DOCSLIB.ORG

Orbital Cleanup Satellite to Be Launched in Partnership with Swiss Space Systems

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Orbital Cleanup Satellite to Be Launched in Partnership with Swiss Space Systems EMBARGO September 10, 2013 12:00 pm (Central European time) / 6:00 am (EST) Orbital Cleanup Satellite to be Launched in Partnership with Swiss Space Systems The CleanSpace One satellite has a new ally in its mission to clean up space debris. EPFL has entered into a partnership with Swiss Space Systems (S3). The company will invest CHF 15 million in the project and will launch the satellite into orbit. In 2012, EPFL announced its intention to design and launch CleanSpace One, a satellite whose mission is to begin to clean up the thousands of bits of jettisoned rocket and satellite components orbiting Earth at speeds of more than 28,000 km/h. The mission is crucial for the future of the space industry. Now Swiss Space Systems – S3 has joined the project. The Swiss company is developing a new method to launch satellites weighing up to 250 kg, and will take charge of CleanSpace One’s launch, now scheduled for 2018. EPFL and S3 announced their partnership publicly on September 10, 2013. CleanSpace One, a satellite to clean up Earth’s orbit The debris orbiting Earth is accumulating. Although collisions with functioning satellites are rare, each collision can generate several thousand new bits of debris. The problem is becoming increasingly serious and making space missions more complicated. CleanSpace One’s mission is to grab hold of a piece of space junk – in this case an out-of-commission Swiss nanosatellite measuring 10cm on each side – and thrust it into the atmosphere, where it will burn up. Navigating to and seizing the ex-satellite is a formidable feat of engineering. A three-phase launch Swiss Space Systems – S3 is now the Prime partner in this project. The company, headquartered in Payerne, Switzerland, is developing a new launch method for small satellites up to hundreds of kilograms in weight. A small shuttle rides piggyback atop an A300 jetliner. When the plane reaches cruising altitude, this Suborbital Reusable Shuttle (SOAR) lights its engines and takes off upwards. When it reaches an altitude of 80km, it ejects a vessel, which after reaching an altitude of 700 km, releases the satellite into Earth’s orbit. Both the Airbus and the shuttle are reusable and use standard fuels, making the system very cost-effective. The goal of this three-phase process is to make space more accessible – it cuts launch costs by a factor of four. And to make sure that this doesn’t end up putting even more space debris in Earth orbit, S3 will ensure that all the elements in the chain – including the satellites – include their own re-entry systems. In this context, their partnership with CleanSpace One makes perfect sense. “You can’t democratize space access without having a responsible attitude,” says Pascal Jaussi, CEO of Swiss Space Systems. “If we don’t deal with the problem of orbiting space debris and its accumulation, future generations’ access to space will be compromised.” The company will take care of launching CleanSpace One, which in 2018 will be the first satellite launched into orbit using the new method. All told, Swiss Space Systems will invest at least CHF 15 million in the project – CHF 10 million for the launch itself and CHF 5 million for assembling and testing satellite components and ground-based command operations. The satellite design is on the right track At EPFL, the project has made considerable progress since its public announcement in 2012. The design is slightly different – it’s a bit bigger than originally planned, and will weigh about 30 kg. Scientists have tested many technologies that could potentially be integrated into the satellite, some that are already on the market, and others still in the development stages in companies and universities. Finally, as part of a partnership with the European Space Agency, researchers are developing many key technologies targeting space debris – propulsion, navigation and reconnaissance systems and, above all, a device that can anchor itself to pieces of debris. ETH Zurich and the Swiss Universities of Applied Science are participating in this as well. They are counting on integrating their developments into the CleanSpace One project. Press package Images, complementary information, editable infographics, B-roll for broadcast TV : http://bit.ly/CleanSpaceOneS3 