Summary
- Closed for EoI
- Profile Type
- Research & Development Request
- POD Reference
- RDRDE20240515002
- Term of Validity
- 13 June 2024 - 13 June 2025
- Company's Country
- Germany
- Type of partnership
- Research and development cooperation agreement
- Targeted Countries
- All countries
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General information
- Short Summary
- A German applied research institute is looking to develop new methodologies and designs relevant for in-space logistics in the context of the EIC Pathfinder Space Challenge. The project will address three main areas of circular design principals for space components, piloting of a smart-waste-container and the set up of a decentralized verification system for secure documentation of components. Suitable partners are aerospace engineering and aerospace recycling companies or space debris experts.
- Full Description
-
During the next phase of space exploration, which already has begun, a rapidly increasing number of space assets must be made available in space: new space stations, orbital gateways, lunar and mars surface infrastructure and a rapidly increasing fleet of transport vehicles. Despite the dramatically tumbling launch costs it will not be possible to bring all the necessary hardware from earth to orbit. This would not be efficient and would also have an increasingly negative impact on sustainability. Thus, extended In-space assembly and manufacturing (ISAM) capabilities and capacities are required. The way towards economical, efficient, and sustainable in space operations will lead to a new Space Circular Economy (SCE).
The possibility of reusing (dysfunctional or outdated) orbital assets, whether directly or after refurbishing and recycling in space, opens the way to previously impossible missions: The planned re-use of existing assets in orbit enables the realization of more cost-effective but also larger missions. Large structures and infrastructures (e.g. satellites) that previously were too costly, or just impossible to be launched from Earth could be assembled in space, increasing mission flexibility, allowing a reduction of necessary launches through the use of in-situ-orbital resources.
In addition, new forms of economic activity are being developed, creating new revenue streams and opening up the market to new stakeholders. This drives the development of an ecosystem for the handling, distribution and reselling of used space systems, components and materials in order to make them accessible to new user groups in a second utilization phase and to provide the basis for their recycling.
In order to efficiently enable the execution of these new mission types and areas, new approaches, methodologies, and techniques will be required across all levels of the space mission design lifetime. For example, the definition of design principles for space asset reusability/recycling; the application of terrestrial logistics planning methods to the field of space logistics; and the conceptualisation of a space infrastructure framework which allows all these activites to be carried out safely, sustainably, and economically.
The German applied reserach institute is defining a project which will analyse, simulate, and eventually prototype technologies to serve as an underlying framework for the further commercialisation of in-space infrastructure. The following aims are currently defined, whereas the overall project definition remains flexible depending on the partners involved.
The project will address three main areas:
1. derive design principles for the circularity for in space components.
a. Catalogue for circularity-engineering
b. De-facto-standard for identification
c. Open Access publication of design guide
2. design and piloting of a circular-space-components-ecosystem with a smart-waste-container
a. Computer vision-based approach for the detection and transparent mapping of in-space assets and their attributes.
b. Development of a pilot enabling recycling, refurbishing, reusing
c. reselling/trading of space assets
3. set up a decentralized verification-system for the secure documentation of circular-ready in-space components or those suitable for further (in-situ-) use.
a. Decentralized product-database for verification
b. Lifecycle-information template
c. Ownership-characteristics and enforcement of usage rights (self-sovereign)
d. Digital Twin (connection of physical und virtual world assets)
The EIC Pathfinder challenge is defined as "Strengthening the sustainability and resilience of EU space infrastructure" and the goal is to address the emerging need for green, compact and affordable de-orbiting solutions and in-space recycling of space debris. Grants are up to €4 million. Deadline for applications is October 16th, 2024, therefore the EOI deadline is set for August 31, 2024. - Stage of Development
- Concept stage
- Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- IPR description
-
The applied reserach institute is open to discuss with any interested partner who feels they can contribute to this project concept. In particular the following expertise is sought:
Aerospace engineering partner:
They are looking for a project partner from the aerospace industry who has in-depth knowledge of the engineering of space components and transport equipment. The partner's task will be to derive design rules for the recycling, refurbishing and reuse of space components.
Partner with expertise in additive manufacturing for aerospace / in-orbit manufacture: They are looking for a partner with expertise in the areas of on-orbit manufacture and additive manufacture. This partner will be responsible for assessing how different manufacturing and recycling techniques can be integrated into the in-space logistics concept for on-orbit manufacture and reuse.
Partner with expertise in space debris:
They are looking for a partner who can contribute expertise towards assessing how the overall concepts and techniques developed can be applied and implemented in a sustainable way under consideration of the space debris environment.
Partner Sought
- Expected Role of a Partner
- The German applied research institute is looking for partners who are willing to work with them on developing this concept from a very fundamental level into a fully-fledge methodology and system which will serve to increase the resilience and sustainability of in-space infrastructure. They are ready to take on the project coordination but would also be open for other partners wishing to act as coordinator.
- Type and Size of Partner
- SME 50 - 249
- Big company
- University
- R&D Institution
- SME 11-49
- SME <=10
- Type of partnership
- Research and development cooperation agreement
Call details
- Framework program
- Space
- Call title and identifier
-
EIC Pathfinder 2024
- Coordinator required
-
Yes
- Deadline for EoI
- Deadline of the call
- Web link to the call
- https://eic.ec.europa.eu/eic-funding-opportunities/eic-pathfinder-new-template/…
- Space
Dissemination
- Technology keywords
- 02008003 - Logistics
- 02011005 - Space Exploration and Technology
- Market keywords
- 08004004 - Other pollution and recycling related
- 09001007 - Other transportation
- Sector Groups Involved
- Aerospace and Defence
- Targeted countries
- All countries