Implemented OSIP ideas — March 2022
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 March 2022, the following ideas were implemented through the Open Discovery Ideas Channel.
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Innovative anode electrodes with integrated heating metal mesh for stable lithium-ion batteries at low temperatures
ClearSpace
Offering high power and a long lifetime, lithium-ion batteries have a wide range of uses, including in our mobile phones, laptops and electric cars. They could also be useful for space, but there's a problem: at sub-zero temperatures, their available energy is limited. This early technology development project aims to develop a metal mesh that would heat batteries, enabling them to function well in the cold environment of space.
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Protective coating system for large structures printed on orbit by fused filament fabrication
Universitaet der Bundeswehr Muenchen
The space sector is exploring building large structures such as antennas, solar panels and radiators in space using 3D printers. But some of the materials deemed interesting for 3D printing in space are susceptible to damage from UV radiation from the Sun and atomic oxygen in Earth's atmosphere. This early technology development project aims to demonstrate that it is possible to produce 3D-printed parts from high performance polymers which are equipped with UV resistant thin coating in a vacuum.
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Development of new mycelium composite engineering material with improved mechanical properties used for additive manufacturing
University of Maribor
A mycelium is a network of fungal threads or hyphae that can sprout mushrooms. ESA has previously explored growing structures in space out of mycelium. This co-funded research project will explore whether combining mycelium with carbon fibre could result in a stronger structure. In the first step, carbon fibres would be used as a growth medium, which the fungi would bind or strengthen and consequently improve the characteristics of the new composite material. In the second step, the new composite materials would be prepared in the form of a filament for 3D printing.
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Innovative coarse-grained reconfigurable array platform for computing artificial intelligence on board
University of Pisa
State-of-the-art neural networks could improve: onboard data handling; fault detection, isolation and recovery; autonomous driving; assisted landing; and star-tracking. This co-funded research project will explore how to enable the energy-efficient execution of artificial intelligence and image processing algorithms for space applications, using programmable hardware architectures.
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Light-shift reduction of two-photon rubidium atomic clock
Centre Suisse d’Electronique et de Microtechnique (CSEM)
Atomic clocks measure time by monitoring the frequency of radiation emitted by atoms. Whilst atomic clocks traditionally worked using light at microwave frequencies, in the last couple of decades atomic clocks using optical frequencies have become more common. This co-funded research project aims to improve the long-term time-keeping ability of an atomic clock (specifically, a two-photon rubidium optical clock) without compromising on its reliability, robustness, and size.
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Hyperspectral space debris classification
University of Strathclyde
By analysing the light reflected and emitted by human-made space objects, this early technology development project aims to better understand their composition and motion. After demonstrating that this technique works, the project will design a prototype sensor that can be used in conjunction with a standard telescope on the ground or on board a satellite, then test the concept in a lab environment with a mock-up of a small satellite.
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Real time worldwide monitoring of ionospheric scintillation using geodetic receivers: from high-end to low-cost receivers
Universidad Politecnica de Catalunya
Read about this public idea in OSIP
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Effect of simulated micro- and hyper-gravity on gene fitness in bacterial biofilms
INRAE
Read about this public idea in OSIP
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Maximising the scientific outcome of planetary missions with ESA’s Spacecraft Plasma Interaction Software
Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies
Read about this public idea in OSIP
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Novel materials for low loss semiconductor supermirrors in the visible spectral range
Twenty-One Semiconductors
Read about this public idea in OSIP
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System analysis of an international planetary sunshade system (IPSS) for the mitigation of global warming
University of Stuttgart
Read about this public idea in OSIP
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BioProtect – bioinspired shielding material for radiation protection purposes
German Aerospace Center, Institute of Aerospace Medicine
Read about this public idea in OSIP
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An ultracompact hyperspectral imager in the thermal infrared
Istituto di Fotonica e Nanotecnologie – CNR
Read about this public idea in OSIP
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Development of a water-propelled Hall effect thruster
Imperial College London
Read about this public idea in OSIP
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Nanosatellites for space weather monitoring
The following ideas were implemented through the Campaign for new ideas for nanosatellites for space weather monitoring.
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Space weather radiation effects at LEO: real-time monitoring and novel hardware-based indices
Democritus University Thrace
Unpredictable and temperamental, the Sun blasts intense radiation and colossal amounts of energetic material in every direction, creating the ever-changing conditions in space known as ‘space weather’. Space weather can affect or damage satellites in space. This study will design a nanosatellite to measure space weather conditions and the effect of space weather on satellite hardware.
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Cost-effective, resilient monitoring of the ionosphere and thermosphere – providing distributed space weather as a service using nanosatellites
Spire Global
Society is becoming more dependent on a wide range of services enabled by space, such as satellite navigation, telecommunications, and Earth observation. But these satellites are at risk of being affected by space weather. This study will design a new nanosatellite constellation to provide space weather data across a distributed platform. The satellites will each measure just 60x10x10 cm, and will orbit about 500 km above Earth's surface.
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Plasmasphere monitoring for space weather impact prediction
German Aerospace Center
Read about this public idea in OSIP
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CUBE (CME Catcher Carousel)
Istituto Nazional di Astrofisica
Read about this public idea in OSIP
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Commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components
The following ideas were implemented through the Campaign for new ideas for the use of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components.
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High-temperature lead-free solder for internal soldering of EEE parts
Alter Technology Group
Read about this public idea in OSIP
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Characterisation of single chip adaptable radio platform
IROC
A specific type of device called a Radio Frequency System-on-Chip (RFSoC) Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is important for satellites using radio waves. This device is impacted by space radiation, but currently, the only available commercial off-the-shelf versions are untested or unguaranteed under radiation conditions. This study will characterise RFSoC FPGAs under radiation conditions to support SMEs, who need publicly available data to compete in the market.
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OPS-SAT experiments
The following ideas were implemented through the Campaign for new ideas for OPS-SAT experiments.
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A comparative study of high-level and low-level implementations of deep learning models for spacecraft
Mission Control Space Services
Not so long ago, updating the software on a spacecraft after launch was a nail-biting affair. Today, software updates are a key tool for recovering a faltering satellite. Reconfiguring hardware in flight is the new frontier and an exciting area of opportunity for innovation. OPS-SAT hosts powerful Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) and in this study, the team will use it to test new ways of deploying artificial intelligence never before flown on a spacecraft.
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Sustainable hydrogen production
The following idea was implemented through the Campaign for new ideas for sustainable hydrogen production technologies.
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Designing E. coli-based biohybrid catalytic systems for sustainable fuel production
Uppsala University
Using living systems to speed up chemical reactions could be promising for producing chemicals and fuels sustainably for space purposes. E. coli is particularly interesting for challenging extraterrestrial applications due to it being easy to culture and manipulate. But E. coli is a heterotroph – an organism that eats other plants or animals for energy. This co-funded research project will explore 'feeding' E. coli instead with electricity, which could make E. coli-based biocatalytic systems much more efficient.
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