Youtube Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgxWuFj7d9I Contacts Grégoire Lorétan, Head of Communications Swiss Space Systems – S3 [email protected] +41 79 375 55 72 Lionel Pousaz, EPFL Communications [email protected] +41 79 559 71 61 Volker Gass, Director of the Swiss Space Center and EPFL professor [email protected], +41 21 693 69 46 About Swiss Space Systems – S3 Swiss Space Systems Holding SA is a Swiss company founded in Payerne in 2012, which groups and supervises the activities of its companies. Groupe S3 aims to develop, build, certify and operate suborbital shuttles to deploy small satellites up to 250 kg. The company currently has 40 employees and its overall budget up to the first satellite launch is approximately CHF 250 m. www.s-3.ch .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Swiss Firm Aims for Low-Cost Satellite Service 14 March 2013
    Swiss firm aims for low-cost satellite service 14 March 2013 Swiss Space Systems said it had already secured technological cooperation deals with key players in the sector including the European Space Agency, Dassault Aviation, the Von Karman Institute and Sonaca. Suborbital planes used to launch the satellites would themselves be ferried to an altitude of 10,000 metres (32,800 feet) by a special Airbus A300 jet that is already certified for zero-gravity flights. The spaceplanes would then climb to 80,000 metres (262,500 feet) to place the satellite in orbit, before gliding back to an earth-based "spaceport". The company said it planned to open such a Swiss cosmonaut Claude Nicollier on June 15, 2007, in spaceport by 2015 at the Payerne airfield in Paris. A new Swiss-based company said Thursday it western Switzerland, which has already been used would offer low-cost satellite launches which it claims by the Solar Pulse sun-powered aircraft of Swiss could be a quarter of current market rates. astronaut Bertrand Piccard. Swiss Space Systems said that the plan's low-cost A new Swiss-based company said Thursday it character was rooted in the reusable nature of the would offer low-cost satellite launches which it spaceplane and other launch facilities and that fuel- claims could be a quarter of current market rates. consumption would be far less than that of conventional systems. Swiss Space Systems-S3 said its goal was to offer launches for 10 million Swiss francs (8.1 million Countries including Malaysia and Morocco have euros, $10.5 million) using unmanned suborbital already expressed an interest in partnership deals spaceplanes that could carry satellites weighing up that could see them host additional spaceports, it to 250 kilos (550 pounds).
    [Show full text]
  • The European Launchers Between Commerce and Geopolitics
    The European Launchers between Commerce and Geopolitics Report 56 March 2016 Marco Aliberti Matteo Tugnoli Short title: ESPI Report 56 ISSN: 2218-0931 (print), 2076-6688 (online) Published in March 2016 Editor and publisher: European Space Policy Institute, ESPI Schwarzenbergplatz 6 • 1030 Vienna • Austria http://www.espi.or.at Tel. +43 1 7181118-0; Fax -99 Rights reserved – No part of this report may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or for any purpose with- out permission from ESPI. Citations and extracts to be published by other means are subject to mentioning “Source: ESPI Report 56; March 2016. All rights reserved” and sample transmission to ESPI before publishing. ESPI is not responsible for any losses, injury or damage caused to any person or property (including under contract, by negligence, product liability or otherwise) whether they may be direct or indirect, special, inciden- tal or consequential, resulting from the information contained in this publication. Design: Panthera.cc ESPI Report 56 2 March 2016 The European Launchers between Commerce and Geopolitics Table of Contents Executive Summary 5 1. Introduction 10 1.1 Access to Space at the Nexus of Commerce and Geopolitics 10 1.2 Objectives of the Report 12 1.3 Methodology and Structure 12 2. Access to Space in Europe 14 2.1 European Launchers: from Political Autonomy to Market Dominance 14 2.1.1 The Quest for European Independent Access to Space 14 2.1.3 European Launchers: the Current Family 16 2.1.3 The Working System: Launcher Strategy, Development and Exploitation 19 2.2 Preparing for the Future: the 2014 ESA Ministerial Council 22 2.2.1 The Path to the Ministerial 22 2.2.2 A Look at Europe’s Future Launchers and Infrastructure 26 2.2.3 A Revolution in Governance 30 3.
