented October 2023
Compact optical frequency discriminator with low sensitivity to environment, SILENTSYS SAS (FR) – implemented October 2023
Spectroscopic radiation hard imaging detector for observation, astronomy and space dosimetry, Advafab Oy (FI) – implemented October 2023
Novel interlayer alloys for bonding high conductivity metals to silicon using laser powder bed fusion, Politecnico di Milano (IT) – implemented October 2023
Detecting gravity anomalies in asteroids: application to Hera's radio science, University of Liverpool (UK) – implemented October 2023
Regolith intelligence: ISRU prepping with machine learning research on lunar rocks, Universität Münster (DE) – implemented October 2023
Decoding the aerosol-clouds interaction from space: Providing the missing link of three-dimensional physicochemical characteristics of submicron (500 nm) aerosols, McGill University (CA) – implemented October 2023
Enable active control of surface roughness during advanced manufacturing using laser pulse shaping technologies, University College of London (UK) – implemented October 2023
Improved thermoelastic stability of CFRP sandwich panels with embedded aluminum heat pipes through the use of graphene-enhanced adhesives and nano-modified CFRP materials, Adamant Composites Ltd. (GR) – implemented November 2023
Generating an open AI training data set for Moon craters with crowd science via a videogame, Hochschule Darmstadt - University of Applied Sciences (DE) – implemented November 2023
Holistic approach on metal/high-performance 3D-printable polymer interphase connection for RF-antenna applications, Cubicure GmbH (AT) – implemented November 2023
Advancing space applications through 3D voxel-based multi-material laser powder bed fusion (SpaceFuse), University of Minho (PT) – implemented November 2023
Experimental replication of ablating re-entry vehicles in hypervelocity flows, University of Oxford (UK) – implemented November 2023
Modulation Of Microglia through Extracellular Vesicles in Altered gravity (-MOM EVA-), Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IT) – implemented November 2023
3D printing of multi-materials combining metallic powders with foils, and using beam shaping, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) (CH) – implemented November 2023
Explore the use of neutron computed tomography for structural analysis of extraterrestrial material through dedicated end-to-end studies of the NWA 7034 'Black Beauty' Mars meteorite, University of Copenhagen (DK) – implemented November 2023
Energy-aware infrastructure-free localisation for robotic swarms on lunar south pole missions, Michele Magno (CH) – implemented November 2023
Modelling and control of sloshing phenomena for new generation Space missions, Institut Supérieur de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace (ISAE-SUPAERO) (FR) – implemented November 2023
Design for additive manufacturing of spaceborne compliant mechanisms, CSEM S.A. (CH) – implemented November 2023
Nanoparticle coatings to mitigate the multipactor effect in high-frequency devices [NanoMitigate], Nanostine S.L. (ES) – implemented November 2023
3D-bioprinting of bacterial biofilms for complete removal of pharmaceuticals in nitrifying steps of regenerative life support systems, Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz (FHNW) (CH) – implemented November 2023
A novel propellant storage system for air-breathing electric propulsion, Cranfield University (UK) – implemented December 2023
In-space manufacturing of joints and tubular struts for on-orbit assembly of very large carbon fiber framework structures, Deployables Cubed GmbH (DE) – implemented December 2023
Recycling, sustainability and circular solutions for future exploration, Nextek Limited (UK) – implemented December 2023
Pioneering space power systems: Engineered porous electrodes via 3D printing and functional coating for metal-supported solid oxide fuel cells (PrintFuel), University of Twente (NL) – implemented December 2023
ML-Optimised low-profile antennas for small satellites, University of Toronto (CA) – implemented December 2023
Beyond Syntonisation: Demonstrating Upper Side Band Synchronisation, SENER TAFS, S.A.U. (ES) – implemented December 2023
Development of Refill Friction Stir Spot Welding (RFSSW) for skinstringer-frame stiffening of Al-CuLi cryogenic tanks, TWI Limited - The Welding Institute (GB) – implemented December 2023
Sustainable thermal joint workmanship validation by smart material, Touch Sensity (FR) – implemented December 2023
OrbitGPT - Generative astrodynamics, University of Strathclyde (GB) – implemented December 2023
How does machine learning taste: extending model-based design techniques to support machine learning applications integration, Politecnico di Milano (IT) – implemented March 2023
AltiCube+ - An Aggregated CubeSats Swarm for Long Fixed-baseline Radar Altimetry, TU Delft (NL) – implemented September 2023
Swarms of CubeSats for kW_x0002_scale Space-Based Solar Power (16U4SBSP), Sirin Orbital Systems AG (CH) – implemented September 2023
HydroSwarm increasing GNSS Reflectometry instantaneous coverage to address flood monitoring and soil moisture with cooperative GNSS-R CubeSats, Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (UK) – implemented September 2023
Radar Cluster for Earth Remote Sensing (RaCERS), GeoOptics Switzerland SA (CH) – implemented September 2023
Revealing Orbital and Atmospheric Responses to Solar activity (ROARS), University of Warwick (UK) – implemented September 2023
COMCUBE-S: A swarm of CubeSat_x0002_sized Compton telescopes for all-sky detection and polarisation measurements of gamma-ray bursts, University College Dublin (IE) – implemented September 2023
PULSARS swarm (Precision Ubiquitous Low-cost Synthetic Aperture Regional Satellites), Satellite Applications Catapult (UK) – implemented September 2023
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