eSpace - EPFL Space Center

Aerospace Europe ConferenceJoint 10th EUCASS - 9th CEAS Conference
2023-07-09 - 2023-07-13 | Swisstech Convention Center, Quartier Nord EPFL, Route Louis-Favre 2, Ecublens, Vaud, 1024, Switzerland
About the conference

The Aerospace Europe Conference 2023 is a joint event between the 10th European Conference for Aerospace Sciences (EUCASS) and the 9th conference of the Council of European Aerospace Societies (CEAS).
The objectives in 2023 are to strengthen the link between space and aeronautics, facilitate cross-fertilisation and lay the foundations for a major unified international congress of aerospace sciences in Europe. With rich scientific content for the future of space and aeronautics, the Aerospace Europe Conference 2023 will present cutting-edge ideas for the world of tomorrow.
Organised at the Swiss Tech Convention Center in Lausanne, Switzerland, the conference will also be an opportunity to discover the city, the Olympic Capital of the world, as well as the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ranked 16th in the QS World University Ranking.

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"Aiming High: The Story of the James Webb Space Telescope and How it is Changing our View of the Universe", by Thomas Zurbuchen
2023-07-11 18:00 - 19:00 (Europe/Zurich) | EPFL Polydome, EPFL Route de la Sorge PO1, Lausanne, Vaud, 1015, Switzerland
Thomas Zurbuchen is the longest continually running Head of Science at NASA from 2016 to 2022. Previously Professor for Space Science and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Michigan. Also founder of the largest Entrepreneurship programme at American Universities – the Michigan Center for Entrepreneurship – and a member of the international Academy of Astronautics.
PROGRAMME5:45 pm Doors open6:00 pm Welcome Address by Martin Vetterli, President of EPFL6:10 pm Conference by Thomas Zurbuchen, Astrophysicist6:40 pm Q&A moderated by Julie Böhning, Co-founder, Gruyère Space Program7:00 pm Closing remarks by Aude Pugin, CEO, APCO Technologies7:05 pm Cocktail8:00 pm End of the event
In partnership with:
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Aerospace Europe Conference 2023 x Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC)
2023-07-14 09:30 - 17:00 | EPFL BC 420, BC Bulding, Rue Jean-Daniel-Colladon, Lausanne, Vaud, 1015, Switzerland
Please note that the event will be live on Zoom between 9h30 and 12h30.
The afternoon workshop will not be live streamed.
The event will take place on the 14th of July 2023, starting at 09:30am, in person at EPFL in Lausanne, Switzerland, held in partnership with

the Aerospace Europe Conference (AEC) and
the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) Switzerland + the Diversity and Gender Equality Project Group.

Programme

The entire event will begin at 9:30 in the morning, and lunch will be provided.
Morning session: presentation from speakers:

9:30, Anastasia Pesce – Lead Engineer Product Quality ESA: “How to Establish a Culture for women visibility in Aerospace”.
9:55, Chloé Carrière – Space influencer wishing to close the gap between science and society: “Taking the road less travelled”.
10:20, Julien Bonnaud – Industrial Relations at Space Exchange Switzerland (SXS) and Swiss Delegate at ESA (THAG), ex. ESA. “Opportunities for young professionals”

10:45, Morning break

11:15, “Panel discussion”, interaction

12:00, Lunch

Afternoon: Workshop (About 3h)
In this workshop, we aim to explore the significance of gender-disaggregated data and its impact on decision-making, policy formulation, and resource allocation. We will delve into the challenges faced in collecting gender-sensitive data, identify existing gaps, and discuss strategies to bridge them effectively with a keen focus on empathy mapping! During the workshop, you will have the opportunity to engage in design activities, interactive discussions, and share your insights and experiences. Together, we can foster a deeper understanding of the gender data gap and work towards solutions that promote gender equality and social progress. This workshop is open to all individuals who are passionate about promoting gender equity and inclusive data practices, your unique perspectives and contributions are invaluable.

Commercial Space Days
2023-09-11 - 2023-09-12 | Lucerne Culture and Congress Centre (Kultur- und Kongresszentrum Luzern), Europap, Luzern, 6003, Switzerland
Switzerland is currently revising its space policy and devising a national legal framework for space, recognizing international developments. The Swiss Space Office is seeking inputs to its innovation policy.
The European Space Agency is making similar efforts, having established a Directorate for Commercialization and accompanying Center (ECSECO), and expanding their roles in supporting players of the NewSpace era through its own incubation network (ESA BIC).
The current crossroads and need for new policy and commercial thinking are a call for action to the space community, finding responses solidly grounded in economics and innovation management, learning from other sectors, space verticals and defining viable solutions for economic, environmental, and social sustainability.