    [Show full text]
  • Redalyc.Status and Trends of Smallsats and Their Launch Vehicles
    Journal of Aerospace Technology and Management ISSN: 1984-9648 [email protected] Instituto de Aeronáutica e Espaço Brasil Wekerle, Timo; Bezerra Pessoa Filho, José; Vergueiro Loures da Costa, Luís Eduardo; Gonzaga Trabasso, Luís Status and Trends of Smallsats and Their Launch Vehicles — An Up-to-date Review Journal of Aerospace Technology and Management, vol. 9, núm. 3, julio-septiembre, 2017, pp. 269-286 Instituto de Aeronáutica e Espaço São Paulo, Brasil Available in: http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=309452133001 How to cite Complete issue Scientific Information System More information about this article Network of Scientific Journals from Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal Journal's homepage in redalyc.org Non-profit academic project, developed under the open access initiative doi: 10.5028/jatm.v9i3.853 Status and Trends of Smallsats and Their Launch Vehicles — An Up-to-date Review Timo Wekerle1, José Bezerra Pessoa Filho2, Luís Eduardo Vergueiro Loures da Costa1, Luís Gonzaga Trabasso1 ABSTRACT: This paper presents an analysis of the scenario of small satellites and its correspondent launch vehicles. The INTRODUCTION miniaturization of electronics, together with reliability and performance increase as well as reduction of cost, have During the past 30 years, electronic devices have experienced allowed the use of commercials-off-the-shelf in the space industry, fostering the Smallsat use. An analysis of the enormous advancements in terms of performance, reliability and launched Smallsats during the last 20 years is accomplished lower prices. In the mid-80s, a USD 36 million supercomputer and the main factors for the Smallsat (r)evolution, outlined.
    [Show full text]
  • Summary 2 013 Executive Summary 2 013 Summary
    Executive summary 2 013 Executive summary 2 013 Summary Introduction 2013 : Broadening the Scope \\\ 5 Mission A link between institutions, academia and industry \\\ 6 Role \\\ 6 Members A network in expansion \\\ 7 Projects Clean-mE / Active Debris Removal Toward solutions for an efficient debris removal \\\ 8 CleanSpace One in orbit with Swiss Space Systems (S3) \\\ 10 SpaceCam An eye in space to identify debris \\\ 11 CubETH A tool for precise orbit determination \\\ 12 Call for Ideas 2013 To foster disruptive space innovations based on ideas and concepts \\\ 13 Swisscube Twenty-two thousand trips around the planet \\\ 14 Events Space Career Day 2013 To grow the “ rocket scientists ” of tomorrow ! \\\ 15 ESA International Summer School A comprehensive overview of satellite navigation \\\ 16 Space technology summer camps Moscow Beihang University \\\ 17 International Astronautical Congress When all space actors come together \\\ 18 6th EPFL robotic festival \\\ 19 Members’Word \\\ 20 Introduction 2013 : Broadening the Scope The events heralded in 2012 came with a rapid pace in the beginning of 2013. The growth of membership, the clarification of our mission and tasks spelled out clearly for the first time in the terms of Reference document, the election of the first Steer- ing Committee and the appointment of its first chairman served to strengthen or purpose and direction. The reputation of the sities of applied sciences and the two fed- Swiss Space Center eral institutes of technology. Continuing is steadily growing education has found strong interest with among the national the prototype of a week-long systems en- and international ac- gineering course that will be opened to tors.
