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World premiere: Deorbit-Turbosail „ADEO“ by HPS selected to safeguard sustainability of Europe´s own constellation

By Jens Janke on 16. December 2021in Common, Companies, Politics

By 2025, Europe will have its own constellation of satellites to ensure sovereign capacity for both commercial and institutional communication channels. Fast Internet, autonomous mobility at sea, on ground and in the air, automatic exchange of information between technical installations, support for military and humanitarian actions, and other applications for public authorities, companies, and citizens realised by a consortium formed by Reflex, laser specialist Mynaric and launch service provider Isar Aerospace.

The European Commission is also very interested in such a concentration of innovative forces and selected the UN:IO consortium for one of its two study tenders addressed to companies from the so-called “New Space” domain and endowed with 1.4 million Euro. For the EU, a secure, very fast and, above all, sovereign communications network for Europe is a top priority.

In addition, it must meet sustainability criteria for the EU’s “Green Deal” – and that is where ADEO comes in: The ADEO subsystem is a scalable, deployable drag augmentation device that uses the residual Earth atmosphere present in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to passively de-orbit satellites between 1 to 1.500 kg. For the de-orbit manoeuvre, a large surface is deployed which multiplies the drag effect of the satellite´s surface significantly: The drag force is increased causing accelerated decay in orbit altitude. Advantageous about a drag augmentation device is that it does not require any active steering and can be designed for passive attitude stabilization, thereby making it also applicable for non-operational, tumbling spacecrafts. The passive ADEO subsystem requires neither extra propulsion nor engine, which makes it lighter in comparison to active subsystems.

So, after years of development, tests and zero-g- and in-orbit-verifications ADEO is now going to celebrate its world premiere as central element bringing sustainability to space on angel wings.

HPS GmbH

Point of contact: Dr. Ernst K. Pfeiffer, CEO
E-Mail: info@hps-gmbh.com
Telephone: +49 (89) 4520576-0

Laserschnelle Kommunikation zwischen Satelliten - Animation und Copyright Mynaric AG

Laser-fast communications, autonomous driving, Internet of Things: Independent European satellite network UN.IO to be built by consortium of space-SME

By Jens Janke on 13. December 2021in Common, Companies, Politics

European Commission supports preparations with 1.4 million Euro

By 2025, Europe will have its own constellation of satellites to ensure sovereign capacity for both commercial and institutional communication channels. Fast Internet, autonomous mobility at sea, on ground and in the air, automatic exchange of information between technical installations, support for military and humanitarian actions, and other applications for public authorities, companies, and citizens: the project is “Europe’s technological declaration of independence,” notes Walter Ballheimer. He is managing director of satellite manufacturer Reflex Aerospace and spokesman for the inner consortium circle formed by Reflex, laser specialist Mynaric and launch service provider Isar Aerospace. The three are at the head of a steadily growing phalanx of currently around twenty space companies in Europe. They all set the standards for innovation in space technology in their areas of expertise, but above all they have one thing in common: they are mainly small and medium-sized companies (SME), some of them still start-ups, that are tackling this task.

The European Commission is also very interested in such a concentration of innovative forces; a few days ago, the UN.IO consortium has been selected for one of its two study tenders addressed to companies from the so-called “New Space” domain and endowed with 1.4 million euros. For the EU, a secure, very fast and, above all, sovereign communications network for Europe is a top priority. In addition, it must meet sustainability criteria for the EU’s “Green Deal” and also build the technical bridge from today to a more distant future, when the communications network in Europe will then be extremely well protected against cyberattacks by quantum encryption.