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SXS Space Career Events 2023
2023-09-12 | Lucerne Culture and Congress Centre (Kultur- und Kongresszentrum Luzern), Europap, Luzern, 6003, Switzerland
Tuesday 12.09: in Luzern (KKL) – 9:00 to 10:00 – Details

RF System Design for Robotic Spacecraft Requirements - Design Challenges and Emerging Technologies, by Hannes Bartle
2023-09-27 17:30 - 18:30 | ZOOM
A cornerstone of space sustainability is the ability to efficiently service, repair and refuel spacecrafts in orbit. From low earth orbit to geostationary orbits, the need for such In-Orbit Servicing (IOS) missions is clearly identified and several companies are trying to race each other to be the first to market. Additionally, as the problem of space debris is more and more recognized as such by private and government stakeholders, Active Debris Removal (ADR) missions will be important to reduce the risk of the Kessler syndrome to set in.
One of the many challenges these types of missions entail is the design of reliable and secure RF systems covering communications, radar and RF sensing. The unique set of requirements posed by a highly agile, robotic spacecraft poses several challenges for RF systems in terms of performance, reliability and cost. This talk will give an overview of typical requirements, trade-offs and regulatory hurdles that one will encounter when designing RF systems for robotic spacecrafts. Furthermore, an overview of emerging technologies and current research will be provided.

Hannes Bartle is an Industrial PhD student in the Microwaves and Antennas Group (MAG) at EPFL, while being employed by ClearSpace SA. His research focuses on the field of mutual coupling between antennas and installed antenna performance on electrically large structures. He is the technical point of contact regarding RF and antenna related topics at ClearSpace and is responsible for the development, design and procurement of RF hardware and antennas, most notably the ClearSpace-1 communication systems. He received a B.Eng in Aerospace Engineering from the Corporate State University Friedrichshafen, Germany, and an M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from Aarhus University, Denmark.

SXS Space Career Events 2023
2023-09-28 | GE
Thursday 28.09: at EPFL – 12:15 to 14:15 (lunch) – Details & Registration

SXS Space Career Events 2023
2023-09-29 | GE
Friday 29.09: at ETHZ – 12:15 to 14:15 – Details & Registration
Friday 29.09: at UZH – 14:00 to 18:00 – Details & Registration

International Astronautical Congress 2023
2023-10-02 - 2023-10-06 | Baku Convention Center, Tabriz St 130, Baku, 9VW8+X5W, Azerbaijan
The International Astronautical Congress is an excellent platform that brings us all together, united in the face of global challenges and ready to explore the untapped potential of the space for the benefit of the humanity.
In 2023, the global space community will convene in Baku at the International Astronautical Congress once again, exactly 50 years after Baku hosted the 24th edition of the IAC and became the first and the only city in the region to do so. This, certainly, is a major occasion in the history of the space industry development in Azerbaijan, as it is one of the core priorities of our vision as a country aspiring to foster the formation of regional space ecosystem and strengthen its position as an emerging space nation.

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SWIR/NIR SPAD Image Sensors for LIDAR and Quantum Imaging Applications, by prof. Edoardo Charbon
2023-10-11 17:30 - 18:30 | ZOOM
In this talk, prof. Charbon will review the evolution of solid-state photon counting sensors from avalanche photodiodes (APDs) to silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) to single-photon avalanche diodes (SPADs). The impact of these sensors on LiDAR has been remarkable, however, more innovations are to come with the continuous advance of integrated SPADs and the introduction of powerful computational imaging techniques directly coupled to SPADs/SiPMs. New technologies, such as 3D-stacking in combination with Ge and InP/InGaAs SPAD sensors, are accelerating the adoption of SWIR/NIR image sensors, while enabling new sensing functionalities. Prof. Charbon will conclude the talk with a technological perspective on how all these technologies could come together in low-cost, computational-intensive image sensors, for affordable, yet powerful quantum imaging.

