Round Table Session

Tuesday, 3 October 14:45-16:00

AUDITORIUM

Ferdinando Tonicello – ESA

Power and SAVOIR reference architecture

SCOPE, OBJECTIVES AND CONTENT

Starting from the successful publication of two standards and guideline documents relevant to Power Distribution by Latching Current Limiters and Actuator electronics (respectively RD1, RD2, RD3 and RD4), it made sense to enlarge the scope of the initiative relevant to standardisation of power interfaces, to include additional subjects in cooperation with SAVOIR (see RD5).

The intention is to explore the possibility to get to a consensus on critical power subsystem interfaces among Agencies, large System Integrators and equipment manufacturers, in view of an effective standardisation of the interfaces themselves in the optics of enhancing the opportunities of a more recurrent satellite platform solutions and the development of recurrent equipment products in Europe.

The working group activities started in 2020 and allowed touching different interesting subjects to enable interface standardisation. The seminar will present the working group achievements for each one of the listed subjects, and a Q&A session will follow with the audience.

· Observability and commandability of Power Subsystem
(presented by N. Neugnot, ADS).

· Reference architecture and relevant MBSE Power Subsystem model
(presented by K. Danancier, TAS).

· Critical interfaces, common/agreed approaches of resolution
(presented by J. Caudepon, OHB).

REFERENCES

· RD1 ECSS-E-ST-20-20C, Electrical design and interface requirements for power supply, 15 April 2016

· RD2 ECSS-E-HB-20-20A, Guidelines for electrical design and interface requirements for power supply, 15 April 2016

· RD3 ECSS-E-ST-20-21C, Electrical design and interface requirements for actuators, 15 May 2019

· RD4 ECSS-E-HB-20-21A, Guidelines for electrical design and interface requirements for actuators, 15 May 2019

· RD5 SAVOIR, Space AVionics Open Interface aRchitecture, savoir.estec.esa.int

· RD6 SAVOIR-TN-001: SAVOIR Functional Reference Architecture (P-ASRA-NOT - P-ASRA-NOT-00001-RSE - 1 - 7) – 1

· RD7 SAVOIR-GS-001: SAVOIR generic OBC specification (P-ASRA-NOT - 1066105 - 1 - 8)

WORKING GROUP COMPOSITION

The following persons take or took part to the working group (in alphabetical order):
Alberto Gonzales Fernandez, ESA TEC-SYE
Arturo Fernandez, ESA TEC-EPM
Christian Elisabelair, CNES
Cristina Tato, Aerospacial SENER
Danilo Liberatore, ESA NAV-PFDO
David Pena Hidalgo, ESA TEC-SWF
Dimitri Cognet, TAS-F
Ferdinando Tonicello, ESA TEC-E
Gilles Bouhours, TAS-F
Harri Myllymäki, ex RUAG
Jacques Seronie-Vivien, ADS-F
Jean-Louis Bolsee, TAS-B
Jean-Luc Marty, ADS-F
Jon Caudepon, OHB
Kevin Danancier, TAS-F
Nicolas Neugnot, ADS-F
Niklas Asteiner, DLR
Olivier Mourra, ESA TEC-EDD
Pia Koivisto, Beyond Gravity
Robin Prud’Homme, TAS-F
Sven Landstroem, ESA SCI-PRS

CONFERENCE ROOM

Antonio Caon and Carsten Baur – ESA

Future solar cells for space

The space market is significantly growing, also exploring new business applications and will offer a wide variety of spacecrafts, launchers and space missions. The innovation of solar array and solar cell technologies will allow different solutions to the wide range of applications (e.g. Large Platform, CubeSat, Constellations) and missions (e.g. Earth Orbits, Close to Sun, Deep Space, Planetary).

The solar cells and the relevant crucial materials (e.g. coverglass) and components (e.g by-pass diodes) will continue to play a fundamental role in the space photovoltaics. A reflection on the potential different solutions including, but not limited to, materials and technologies (e.g. III-V, Silicon, Perovskite, CIGS), synergies with terrestrial technologies, cost driven products, sustainability and industrial capability may be useful to support the future developments.

This round table would like to be an opportunity for an informal discussion on the future concepts and technologies of space solar cells, taking benefit of the presence of experts in space photovoltaics, power system and satellite attending the ESPC.

Brandon Buergler and Christophe Fongarland – ESA

Space Fuel Cell, Electrolyser and Regenerative Fuel Cell - Nuclear in Space

Energy management is the next most critical and technologically challenging capability for lunar exploration after transportation. It is the driving factor for long duration surface activities on the Moon. Without advanced capabilities in this area, only a few Earth days of operations are possible, limiting the return on investment. The primary challenge is surviving the lunar night (in the order of 10 to 14 Earth days depending on the landing site excluding permanently shadowed regions), during which energy is needed for survival in the extreme cold, and for operations. Energy management able to deal with the very large spectrum of illumination and thermal conditions during the lunar day and night requires either large energy storage solutions based on batteries or fuel cells coupled with solar generation, or nuclear power sources. These provide an energy capability that underpins all of the other lunar pathways.

The pathway for ESA includes a combination of solutions addressing different aspects of the energy management needs of future missions, including power generation, energy storage and thermal properties / thermal control systems for extremely low / high temperature environments. Key energy storage technologies to be developed are fuel cells, regenerative fuel cell systems (RFCS) and radioisotope power systems (RPS)

During this round table, we will discuss the following topics:

New energy storage expectations for new applications?
Energy storage solutions trade-offs Fuel cell and Nuclear technologies status
Technology development challenges for Fuel cells technology and nuclear:

Specific to each
Common to both

Programmatic challenges for Fuel cells technology and nuclear:

Specific to each
Common to both

Other key topics raised during the round table.