    [Show full text]
  • Forging Commercial Confidence
    SPACEPORT UK: AHEAD FORGING WITH COMMERCIAL CONFIDENCE Copyright © Satellite Applications Catapult Ltd 2014. SPACEPORT UK: FORGING AHEAD WITH COMMERCIAL CONFIDENCE TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 07 2 DEMAND FORECAST 11 • Commercial human spaceflight • Very high speed point to point travel • Satellite deployment • Microgravity research • Other commercial demand 3 SPACEPORT FACILITIES 47 • Core infrastructure required • Spaceflight preparation and training • Tours/visitor centre • Space campus • Key findings 4 WIDER ECONOMIC IMPACT 57 • Summary • Site development • Employment • Tourism • R&D/education • Key findings 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS 5 REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT 67 • Unlocking commercial potential 6 RISKS 73 • Accidents • Single operator • Local opposition 7 FINANCING 77 • Existing scenario • Potential funding sources • Other sources of funds • Insurance • Key findings Appendices 85 • Appendix A • Appendix B Acknowledgements and contact information 89 5 Spaceport UK: A pillar of growth for the UK and European space industry, enabling lower cost access to space, and creating economic benefit far beyond its perimeter fence. A spaceport will unlock economic growth and jobs in existing UK industries and regions, while positioning the UK to take advantage of emerging demand for commercial human spaceflight, small satellite launch, microgravity research, parabolic flights, near-space balloon tourism, and eventually high-speed point-to-point travel. Without a specific site selected and looking at the economic impact of a spaceport generically, this report expects the spaceport to deliver approximately £2.5bn and 8,000 jobs to the broader UK economy over 10 years. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1 Executive Summary Our plan is for Britain to have a fully functional, operating spaceport “by 2018. This would serve as a European focal point for the pioneers of commercial spaceflight using the potential of spaceflight experience companies like Virgin Galactic, XCOR and Swiss S3 to pave the way for satellite launch services to follow.
    [Show full text]
  • CSF Research and Education Fall 2014
    Subscribe Share Past Issues Translate Commercial Spaceflight Federation Newsletter View this email in your browser CSF REM Affiliates, I wanted to start by saying that I look forward to working closely with all of you in my new role as CSF President! I would like to schedule a REM Affiliates call next month which will be a great opportunity for me to get to know everyone further. Please fill out this doodle poll to let us know when you are available for the call: http://doodle.com/m92k5u7ipvz4k8ay. We held our semi-annual CSF Board and Members Meetings September 9-10 in Jacksonville, FL. A lot of great developments came out of the meetings that I believe will continue to move our organization in the right direction. The Board of Directors elected Frank DiBello, President and CEO of Space Florida, as the new CSF Chairman succeeding Stu Witt, the CEO of Mojave Air and Space Port. The Board also elected Mike Gold of Bigelow Aerospace and Sean Mahoney of Masten Space Systems to the Executive Committee. Additionally, October marked the beginning of a few staffing changes here at CSF. Tommy Sanford assumed the role of Director on October 1st. Additionally, Mike L-A has left CSF as of September 30th; we can't thank him enough for his service not just to the Federation, but to the industry as a whole. Please feel free to reach out to me by email at eric.stallmer@commercialspaceflight.org or by phone at 202-715-2925. I look forward to talking with you all soon! Sincerely, Eric EDUCATION NEWS AND CONTESTS NASA Space Technology Research Fellowships (NSTRF) – Fall 2015 Due: November 13, 2014 This call for graduate student fellowship applications solicits applications from individuals pursuing or planning to pursue master’s (e.g., M.S.) or doctoral (e.g., Ph.D.) degrees in relevant space technology disciplines at accredited U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Lot 1 (Contract No. 30-CE-036363/00-01)