Edoardo Charbon (SM’00 F’17) received the Diploma from ETH Zurich, the M.S. from the University of California at San Diego, and the Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley in 1988, 1991, and 1995, respectively, all in electrical engineering and EECS. He has consulted with numerous organizations, including Bosch, X-Fab, Texas Instruments, Maxim, Sony, Agilent, and the Carlyle Group. He was with Cadence Design Systems from 1995 to 2000, where he was the Architect of the company’s initiative on information hiding for intellectual property protection. In 2000, he joined Canesta Inc., as the Chief Architect, where he led the development of wireless 3-D CMOS image sensors.
Since 2002 he has been a member of the faculty of EPFL, where is a full professor. From 2008 to 2016 he was with Delft University of Technology’s as Chair of VLSI design. Dr. Charbon has been the driving force behind the creation of deep-submicron CMOS SPAD technology, which is mass-produced since 2015 and is present in telemeters, proximity sensors, and medical diagnostics tools. His interests span from 3-D vision, LiDAR, FLIM, FCS, NIROT to super-resolution microscopy, time-resolved Raman spectroscopy, and cryo-CMOS circuits and systems for quantum computing. He has authored or co-authored over 400 papers and two books, and he holds 24 patents. Dr. Charbon is the recipient of the 2023 IISS Pioneering Achievement Award, he is a distinguished visiting scholar of the W. M. Keck Institute for Space at Caltech, a fellow of the Kavli Institute of Nanoscience Delft, a distinguished lecturer of the IEEE Photonics Society, and a fellow of the IEEE.

Clean Space Industry Days 2023
2023-10-16 - 2023-10-20 | ESA ESTEC, Keplerlaan 1, Noordwijk, 2201 AZ, Netherlands
The Clean Space Industry Days (CSID) 2023 is a must-attend event for all space professionals and enthusiasts working on designing and building sustainable space missions!
The five-day event will focus on the progress made in the fields of

eco-design for space,
end-of-life management,
active debris removal and in-orbit servicing

Furthermore, the CSID will explore ways to consolidate the ESA Zero Debris approach.
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Space Sustainability: Challenges and Outlook
2023-11-03 12:45 - 17:00 | EPFL BC 420, BC Bulding, Rue Jean-Daniel-Colladon, Lausanne, Vaud, 1015, Switzerland
Organized in collaboration with eSpace – EPFL Space Center , this second conference will be on the theme of “Space Sustainability: Challenges and Outlook”.An array of specialists will provide their expertise on the various dimensions of this theme, as well as their legal implications. REGISTER

What can we do about climate change?
2023-11-13 17:30 - 18:30 | EPFL Campus room MED 0 1418
Global warming and its consequences are provoking today climate upheavals that threaten biodiversity and the well being of all living beings on our planet Earth.
Charling Tao will briefly describe the urgency of the situation and discuss some existing solutions, that have been implemented, or are proposed by space scientists and others.

Charling Tao is a grandmother and CNRS director of research emerita in Center of Particle Physics Marseille, France and emerita professor of cosmology, Department of Astronomy, Tsinghua University, China.
A long term activist, she has (co-) founded Ecosystem Restoration Communities (Camps), and the Weathermakers for a Sinai (re)greening
She is an ambassador for the Egyptian Center for Desert Research and Habiba community in Nuweiba, Sinai.

Commons in Space 2023
2023-11-15 - 2023-11-17 | GE
This conference aims to bring together scholars and practitioners on the commons in space. The increasing dependence of our societies on space infrastructures (GPS, remote sensing, internet access, etc.) and the potential mining of rare minerals for energy transitions are causing new sustainability challenges due to the lack of governance of human activities in outer space.
Topics such as space debris and congesting orbital space due to increasing satellites, mining of celestial bodies, protection of dark night sky, utilization of different space resources in our solar system, and earth-space sustainability challenges will be covered. The increasing number of private and state actors involved in space exploration and the utilization of Earth’s orbit without a clear governance framework points to an urgent need to debate governance solutions.
With rapid technological innovation and space commercialization, how can existing studies on the governance of global commons consider the steering power of non-state actors, industries and sectors? As a virtual conference organized by the International Association for the Study of the Commons (IASC), we will facilitate a discussion between space scholars and scholars studying more traditional commons. What are the challenges ahead as humanity has to increasingly ensure earth-space sustainability? Importantly, how can commons scholarship provide models for diverse stakeholder groups to have agency and voice as humanity rapidly expands their activities on the Moon, Mars, and beyond?