There is a great need for speed, because Europe is still very far behind the U.S. and China, both of which have already largely realized their constellations of communications satellites. Without their services, Europe’s economy inevitably falls behind in many areas, but actually using them here implies the risk of giving away control. High time, then, for Europe to come up with its own solution, says Walter Ballheimer. “We have everything we need in Europe -we just need to combine and activate it highly efficiently now. Our consortium is ideally prepared for this task, because flexibility, speed and cost-effectiveness, together with the innovative strength of the continent’s technological avantgarde, form the DNA of the space industry. Example 1: At UN.IO, quantum cryptographic processes of tomorrow together with untouchable laser links will guarantee both security and speed. Example 2: Instead of conventional concepts that clog the Low Earth Orbit with tens of thousands of satellites, we achieve even higher communication performance by intelligently combining different orbits with just a few hundred satellites. And on top of that, we then, Example 3, return them from space at the end of their service life at record speed using an innovative braking sail instead of littering the orbit with junk.”

In six months, as required by the terms of the financial support, the consortium will present its technical solutions in detail to the EU. In parallel, however, work is already beginning on building the hardware structure, based on funding from the consortium’s own resources and venture capital, so that a first demonstrator can begin operating in space as early as 2023, followed by more than 400 laser-linked satellites, various ground stations, several control centers and other operational infrastructure until Europe’s own UN.IO constellation is fully operational in 2025.

A first round of intensive non-public discussions with top representatives of German companies and associations on UN.IO’s service offering is already taking place at the World Satellite Business Week in Paris in mid-December, with more to follow in the German-speaking, Scandinavian, Baltic and Mediterranean regions by the summer. Ballheimer: “In addition, we are convinced that we will be able to win national governments as well as the EU itself as anchor customers or partners. We regard the award of the study to our consortium as a clear vote of confidence by the Commission. We are grateful for this.”

Point of Contact

Mynaric AG: Bulent Altan, CEO
ISAR Aerospace Technologies GmbH: Daniel Metzler, CEO
REFLEX Aerospace GmbH: Walter Ballheimer, CEO

ASP PPU for constellations takes another hurdle

By Jens Janke on 5. November 2021in Common, Companies

ASP Equipment offers a new type of Propulsion Power Unit (ASP Spica-Virtus PPU product line) as a series product of a power supply for electric satellite propulsion systems. The aim is to meet customer requirements for quickly available electronic equipment in large quantities and attractive conditions in the new-space market segment.

The coupling test carried out in October 2021 together with Thales Germany impressively confirmed the success of the previous development activities. The test confirmed that operation at all operating points works well with the PPU, including switching of the output stage in different configurations (low/high voltage). The filter functions work reliably. The test also confirmed that regulation and adjustment of the operating point is possible without any problems.

The ASP Spica-Virtus PPU will soon be qualified for two different engines. This includes coupling tests with a HEMPT thruster as well as coupling tests with a HET thruster. Modifications for other thruster types can be implemented. The design is based on the operation with different thruster types (HEMPT, HET, Gridded Ion, etc.). The power range is between 400W and 1.2kW.

The main features of the PPU are:

GaN as the base material for completely new product features in terms of power density and efficiency
Identical functional blocks (half bridges) and common parts strategy
High efficiency through design optimisation at the best operating point in each case
Consistent optimisation of mass and weight

Advanced Space Power Equipment GmbH

Point of Contact: Thomas Hintze, Head of Marketing
E-Mail: t.hintze@asp-equipment.de
Telephone: +49 (0) 7553 5909 233

SME4SPACE industry survey: “Space activities of SMEs in Europe”

By Jens Janke on 1. November 2021in Common, Companies, Politics

Dear Company,

Following our previous communications regarding the survey on “Space activities of SMEs in Europe”, we would like to thank those who have already provided their reply (60 in total).

The replies we have received so far will be used for the analysis, but in order to obtain the necessary sample size required to derive qualified statements concerning the space activities of European SME it was decided to simplify the existing survey by reducing the number of questions and requiring less data to be provided. Thus, a new link with a simplified survey is provided:

https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/Survey_on_space_activities_of_SMEs_Europe

Kindly to note here that those who have partially completed the survey can either submit it as it is or take the new simplified one. The new link will be active until 30th November 2021.