    Ref. Ares(2013)617034 - 09/04/2013 Ref. Request for Services under Framework Service Contract No. ENTR/2009/050— Lot 1 (Contract No. 30-CE-036363/00-01) EVALUATION OF THE EUROPEAN MARKET POTENTIAL FOR COMMERCIAL SPACEFLIGHT Prepared fon THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION ENTERPRISE AND INDUSTRY DIRECTORATE-GENERAL IS01 February, 2013* FINAL REPORT By Booz & Company « space-tec With contributions of ^ PARTNERS This report is protected by copyright. Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged, save where otherwise stated. Where prior permission must be obtained for the reproduction or use of textual and multimedia information (sound, images, software, etc.), such permission shall cancel the above mentioned general permission and shall clearly indicate any restrictions on use. * resubmitted on 2 8 (Ш 2013 Ref. Request for Services - Framework Contract No. ENTR/2009/050 Lot 1 - Conunercial Space Table of Contents 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3 L.L INDUSTRY AND MARKET ASSESSMENT 3 \2 GAP ANALYSIS AND INSTMMONAL ACTIONS 5 2 INTRGDUCTIGN 7 2.1 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY 7 22 STUDY SUBJECT DEFiNmoN AND яюкт BACKGROUND 7 23 STUDY APPROACH 9 2.3.1 Stakeholder consultation 10 3 HIGH-LEVEL INDUSTRY AND MARKET CHARACTERIZATION 12 3.1 INDUSTRY STRUCTURE AND EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT 12 3.1.1 Vehicle manufacturers 13 3.1.2 Spaceports 15 3.1.3 Service Operators 18 3.1.4 Insurance companies 19 3.1.5 Competitive Dynamics 20 3.1.6 External Factors 21 32 EUROPEAN SCENARIO 23 3.2.1 Vehicle developers 23 3.2.2 Air/Space Ports 24 3.2.3 Operators 25 3.2.4 External factors in Europe 25 3.2.5 U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Swiss Space Systems – S3 Is Strengthening Its Network of Partners Towards First Launch in 2018
    Press release Swiss Space Systems – S3 is strengthening its network of partners towards first launch in 2018 Memorandum of understanding between Swiss Space Systems and Elecnor Deimos Madrid, 26 June 2013. Swiss Space Systems – S3, the new Swiss aerospace company, was officially launched on 13 March this year. Its goal is to develop, manufacture, certify and operate unmanned suborbital shuttles to launch small satellites up to 250 kg by 2018. Today the firm is announcing the signature of a broad scope memorandum of understanding as further step in the cooperation with Elecnor Deimos established earlier this year. This partnership will allow S3 to count on DEIMOS as key technology supplier and strategic partner, leveraging on its experience in space programmes for the development of a new generation small satellites launch system, and then enter the next stage of developing a manned version of its suborbital shuttle. Work is progressing to schedule Following the official launch of the company in March, the development work is going smoothly and S3's 40 or so employees are making rapid progress with the help of their partners and technical advisers, whose specifications have been defined and complied with. The technical data relating to the shape of the shuttle, its trajectory and the physical and thermal constraints are being validated through detailed numerical simulation by a team composed by S3, ESA and DEIMOS engineers, prior to the first wind tunnel tests which will take place at the Von Karman Institute in Belgium in July. A stronger international network of partners and advisers To reach its goal of launching small lower-cost satellites so as to broaden access to space for companies, universities and countries that could not afford it hitherto, S3 already benefits from the valuable support of prestigious partners.
    [Show full text]
  • Small Spacecraft Technology State of the Art
    NASA/TP–2015–216648/REV1 Small Spacecraft Technology State of the Art Mission Design Division Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California December 2015 NASA STI Program . in Profile Since its founding, NASA has been dedicated • CONFERENCE PUBLICATION. to the advancement of aeronautics and space Collected papers from scientific and science. The NASA scientific and technical technical conferences, symposia, seminars, information (STI) program plays a key part or other meetings sponsored or in helping NASA maintain this important co-sponsored by NASA. role. • SPECIAL PUBLICATION. Scientific, The NASA STI Program operates under the technical, or historical information from auspices of the Agency Chief Information NASA programs, projects, and missions, Officer. It collects, organizes, provides for often concerned with subjects having archiving, and disseminates NASA’s STI. substantial public interest. The NASA STI Program provides access to the NASA Aeronautics and Space Database • TECHNICAL TRANSLATION. English- and its public interface, the NASA Technical language translations of foreign scientific Report Server, thus providing one of the and technical material pertinent to largest collection of aeronautical and space NASA’s mission. science STI in the world. Results are Specialized services also include creating published in both non-NASA channels and custom thesauri, building customized by NASA in the NASA STI Report Series, databases, and organizing and publishing which includes the following report types: research results. • TECHNICAL PUBLICATION. Reports of For more information about the NASA STI completed research or a major significant Program, see the following: phase of research that present the results of NASA programs and include extensive • Access the NASA STI program home page data or theoretical analysis.