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Information Session: Space Sustainability Continuing Education Course
2023-11-28 13:00 - 14:00 | ZOOM
Join us on November 28 for an Informational Session on our upcoming continuing education course, Space Sustainability: How to design more sustainable missions?
This session will provide a high-level overview of what Space Sustainability means: understand how can we secure the long-term usability of space and, how can we design and operate missions and space businesses with a keen focus on sustainability.
Target audience: Space stakeholders (engineers, scientists, non technical managers, policy practitioners etc), active in space agencies, aerospace industries or related fields and concerned about preserving the sustainability and safety of the space environment in the long-term
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In recent years, the exponential growth of spatial activities, driven in part by theexpanding commercial use of space, has yielded promising business opportunities.However, this expansion has also left behind a significant challenge – an ever-increasing population of space debris, with over 28,000 objects currently observablein Earth’s orbit. How can we secure the long-term usability of space and designspace businesses and missions with a focus on sustainability?
Space Sustainability is a new EPFL short program designed to:
Understand what space sustainability means (from historical, geopolitical,economic, societal, and environmental perspectives) and how to measure it
Explore tools and methodologies for developing more sustainable spacemissions (ESA’s MASTER and DRAMA suite, Space Sustainability Rating, LifeCycle Assessment & Environmental Impact Assessment, etc.)
Interact with the most recent research developments and explore the potentialadvantages of incorporating Environmental Social Governance (ESG) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategies within the space sector
This course is organized by EPFL Space Center (eSpace), EPFL (Swiss FederalInstitute of Technology in Lausanne) in collaboration with International Space University (ISU), IMS Space Consultancy and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).The program is designed for individuals engaged in space-related roles (engineers, scientists, non-technical managers, policy practitioners, etc.) and whoshare a common focus on ensuring the long-term sustainability and safety of thespace environment.
This course will take place March 19-21, 2024.
Course information & registration

The European Aerospace Sector: Perspectives from the industry, academia and the public sector
2023-11-28 17:30 - 18:30 | EPFL Campus room SV 1717
The aerospace industry in Europe is growing to meet a new demand for services in connection to Space, be it analytics rendered from data collected by satellites in orbit, transporting cargo beyond the atmosphere or building the necessary equipment or instruments to carry out experiments or tasks in Space. Switzerland and Spain, both members of the European Space Agency (ESA), can create interesting synergies to design and produce new systems that can compete in this new environment.
Isabel PÉREZ GRANDE
Head of the Directorate for Science, Technology and Innovation at the Spanish Space Agency.
Deputy Director of Research and doctoral studies at ETSI Aeronáutica y del Espacio (Higher Technical School of Aeronautics and Space of the Madrid Technical University)
Doctor in Aerospace engineering (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid).

Mrs. Pérez Grande has been teaching and researching at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (Madrid Technical University) since 1994. Currently, she is a Professor at the Fluid mechanics and aerospace propulsion department. She carries out her research at the Ignacio Da Riva Microgravity Institute, where she heads the Aerospace development and testing research group since 2005. Her research focuses on heat transfer, thermal design and thermal control of space systems. She has contributed to the design of numerous onboard instruments such as NOMAD in ExoMars 2016 (ESA), Sunrise I and II, SO/PHI and EPD in Solar Orbiter (ESA), as well as TIRS and ATS in MEDA in Mars 2020 (NASA).
She served as member of ESA’s Physical Sciences Working Group (2013-2017) and ESA’s Human Spaceflight and Exploration Science Advisory Committee (2015-2017).
Miguel BELLÓ MORA
Director of the Spanish Space Agency (since April 20, 2023)
Doctor in Aerospace engineering (Technische Universität Braunschweig). Aeronautical engineer (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid).