By filling this questionnaire, you will actively contribute to a better understanding of the involvement of SMEs in the European space and space-related activities. As a result, this survey will be an important contribution to understand and represent the SME increasing share of the European space industrial landscape. As well as, to get the best overview of the ecosystem and also to benefit the community with future opportunities and support to policy making for space SMEs.

As mentioned above, the survey is organised with the support of the University of Leuven along with the ESA SME Initiative and SME4SPACE intending to provide a run-through of upstream/downstream and space-related activities (use of space technology in other industries) in the period of 2015-2020.

We encourage you to answer the questionnaire to the best of your abilities, not forgetting to go to the last page of the survey and click “submit”.

We would appreciate your participation and contribution in this initiative.

Thank you.

Kind Regards,

Rosario Pavone

SME4SPACE VZW
Technologielaan, 9
Leuven B3001
Belgium

Announcement of opportunity to fly payloads on ESA’s Space Rider

By Jens Janke on 1. November 2021in Common, Companies

SME4SPACE informs:

ESA is offering the opportunity for payloads to ride on board the first return flight, and future flights, to low orbit of its reusable Space Rider.

Applications should reach ESA by 30 November.

Space Rider’s planned debut is in 2023. Launched on a Vega-C rocket, it will provide a laboratory in space for an array of applications, orbit altitudes and inclinations. ESA has released a dedicated Announcement of Opportunity with no restriction on nationality for commercial or institutional customers.

More information on the following links:
https://www.sme4space.org/iod-iov-opportunity-with-esa-space-rider/
https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Space_Rider/Announcement_of_opportunity_to_fly_payloads_on_ESA_s_Space_Rider

EC-Study “New Space Solutions for Long-term Availability of Reliable, Secure, Cost Effective Space Based Connectivity”

By Jens Janke on 29. October 2021in Common, Companies, Politics

In summer 2021, EC DEFIS called under reference number DEFIS/2021/OP/0005 for 6-months studies for New Space Solutions for Long-term Availability of Reliable, Secure, Cost Effective Space Based Connectivity. A budget of 2.8MEUR is available for two studies.

With deadline September 29th, 2021 a total of 10 tenders was submitted.

Tenderers are consortia with leaders of LSI (Large Scale Integrator) and SMEs (Small and Medium sized Enterprizes) from different European countries.

The decision for contracts is awaited until end of 2021..

European Commission
DG Defence Industry and Space (DEFIS)
DEFIS.B.1 – Secure Connectivity, Space Surveillance and Applications

Point of contact: Ekaterini KAVVADA
E-Mail: defis-gp2-call-for-tenders@ec.europa.eu
Web: https://ec.europa.eu/info/departments/defence-industry-and-space_de

SPACE STRUCTURES GmbH to design and deliver structures for Lunar Gateway I-HAB module to Thales Alenia Space

By Jens Janke on 28. October 2021in Common, Companies, Politics

SPACE STRUCTURES GmbH from Germany, as prime contractor of an all-SME consortium, has been selected by Thales Alenia Space to develop, build and test the internal secondary structures for the International Habitation (I-HAB) Module of the international Lunar Gateway manned space station to orbit the Moon. The consortium includes four other SMEs: Romania-based HPS srl, and three other German companies, Spacetech GmbH, INVENT GmbH, and Astro- und Feinwerktechnik Adlershof GmbH.

The Lunar Gateway is a key element in the Artemis Program, a NASA-led international manned spaceflight program, currently scheduled to orbit the Moon starting in 2024. The Gateway will be used as an outpost for astronauts on their way to the Moon, and as a laboratory to carry out scientific research. The I-HAB is a pressurized module that will provide the crew’s living quarters, resources for pressurized and unpressurized scientific experiments; plus docking ports to supply vehicles in transit.

