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SpaceTech Alumni Symposium 2023

SpaceTech TU Graz presents:

Challenges and Monetization of Power in Space

10th SpaceTech Symposium
Date: 14 July 2023
Location: ESA ESTEC, Noordwijk, the Netherlands: Physical and Online

Having the right balance of size, mass, power production and storage is a significant challenge and expense. The power systems onboard a vehicle, whether a satellite, rover or habitat requires significant investments in infrastructure and energy storage. Traditional generation and propulsion systems require volatile and large amounts of propellant. There are a limited number of options currently available to address such problems.

Constant innovation is made in the area of solar collection and energy storage, with recent innovations in propulsion systems and propellant, but historically, innovation has focused on localised battery and solar technologies.

New Space innovations are reducing the size of the spacecraft and their power consumption, but are often limited due to the need to host power generation and storage.

Mankind is going back to the Moon and then to Mars whether with remote instruments such as the NASA Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER), Mars Perseverance Rover amongst others.

Exploitation and investigation of near Earth bodies is gaining impetus and will benefit from reduced requirements to support power generation and usage.

Traditional satellite manufacturers are constantly reaching for reduced costs, whilst increasing value and capability.

These initiatives open up the market for new technologies, startups and related commercial opportunities and there are already a number of activities in this exciting domain:

  • NASA has recently re-opened research into nuclear propulsion and power systems
  • ESA, via its Discovery programme has re-opened calls for Space Based Solar Power (SBSP) research that was previously halted in 2006
  • Startups such as Stells Space is promoting a Lunar Power Rover to support future Lunar missions

SpaceTech TU Graz in collaboration with ESA and partners present the 10th SpaceTech symposium addressing the market response and providing an overview of the Space industry capabilities and solutions.

Drawing opinions and presentations from the leading players in the field from across the world in an open and frank environment.

Master's programme SpaceTech

 

Surrounding this new area of research and innovation lay a number or challenges that need to be addressed:

  • Legal and insurance aspects related to the governance, export of technology, exchange of power, responsibility and liability
  • Commercial aspects for the funding and payment
  • Safety and Security for the failure, damage, environmental impact and potential dual-use/misuse of such technologies
  • Technical challenges to identify, design and develop mature proven technologies that are robust in the rigour of space and remote space bodies

SpaceTech TU Graz in collaboration with ESA and partners present the 10th SpaceTech symposium addressing the market response and providing an overview of the Space industry capabilities and solutions. Drawing opinions and presentations from the leading players in the field from across the world in an open and frank environment.

Speakers from different parts of the world join us and share their ideas and views.