Mr. Belló Mora has been CEO of Atlantic International Research Centre (AIR Centre) since the year 2000. Additionally, he has presided over the Eureka research and innovation network in 2021 and 2022.
He founded the aerospace corporation DEIMOS in 2001 and was its CEO until 2019. He was the main force behind the launching of the first Spanish satellites to observe Earth, DEIMOS 1 and DEIMOS 2. DEIMOS has branched out in Spain (DEIMOS Space, DEIMOS Aplicaciones Tecnológicas, DEIMOS Imaging), as well as in the rest of Europe (DEIMOS Engenharia, DEIMOS UK, DEIMOS Romania and DEIMOS Italy).
Before that, between 1985 and 2001, Mr. Belló worked in the Spanish aerospace firm GMV as well as in the European Space Agency (ESA) in Darmstadt, were he was Business Director, Director of mission analysis and engineering and Director of institutional space programs.
He is a member of the International Astronautical Academy, the Astrodynamics committee of the International Astronautical Federation and President of the Constellation and Mission design session of the International Astronautical Congress.
Pablo GALLEGO SANMIGUEL
Senior Vice President for Sales and Customers at PLD Space

Mr. Gallego Sanmiguel has a wide experience in the aerospace sector. He has served as mission manager in institutions such as SpaceX (2015-2018) or ESA’s VEGA mission (2008-2012). He has participated in the launch of Ariane 4, Ariane 5, Soyuz, Dnepr, Vega, Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy crafts from Kourou (French Guyana), Yasny (Russia), Vandenberg (California), Cabo Cañaveral (Florida) and El Arenosillo (Spain).
He has been a consultant and business development manager at firms such as DEIMOS (2012-2015), ISDEFE (2007-2008), Hisdesat (2003-2007), Ariane Space (1997-2003) or CASA Espacio (1990-1997).

Second International Orbital Debris Conference (IOC II)
2023-12-04 - 2023-12-07 | Sugar Land, Sugar Land, TX, United States
The goal of the 2nd International Orbital Debris Conference (IOC) is to promote orbital debris research activities in the United States and to foster collaborations with the international community. The four-day conference will cover all aspects of meteoroid and orbital debris research, mission support, and other related activities.
Topics:

Measurements: radar, optical, in situ, laboratory, etc.
Modeling: engineering, long-term environment, near-term risk assessments, reentry, etc.
Operations and mission support: hypervelocity impact and protection, satellite anomalies, conjunction assessments, etc.
Environment management: mitigation, remediation, space traffic coordination, policy, etc.

More info & registration

EPFL Space Center - 20 years Celebration
2023-12-07 18:30 - 21:00 | Rolex Learning Center, RLC E1 240, EPFL Route Cantonale, Lausanne, Vaud, 1015, Switzerland
Registrations are now closed.
Join us for a celebration of 20 years of the EPFL Space Center! Since 2003, we have sent a CubeSat into space, hosted and launched startups such as ClearSpace and the Space Sustainability Rating, guided student teams to win international competitions and to send a computer into space, and awarded a Minor in Space Technologies to over 400 students! And that’s just a few of the many space activities that have taken place at EPFL.
So we’re throwing a party! There will be speeches, a look back at the EPFL Space Center over the years, a chance to meet your colleagues and friends, and of course, delicious food and drink.

Programme

Information Session 2: Space Sustainability Continuing Education Course
2024-01-15 13:00 - 14:00 | ZOOM
Info session objective: This session will provide a high-level overview of what Space Sustainability means: understand how can we secure the long-term usability of space and, how can we design and operate missions and space businesses with a keen focus on sustainability.
Target audience: Space stakeholders (engineers, scientists, non technical managers, policy practitioners etc), active in space agencies, aerospace industries or related fields and concerned about preserving the sustainability and safety of the space environment in the long-term
REGISTER
In recent years, the exponential growth of spatial activities, driven in part by theexpanding commercial use of space, has yielded promising business opportunities.However, this expansion has also left behind a significant challenge – an ever-increasing population of space debris, with over 28,000 objects currently observablein Earth’s orbit. How can we secure the long-term usability of space and designspace businesses and missions with a focus on sustainability?
Space Sustainability is a new EPFL short program designed to:
Understand what space sustainability means (from historical, geopolitical,economic, societal, and environmental perspectives) and how to measure it
Explore tools and methodologies for developing more sustainable spacemissions (ESA’s MASTER and DRAMA suite, Space Sustainability Rating, LifeCycle Assessment & Environmental Impact Assessment, etc.)
Interact with the most recent research developments and explore the potentialadvantages of incorporating Environmental Social Governance (ESG) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategies within the space sector
This course is organized by EPFL Space Center (eSpace), EPFL (Swiss FederalInstitute of Technology in Lausanne) in collaboration with International Space University (ISU), IMS Space Consultancy and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).The program is designed for individuals engaged in space-related roles (engineers, scientists, non-technical managers, policy practitioners, etc.) and whoshare a common focus on ensuring the long-term sustainability and safety of thespace environment.
This course will take place March 19-21, 2024.
Course information & registration

