#engineering

esa@social.gibberfish.org

Hera and its CubeSats speak with mission control

image

Hera and CubeSats in Maxwell chamber

ESA’s Hera asteroid mission and its two CubeSats interacted as if they were in space, within the foam pyramid-lined walls of the Agency’s Maxwell test chamber in the Netherlands. The trio communicated together, sharing data and ranging information at the same time as their Hera mothership received commands from its mission controllers at the European Space Operations Centre in Darmstadt, Germany.

#engineering #technology #space #science #esa #europeanspaceagency
posted by pod_feeder_v2

esa@social.gibberfish.org

Towards zero-debris CubeSats

image

The growing problem of space debris

In the past few years CubeSats revolutionised space applications in low Earth orbit, levelling the playfield and opening space to commercialisation, especially for smaller and medium companies. While their benefits are undeniable, a significant drawback is their potential to generate additional space debris. As the requirements for orbital lifetime and sustainability become more demanding, new challenges will arise for CubeSats. ESA is looking for innovative ideas to make the versatile satellites more sustainable.

#engineering #technology #space #science #esa #europeanspaceagency
posted by pod_feeder_v2