    [Show full text]
  • Swiss Space Systems (S3) Develops Its Activities in Spain and Strengthens Its Network of Spanish Partners
    Press Release Swiss Space Systems (S3) develops its activities in Spain and strengthens its network of Spanish partners Elecnor and its technology brand, Elecnor Deimos, have participated in the creation of the new company Gran Canary (Spain) — December 12, 2013. The aerospace company, Swiss Space Systems (S3), officially inaugurated its daughter company, S3 Spain, in the presence of the Minister of Industry, Energy and Tourism M. Jose Manuel Soria Lopez, representatives of the local and national authorities as well as international guests. The company will be run by Augusto Caramagno. Swiss Space Systems Group already has a partnership with both Elecnor and its technology branch, Elecnor Deimos, but the new S3 Company represents another important step in the development of its activities in Spain. Sener and Aernnova Engineering are also joining- in, and the 4 companies are forming an “Association of partners” of S3-Spain. The new Spanish entity will play a key role in the engineering of the sub-orbital flight system, as well as in the manufacturing of the Upper- stage. The Canary region will be the first European operations center as S3 will launch satellites from there in 2018. This will also be the first European location where S3 will operate Zero-G flights. Swiss Space Systems (S3) is developing its activities and now counts with more than 50 employees in Switzerland and the US. The engineering team, helped by their industrial and academic partners, is progressing on the Research & Development phase of the small satellite launching system, based on an Airbus aircraft carrying the SOAR sub-orbital shuttle on its back.
    [Show full text]
  • UK Government Review of Commercial Spaceplane Certification and Operations Summary and Conclusions
    UK Government review of commercial spaceplane certification and operations Summary and conclusions July 2014 CAP 1198 © Civil Aviation Authority 2014 All rights reserved. Copies of this publication may be reproduced for personal use, or for use within a company or organisation, but may not otherwise be reproduced for publication. To use or reference CAA publications for any other purpose, for example within training material for students, please contact the CAA for formal agreement. CAA House, 45-59 Kingsway, London WC2B 6TE www.caa.co.uk Contents Contents Foreword 4 Executive summary 6 Section 1 Context of this Review 10 The UK: European centre for space tourism? 10 Understanding the opportunity 11 Practical challenges 12 The Review mandate 12 Vertical launch vehicles 14 Output of the Review 14 Section 2 Spaceplanes today and tomorrow 15 Airbus Defence and Space 16 Bristol Spaceplanes 17 Orbital Sciences Corporation 18 Reaction Engines 19 Stratolaunch Systems 20 Swiss Space Systems (S3) 21 Virgin Galactic 22 XCOR Aerospace 24 Conclusions 25 Section 3 The opportunity for the UK 26 Benefits of a UK spaceport 26 Market analysis: spaceflight experience 27 Market analysis: satellite launches 28 The case for investing 29 Additional central government involvement 31 CAP 1198 1 Contents Section 4 Overarching regulatory and operational challenges 32 Legal framework 32 Regulating experimental aircraft 34 Who should regulation protect? 35 Section 5 Flight operations 37 The FAA AST regulatory framework 37 Can the UK use the FAA AST framework? 39
    [Show full text]
  • Abstract Keywords Abbreviations
    A review of design issues specific to hypersonic flight vehicles (30/03/2016) D. Sziroczak, PhD, Cranfield University H. Smith, Professor, Cranfield University Abstract This paper provides an overview of the current technical issues and challenges associated with the design of hypersonic vehicles. Two distinct classes of vehicles are reviewed; Hypersonic Transports and Space Launchers, their common features and differences are examined. After a brief historical overview, the paper takes a multi- disciplinary approach to these vehicles, discusses various design aspects, and technical challenges. Operational issues are explored, including mission profiles, current and predicted markets, in addition to environmental effects and human factors. Technological issues are also reviewed, focusing on the three major challenge areas associated with these vehicles: aerothermodynamics, propulsion, and structures. In addition, matters of reliability and maintainability are also presented. The paper also reviews the certification and flight testing of these vehicles from a global perspective. Finally the current stakeholders in the field of hypersonic flight are presented, summarizing the active programs and promising concepts. Keywords Hypersonic Transport, Space Launcher, Design review Abbreviations AETB: Alumina Enhanced Thermal Barrier AFRSI: Advanced Flexible Reusable Surface Insulation AOA: Angle of Attack CFD: Computational Fluid Dynamics CG: Centre of Gravity EASA: European Aviation Safety Agency EMU: Extravehicular Mobility Unit ESA:
    [Show full text]