USSF-MIT researchers present their work : AI Technologies and simulation tools for SSA - Space Sustainability and Policy
2024-01-24 16:15 - 17:15 | ZOOM
Captain Jacqueline Smith is a Chief of Staff Captain’s Prestigious PhD Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She is currently pursuing research in Space Policy and Sustainability in the Aeronautics and Astronautics department at MIT in collaboration withthe Space Enabled division of the MIT Media Lab. Previously, Capt. Smith served as the Digital Transformation and Innovation Officer for Space Launch Delta 45, project lead within the Space Force Headquarters Chief Technology and Innovation Office (founder of the Supra Coders program), and Director of Space CAMP (a software factory focused on the continuous development and deployment of space command and control applications). Captain Smith has a B.S. in Mathematics from the University of New Mexico and an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.
Captain Jacqueline Smith will cover:

Utilizing the Space Sustainability Rating for emerging space nation missions
Modeling NASA collision avoidance actions using the Environment-Vulnerability-Decision-Technology framework
Continuing supervision (Article VI of the Outer Space Treaty) of in-space servicing activities from a US government stakeholder perspective using Systems Architecture Framework

Captain Tory Smith earned his bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the Ohio State University before commissioning into the United States Space Force (USSF) through the Technical Degree Sponsorship Program. His first assignment was at the Air Force Research Lab Space Vehicles directorate working on Multi-Agent AI systems. He then became a founding member of the Space CAMP software development factory in Colorado Springs working on various software applications for the National Space Defense Center. Subsequently, he was recruited by the USSF Chief Technology and Innovation Office as a project lead for service-wide digital education initiatives including Digital University and the Supra Coders program. He is currently pursuing his Master’s degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics at MIT within the Astrodynamics, Robotics and Controls Lab focusing on Multi-Agent Sensor Tasking under the advisement of Dr. Richard Linares.
Captain Tory Smith will cover:

Multi-agent Reinforcement Learning (MARL) approaches for scalable ground-based sensor tasking.
Modeling the population evolution of lethal non-trackable objects in LEO using the MIT Orbital Capacity Tool (MOCAT)
Comparison of simulated data using the NASA Standard Break-up Model (SBM) and empirical data collected by the Space Fence radar for known break-up events.

Solar Flare X-ray Observations with a Cubesat
2024-02-22 17:15 - 18:15 | ZOOM
The X-ray imaging spectrometer STIX onboard ESA’s flagship mission Solar Orbiter was designed and build with a Swiss lead at the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW). STIX is now in its fourth year of operation and has recorded so far over 45’000 solar flares. The STIX detectors designed by CEA, France, work extremely reliably with all 32 detectors still working nominally showing only minimal degradation due to radiation damage. We still have over 50 STIX flight spare detectors available, and four of those will fly on a NASA cubesat mission called PADRE lead by UC Berkeley (PI J.C. Martinez-Oliveros). In this talk, Säm Krucker will introduce the science of solar flares and the STIX instrument and then show how STIX X-ray detectors are used in the PADRE cubsat mission.
Säm Krucker’s main scientific interests are in problems of plasma astrophysics, especially solar and heliospheric physics, from an observational and experimental point of view. He has a strong background in space hardware and I have been the PI of NASA’s Small Explorer mission RHESSI and NASA’s sounding rocket program FOXSI. He is currently the lead of the hard X-ray imaging spectrometer STIX onboard ESA’s Solar Orbiter mission.