Thales Alenia Space is leading the race in the development of pressurized modules, providing half of the pressurized volume for the International Space Station and the first two pressurized modules for the AXIOM commercial space station. In addition to the development of the I-HAB module for the Lunar Gateway, Thales Alenia Space will design and manufacture the ESPRIT refueling and communications module and the HALO (Habitation and Logistics Outpost) module in partnership with Northrop Grumman.

“This is a major accomplishment for Space Structures,” says SPACE STRUCTURES GmbH CEO Dr.-Ing. Benjamin Braun. “It’s the largest contract in our company’s history and I’m very proud that our team competed successfully against many reputable companies. The I-HAB project is a great showcase for the space sector’s SME landscape, particularly in Germany. We’re demonstrating that SMEs can make significant contributions to even the highest profile missions.
We are grateful that SPACE STRUCTURES GmbH is being recognised by Thales Alenia Space and ESA as an attractive contractor to develop and deliver key structure hardware for human space exploration.”

About SPACE STRUCTURES GmbH:
Founded in 2011 by Florian Ruess and Benjamin Braun, SPS is a privately-owned independent engineering firm located in Berlin, Germany. Offering a range of products and engineering services, SPS specializes in the development, manufacturing, testing and supply of advanced metal and composite structures for space applications. SPS has worked on more than 400 projects with over 80 clients, ranging from enterprise- to early stage-level businesses.

Benjamin Braun, CEO SPS

Contact information:

SPACE STRUCTURES GmbH

Point of contact: Dr.-Ing. Benjamin Braun, CEO
E-Mail: info@spacestructures.de
Phone: +49 30 814549700
www.spacestructures.de

HPS antenna for space mission Heinrich Hertz passes meticulous test

By Jens Janke on 18. August 2021in Common, Companies, Politics

With the launch of the Heinrich Hertz satellite in 2023, Germany will once again be flying the black-red-golden flag in satellite telecommunications – twenty years after the DFS Kopernikus mission completed in 2002 – on the innovative “Small Geo” platform from OHB 36,000 kilometers above the earth. On board Heinrich Hertz are some 20 experiments on communications, antenna and satellite technology being conducted by institutes and companies to thoroughly test new satellite communications technologies for their suitability under the extreme conditions of space. Heinrich Hertz is nothing more and nothing less than the decisive step in the German space strategy to regain a foothold in the field of telecommunications with system capability of its own industry – on satellite and equipment level.

Beyond the previous design standard of installing only the receiving, forwarding and transmitting technology on a communications satellite, Heinrich Hertz has onboard processors for direct information processing and, in addition, for flexible readjustment of the satellite itself during operation. In addition to scientific mission objectives, the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Economics intend to use additional payload capacities for their own communications. And finally, Heinrich Hertz also serves as a relay station for smaller earth-orbiting satellites with a mass of up to 800 kilograms, extending their contact times to around 40 minutes each, thereby considerably increasing the amount of data transmitted.

All political and technical ambitions of the project depend crucially on the reliability of the invisible umbilical cord of data transmission between heaven and earth, satellite and ground station. With the successful test of the laterally deployable H2NBA antenna – the abbreviation stands for “Heinrich Hertz North Beam Antenna” – from the German antenna specialist HPS, this hurdle has now been overcome: The surface measurement of the reflector with laser radar tested 0.04 mm RMS (average deviation) over the entire reflective surface, the unfolding test in the HPS laboratory with 0-g compensation mechanics went off without a hitch; the antenna also passed vibration tests in all axes at the testing company IABG, Munich, under the extreme load of 25 times the acceleration due to gravity and acoustic tests up to 142.5 dB – this corresponds to the volume of a launching rocket.

The CFRP-based antenna including reflector, feed and tower, hold-down-and-release, deployment and pointing mechanisms from HPS or their subcontractors, is extremely lightweight yet dimensionally stable, offers high natural frequency and is suitable not only for the intended data transmission in the high-frequency Ka-band, but also for the even higher frequency band Q/V-band.

