Partner Projects
Get to know our partner projects
These projects are partnering with us
APACE
Creating new technologies towards long-term in space self-sustainability is essential to solve the problem of the increasing energy demand both in space and on Earth. Biology can provide the answer to this challenge, self-sustainability being the defining characteristic of life. APACE will demonstrate a novel type of bio-inspired sunlight pumped laser, based on photosynthetic complexes, that is capable of upgrading diffuse natural sunlight into a coherent laser beam.
The APACE bio-inspired laser will be able to operate under unconcentrated sunlight, with at least two orders of magnitude enhanced efficiency over existing designs. APACE will thus lay the foundation for a novel solar harvesting technology that could ultimately be fabricated in situ on permanent space stations, and that may benefit from a similar scalability as photovoltaic panels. The collected energy can be used for in situ energy production (e.g. hydrogen generation) as well as for wireless power transmission by infrared laser beams.
E.T.COMPACT
E.T.COMPACT is an EIC Pathfinder project dedicated to developing a miniaturized, propellant-free space propulsion system using Electrodynamic Tether technology, aiming to achieve TRL4. This innovative device enables both propellant-free propulsion and power generation, leveraging PVK/CIGS solar cell technology integrated into a bare-photovoltaic tether.
E.T.COMPACT is part of the FET-OPEN project “Electrodynamic Tether technology for PAssive Consumable-less deorbit Kit” (E.T.PACK, 2019). Electrodynamic tethers (EDTs) are long in-orbit conductors that, thanks to their interaction with the ionospheric plasma and the geomagnetic field, can provide propellant-less propulsion and power generation. Among the envisaged applications of these products one finds the deorbiting space debris, the reboost of spacecraft, in-orbit servicing, and enable missions at very low orbits. All of them benefit from the propellant-less character of EDTs.
GreenSWaP
GreenSWaP (Green Solar-to-Propellant Water Propulsion) is a groundbreaking project that uses solar energy to convert water into environmentally-friendly propellants: hydrogen peroxide H2O2 and hydrogen H2. Inspired by the way plants convert sunlight into energy by photosynthesis, this project will integrate advanced technologies to step toward establishing a sustainable method for producing propellants directly in space, enabling low-cost, eco-friendly, and self-sufficient future space missions, facilitating safer and more efficient in-orbit services.
rePowerSiC
rePowerSiC is part of the Pathfinder Challenge, aiming to create a breakthrough in efficient wireless power transmission for space. The project employs cutting-edge Laser Power Transmission (LPT) technology to beam energy across space using a highly efficient Silicon Carbide-based power converter. This approach allows for the transmission of energy densities up to kW/cm2, while keeping the receiver size compact. The SiC-based system is designed to withstand the harsh conditions of space, providing a reliable power source for a wide range of space missions.
ZEUS
JUMP INTO SPACE
JUMP INTO SPACE envisions a high-efficient, lightweight and flexible, stable and sustainable alternative to currently available photovoltaic systems for in-space energy harvesting, via an unexplored synergetic coupling of groundbreaking concepts.
All-perovskite tandem solar cells, based on advanced contact materials and finely tuned perovskite absorbers, will be developed to ensure >30% efficiency.
The devices will be endowed with a pioneering, lightweight and flexible, multi-purpose photonic substrate, designed and optimized to embody the dual function of environment shielding and light management boost, while being remarkably stable against high-energy radiation and atomic oxygen erosion.
POWERSAT
POWERSAT is developing a new energy harvesting platform that captures unused solar infrared (IR) energy and microwave spillover from satellite antennas. It uses rectennas to gather energy from various microwave bands to power low-energy satellite electronics. The project includes five demonstrators and aims to connect satellites through low-power inter-satellite links while reducing overall satellite weight and launch costs.
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