Integrating Life cycle engineering of Space Systems into the Concurrent Design Process
2024-03-19 17:30 - 18:30 | ZOOM
The application of Life Cycle Engineering (LCE) within the concurrent engineering process presents a viable method for assessing environmental, social and economic impacts of space missions. Despite the importance of this for embedding sustainability principles into spacecraft design, the novelty of the concept within the concurrent engineering process has meant that the approach has not yet been widely implemented. In this presentation, Dr Wilson will discuss his experience and the challenges of applying LCE within a concurrent design setting. Drawing upon examples and case studies, he will outline the progress being made within this field, and present key findings that are important takeaways when including LCE as an engineering discipline within concurrent design studies of space systems.
Dr Andrew Ross Wilson is a Lecturer in Environmental Management at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU). He holds a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Management from GCU and a PhD in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from the University of Strathclyde.
Andrew specialises in space sustainability, with a particular focus on life cycle assessment, carbon accounting and energy systems of engineering projects. However, Andrew’s technical background is in environmental management, and his work is extremely interdisciplinary. In this regard, Andrew’s services are often consulted by external parties with regard to the assessment, mitigation and communication of sustainability issues. This can often vary from being very specific and technical-facing, to being broad and societal-facing, and the range of risks, impacts and decision-making processes in between. Ultimately, his work aims to inform how society can transition towards a future that is truly sustainable, as envisaged through the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Due to his contribution to science and technological development, Andrew was awarded the 2018 Young Scot Environment Award, designated one of Junior Chamber International’s Ten Outstanding Young Persons of Scotland in 2019, won the ESA-EISC Space for Sustainability Award 2021, and was named GCU Alumni of the Year 2022.

The Future of Near-Earth Space. Space Debris and Space Sustainability
2024-04-12 15:15 - 19:30 | Istituto Svizzero, Via Liguria 20, Rome, Italy
The conference will be held in English at Istituto Svizzero in Rome and online. Free entrance.
Istituto Svizzero invites experts from different fields and institutions to a one-day symposium where they share and discuss their professional outlooks on near-Earth space’s potential development until 2050. The goal of the symposium is not only to get scholars from different fields into conversation with each other but also to get more disciplines involved and to translate expert knowledge into public awareness.
Managing the Future of near-Earth Space
There are many different actors concerned with the future of near-Earth space. This panel presents different approaches to how the pollution beyond the atmosphere might be brought under control. It discusses the possibilities of active debris removal, how international dialogue on near-Earth space can be fostered across geopolitical tensions, and how satellite operators might be moved towards greater sustainability.

More info and register

Swissnex Day 2024
2024-04-24 13:30 - 18:00 | Gurten Pavillon, Gurten-Park, im Grünen, Köniz, 3084, Switzerland
This year, Swissnex’s annual meeting puts the spotlight on planetary thinking, featuring researchers, innovators, and artists who are unveiling new ways of looking at the relationship between humans and the planet.

Programme

1:30pm – Registration
2:00pm – Welcome remarks
2:05pm – Keynote
2:15pm – Panel discussion
2:30pm – Lightning talks
2:55pm – Fireside chat
3:10pm – Closing remarks
3:20pm – Networking apéro
6:00pm – Event ends

REGISTER

Setting the Bar for the Replacement of the Probability of Collision Metric in Conjunction Assessment
2024-04-25 11:00 - 12:00 | ZOOM
Professional statisticians can often see issues with, and propose better solutions for, statistical methods that are used in industry; but such proposals often remain unimplemented (and therefore unused) because they are not fully sensitive to the particulars of the application. The Probability of Collision, a metric used by astrodynamicists to determine whether two satellite are likely to collide, has a number of problematic aspects that statisticians have properly criticized; but the proposed alternatives also introduce fresh problems or ignore other aspects of the operational situation. The present colloquium introduces this statistical problem and summarizes its shortcomings and some of the proposed remediations, but then proceeds to outline philosophical aspects of the operational situation that both exclude certain approaches and push towards particular ways in which proposed alternatives must be evaluated in order to be shown to be both operationally superior and viable.
Dr. Matt Hejduk is Senior Project Leader at the Aerospace Corporation and also presently serves as chief engineer for the Satellite Conjunction Analysis and Risk Assessment (CARA) project for NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. His research interests include the satellite conjunction assessment problem, satellite characterization and modeling from sensor signature data, estimation theory, and sensor and network simulation.