2020-H2NBA_Acoustictest -2

Following final on-time thermo-elastic and RF tests, the antenna will then be joined to the satellite in 2021/22 by the main contractor OHB.

HPS CEO Ernst K. Pfeiffer: “I am pleased and delighted with the results of the tests because even after a quarter of a century in space technology, as a passionate engineer you still break into a sweat during the murderous vibration tests at the latest. My respect to our structural engineers, who calculated all this so perfectly in advance and to all my test leaders who worked really persistent and carefully the last month to have a successful test! We are proud to be part of this groundbreaking mission at such a crucial point as specialists for both rigid and large deployable antennas, which we have been able to become thanks to the continuous support of DLR Space Agency and of ESA. After 20 years company history, with now 71 employees at our Munich locations and Bucharest, we stand for the M in SME at the level of the German as well as European space industry.”

HPS GmbH

Point of Contact: Dr. Ernst Pfeiffer, CEO
E-Mail: info@hps-gmbh.com
Telephone: +49 (89) 4520576-0

Falcon 9 rocket successfully deploys innovative technology to keep space sustainably clean

By Jens Janke on 18. August 2021in Common, Companies, Politics

On Wednesday, June 30, at 21.31 hrs CEST a Falcon 9 by Space X took off to a transporter 2-mission from legendary spaceport Cape Canaveral, Florida. On board: Italian NewSpace company D-Orbit´s ION Satellite Carrier on its „Wild Ride“-mission with tech-passengers from 11 countries, among that HPS ADEO-N2, named „Show me your Wings“. ION was successfully separated from the launcher exactly one hour after liftoff.

The ION-platform itself will now seperate one payload after the other on their respective orbits for in-orbit validation tests, until finally the platform turns into a test object itself, since it will be brought back „home“ by ADEO, the world’s only industrial NewSpace drag sail of its kind for the multiple accelerated return of retired satellites. The idea behind it: „Just keep space „cleangreen“ by launching only what you have equipped with a device to bring it quickly back home after use“, says Ernst K. Pfeiffer, CEO of German spacetech company HPS. ADEO is available from HPS in different versions tailored to the size and weight of the spacecraft in question. In this case, it is one of the smallest versions, weighing just 800 grams, with dimensions of only 10x10x10 centimeters³ and a sail area of 3.6 square meters.

HPS CEO Ernst K. Pfeiffer is convinced that ADEO came at exactly the right time to promote sustainable NewSpace development by avoiding the threat of apocalyptic space debris scenarios, despite rapidly growing constellations. In this context, Pfeiffer emphasizes the excellent R&D support provided by engineers and test facilities of the DLR Institute of Space Systems in Bremen, as well as the various economic development support contracts and grants provided by ESA, DLR and the Free State of Bavaria.

The implementation of the technology developed by HPS’s NewSpace Team at Munich headquarters was largely supported by the hands of engineers and technicians of the Romanian subsidiary and Romanian workshops. This is now, according to Pfeiffer, „our clear advantage having all in one company: heritage from institutional space, a tailored „internal start-up department“, a steadily growing house in Bucharest and several trustful development and production partners. New and expanded challenges to innovation and manufacturing are already waiting.“

At the end of the nominal ION-mission, in front of its “eyes” of the integrated cameras, the ADEO braking sail module unfolds, shows its „wings“ and leads ION to residue-free disposal by incineration in the atmosphere much quicker than without the sail. The first 100 km of descent will be monitored intensively. This is planned to happen in a mission slot between December ´21 and January ´22. This mission now is the last verification in a series that also encompasses a first flight on Rocket Lab´s Electron in 2019 and several parabolic flights until 2021.

With this inflight-proof of maturity ADEO is targeted to go then into serial production for customers already waiting in the U.S., Europe and Asia.

HPS GmbH

Point of Contact: Dr. Ernst Pfeiffer, CEO
E-Mail: info@hps-gmbh.com
Telephone: +49 (89) 4520576-0

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