The European Space Agency (ESA) is using an image of a giant spaceship, more like a massive cruiseliner than a space vehicle, as a teaser for its VLEO (Very Low Earth Orbit) scheme.

ESA DG Josef Aschbacher says that ESA wants to “Unleash the potential of Very Low Earth Orbits: [and] calls for innovative missions, concepts, technologies and applications.” He adds that ESA is interested in supporting ideas for novel concepts and technologies.

“With this campaign we are looking for new mission and satellite design concepts, innovative operational concepts and applications, technology developments specific to Very Low Earth Orbits. Concepts could cover any space domain or application,” says Aschbacher.

The call is driven by the vision of ESA’s Agenda 2025, which calls for Europe to step up its role in space and help create new markets for space technologies that facilitate access to space, reduce launch and operational costs and serve green agendas.

ESA explains: “Very Low Earth Orbits (VLEO), situated at an altitude between 100 and approximately 450 km (typically 250-350 km), offer a number of attractive properties for space applications, in comparison with higher altitudes LEOs. Low power and possibly low latency communication options, high resolution EO systems with small payloads, natural resiliency to debris build-up, are just a few advantages. VLEO may become attractive for a variety of low cost systems or constellations given the lower launch cost and higher versatility in launch options, such as micro-launchers and in-orbit transfer vehicles. Furthermore, the more benign radiation environment widens the opportunities for utilisation of terrestrial grade, general purpose, electronic components.”

ESA says it is particularly looking for novel and innovative ideas for:

· New missions and system concepts for which VLEO is an enabling factor, or a significant improvement with respect to operations from a LEO orbit. These could involve single missions, constellations or swarms, and cover any of the current or potential future space domains.

· New technology development activities specific to VLEO, such as atmospheric-breathing propulsion, protective materials and coatings, GNC approaches and methods for aerodynamic interactions and control. Technologies for missions involving re-entry and possible re-use of space assets are also an area worth to be investigated.

· Research activities specific to better understand VLEO challenges and opportunities.

“In line with Agenda 2025, we welcome ideas for activities with a commercialisation potential and encourage idea submitters to include a description of such potential in the idea formulation,” says ESA.

Closing date for ideas is just days away, and ESA plans on discussing submissions on November 19th and evaluating of proposals starting on November 26th.

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Categories: Blogs, Inside Satellite, Satellite

Tags: European Space Agency, satellite