Sustainable Space Hub Coffee
2024-05-01 13:00 - 14:00 | EPFL PPB 019
After a successful first event in March, we are organising a second sustainable space hub coffee!
We will have the opportunity to hear a summary of the PhD that Alexandre Looten recently obtained at LPAC, on the atmospheric re-entry of composite materials and design for demise of spacecrafts. D4D brings an interesting trade-off to the table: while it’s seen as a solution for reducing the risks of uncontrolled re-entry (thus reducing space debris and the risk of casualties on the ground), it generates high altitude emissions (70-100km) that could have unpredictable atmospheric impacts.
Participants are then invited to take part in an open discussion over coffee and cookies.
In order to unite EPFL’s forces in the domain of sustainability in space, eSpace has launched the Sustainable Space Hub (SSH). The goal of the Hub is to coherently manage and foster the growth of topics such as space debris risks, high altitude atmospheric impacts, and other environmental impacts on Earth. 5 institutes within EPFL are currently involved in research and development projects in the field of space sustainability. The hub is connecting these individual projects in a workflow that rests on three intertwined pillars: measure, understand, and act for space sustainability.
More info on the Sustainable Space Hub.

New Space Forum Exploring New Space Business Opportunities and their Environmental Impact
2024-05-15 18:00 - 21:30 | IMD-Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Center, Chemin de Bellerive 34, Lausanne, 1007, Switzerland
This forum will not only spotlight business opportunities bridging space and Earth industries but also tackle the pressing challenge of controlling the significant environmental impacts of new space ventures. It’s an opportunity to foster sustainable businesses that contribute positively to our planet.
The speakers include Dominique Foray, Professor of Innovation at EPFL; Emmanuelle David, Executive Director of the EPFL Space Center (eSpace); Maxime Puteaux, Space Industry practice leader, Euroconsult Paris; Luc Piguet, CEO and co-founder ClearSpace SA; Dr. Peter Guggenbach, Chief Growth Officer at Swissto12 SA.
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Symposium Research & Sustainability
2024-05-16 08:15 - 19:00 | EPFL Campus room RLC E1 240
eSpace Executive Director Emmanuelle David will present the center during the Symposium and will introduce the sustainable space projects on going at EPFL.

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Space-Based Solar Power, the Moon and Switzerland – A Case Study
2024-05-28 16:30 - 17:30 | ZOOM
To address the energy and climate crises, renewed interest in Space-Based Solar Power (SBSP) is being actively pursued in Europe, USA, Japan, South Korea, and China. The European Space Agency launched its SOLARIS programme in November 2022 to further investigate and mature the feasibility of SBSP through a technology R&D programme. SBSP can deliver clean and sustainable baseload and dispatchable electrical power 24/7, 365 days a year at an availability of approximately 99.5% and is not influenced by the weather nor by the day-night cycle. Over the coming decades, Switzerland needs to invest in its energy transition from fossil fuels to more sustainable energy supplies, but it remains unclear which terrestrial energy systems could best guarantee Switzerland’s energy security. Switzerland has the need, the technical means, and the financial resources to be an early user and enabler of SBSP and perhaps lead an international collaborative effort to supply Switzerland and the world with inexhaustible clean energy. The Swiss company Astrostrom is researching a unique approach to SBSP via manufacturing Solar Power Satellite (SPS) components on the Moon from lunar materials. This approach could reduce the amount of mass for a SPS launched from Earth by 80% or more as well as reducing costs and the related CO2 emissions.
Arthur Woods, founder and CEO of Astrostrom GmbH, is an astronautical artist and independent researcher with two art projects successfully flown on the Russian Mir space station. He had the fortunate experience to personally witness the beginnings of the U.S. space program while living in the immediate vicinity of Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center (1959 -1970), where he held summer jobs in 1967 & 1968 during the Apollo program. He is a member of the International Academy of Astronautics.

Space and Global Health Hackathon
2024-05-31 - 2024-06-01 | Campus Biotech, Chemin des Mines 9, Geneva, 1202, Switzerland
The Space & Global Health Hackathon, organized by the Geneva Digital Health Hub (gdhub) of the University of Geneva and the European Space Agency (ESA), which will take place on May 31st and June 1st, 2024 at Campus Biotech in Geneva is still recruiting participants!
The hackathon follows the Geneva Digital Health Day (May 30) and takes place during the week of the World Health Assembly (WHA), reinforcing the city’s global health activities.
With 13 challenges, the hackathon will explore the integration of space technology with global health, covering topics from TB screening in remote areas to creating an open-access dermatology image dataset for AI research. Participants will gain invaluable networking opportunities with experts and mentors in space technology and global health, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing. And of course, there will be interesting prizes to win.
Registration is open on the sparkboard, where more details about the challenges are available. Register before April 30th, 2024 and choose a challenge to secure your spot within the team!

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