Space debris constitutes a danger to satellites, launchers, space stations and humans on board. The collisions caused by it can destroy orbiting satellites, causing huge losses to satellite operators. Maneuvering to avoid these collisions is also expensive as it consumes fuel and may disrupt services. Due to the Kessler effect, the growth in the number of debris in orbit is exponential, unless action is taken.
This is the problem that NeuraSpace, a Portuguese startup based in the university city of Coimbra wants to solve. “Neuraspace aims to solve the issue of space traffic and debris by protecting satellites operators from the losses caused by collision warning and collisions, as well as providing maneuvering assistance thereby reducing their operational effort and costs”, says Prof. Chiara Manfletti, COO, Neuraspace.
Prof. Manfletti was previously the President of the Portuguese Space Agency, where she worked closely with the government, established the new space agency from scratch and developed a new strategy for Portugal in space.
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“My overall aim was to establish Portugal as a leader in key areas of space by identifying new emerging markets and fields of activities and placing Portugal at the center of these.”
Prior to joining Neuraspace, she worked at the ESA as Head of Policy and Program coordination where she led the efforts to establish the Space Safety Programme, which tackles, Space Weather, Space Debris and Planetary defense from Near Earth Objects. With her expertise in space traffic management and experience across academia and government organizations, Dr. Manfletti understands what ails space and what needs to be done.
With the growing number of space objects, both active satellites and debris, the effort that needs to be invested by operators, increases exponentially, making operations very time consuming, costly, and with an increasing risk of wrong classification and human error.
As per the ESA, an emergency maneuver in LEO can cost 25k€, a 300-satellite constellation may receive about 580 alerts per year requiring human intervention and satellite maneuver, costing 14 M€ per year. This means a cost of ~47k€ per satellite. She adds, “By using Neuraspace’s solution satellites operators can save up to 95% of these costs.”
Neuraspace addresses the liabilities from leaving/generating debris in orbit allowing insurance companies to better price the risk that each satellite is confronted with and poses.
According to ESA, the number of conjunction has grown significantly in the last years. In some orbits the number of conjunctions has multiplied by a factor of 5x in just the past 5 years. This increases the probability of collisions as well.
“Current solutions for space debris collision identification and identification of the need to act and how to act rely heavily on manual processes. This means that they rely on human experts to decide whether an event is high or low risk and to analyse and find the optimal manoeuvre to avoid a collision. These solutions are very time consuming for satellite operators and are not scalable”, says Prof. Manfletti.
In the short-term, debris mitigation means passivation of key components which otherwise would risk exploding and creating more debris, deorbiting satellites that have reached their end-of-life, deorbiting defunct satellites and other pieces of debris. In the longer term, debris mitigation, will be manufacturing, assembling and recycling in orbit.
The space sector is evolving in one which is no longer in the remit of just the public entities. Private investments are increasing as venture capitalized funds recognize that space is a profitable business. Governments and their entities are increasingly seeking to act as customers and even anchor tenants, which helps raise confidence of such private investments.
“We need this to happen faster and more widely. Satellite platforms have decreased in size making space significantly more accessible. New missions and innovations span the entire range of space activities from Earth Observation to Space Transportation and they are numerous,” she adds.
She explains that smaller propulsion systems are being developed that can be integrated onto CubeSats, thus making small satellites not only more effective but also allow for collision avoidance and de-orbiting.
“Inter-satellite communication will allow satellites to exchange information with one another. This will allow for higher flexibility in information received and sent from one point of the Earth to another. In addition, this will allow for establishing of networks in orbit and beyond, which are enablers for elements like fleet and resource management and autonomous systems”.
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Quantum sensors and technology will enhance capabilities in orbit for Earth Observation, communication, and navigation purposes as well as for purely scientific purposes. Debris removal, in-orbit servicing, space weather forecasting and services are paving the way for in-space markets which are all linked to safety and sustainability.
“Neuraspace, working today on space debris and space traffic management (i.e. Collision avoidance, maneuvering intelligence and automation) is developing a cornerstone of autonomous and sustainable activities and systems in space,” she adds.
Prof. Manfletti explains that the Neuraspace solution is built on three pillars of Data Fusion, AI and Machine Learning (ML) and Maneuvering Automation. “Our innovation revolves around the introduction of AI and ML in ways never done before,” she adds.
The added value brought by Neuraspace are:
1) Improved assessment of risk-exposure including a reduced false alerts thanks to AI, therefore reduced unnecessary manoeuvres: up to 75% less false positives and negatives, saving up to 25k € per each falsely identified potential collision and therefore not needed manoeuvre;
2) Earlier alerting and therefore more time to plan also thanks to AI: up to 20% more planning time, therefore more efficient team management and more profitable operations;
3) Improved maneuvers powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning:
– Less risk;
– lower fuel consumption, therefore, extend satellite lifetime;
– Optimization of maneuver timing to maximize profit for satellite operators whilst ensuring safety of operations (e.g. TV operator during SuperBowl or the Soccer World cup)
4) AI powered software tool reduces staff time on these mission and safety-critical operations (focus on business): up to 80% reduction in manpower required;
5) Management can plan better business and commercial strategies.
The democratization of Space is a great new era as it foresees a full integration of space in society and economy to unleash its full potential.
Concentrating on what can continue to make the New Space economy: increased availability of private investments, increased speed, a diversification of the roles of governments and space agencies as mentioned above, and certainly taking care of sustainability in orbit.
“Our main partners today are universities in Portugal and Germany, the European Space Agency, and several commercial operators. Our plans for the next three years are to establish ourselves as leaders in space traffic management and work towards autonomy in space,” she says.
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