Hypervelocity Impact Simulation using Smoothed-Particle Hydrodynamics

The issue of space debris in Low Earth Orbit is a growing concern that requires comprehensive solutions. This includes preventing further pollution, removing existing debris, and designing resilient spacecraft that can withstand impacts. This thesis focuses on the improvement of spacecraft shielding structures to provide effective protection...

Sea Surface Temperature Gradients Estimation Using Top-of-Atmosphere Observations from the ESA Earth Explorer 10 Harmony Mission: Preliminary Studies

The Harmony satellite mission was recently approved as the next European Space Agency (ESA) Earth Explorer 10. The mission science objectives cover several applications related to solid earth, the cryosphere, upper-ocean dynamics and air–sea interactions. The mission consists of a constellation of two satellites, flying with the Copernicus...

LUMIO: A CubeSat for observing and characterizing micro-meteoroid impacts on the Lunar far side

The Earth-Moon system is constantly bombarded by meteoroids of different size and impact speed. Observation of the impacts on the Moon can enable thorough characterization of the Lunar meteoroid flux, which is similar to that of the Earth. While Earth-based Lunar observations are restricted by weather, geometric and illumination conditions, a...

Characterisation of a Floating Gate Dosimeter for Space Applications

The harsh space radiation environment affects both satellite equipment and astronauts. Although a lot of research on this environment has been performed, knowledge gaps remain. One of the main issues is the lack of data with a large spatial and temporal coverage. This can be resolved by the development of simple, compact, cheap but yet precise...

Design, Implementation and Verification of a novel Fault Detection, Isolation & Recovery concept for CubeSat satellites

For years, CubeSats have been used as flying testbeds for universities and researches, but now have more commercial applications with every day. Still, they possess certain limitations and their success rate nowadays stands at 75%, with a significant amount of faults being deemed as “unknown”. <br/>The research addresses this issue by defining,...

Selection of the Propulsion System for the LUMIO Mission: an Intricate Trade-Off Between Cost, Reliability and Performance

The Lunar Meteoroid Impact Observer (LUMIO), one of the two winning concepts of the SysNova Lunar CubeSats for Exploration call by ESA, is a mission designed to observe, quantify, and characterize the meteoroid impacts on the Lunar far side by detecting the flashes generated by the impact. While Earth-based Lunar observations are restricted by...

Designing the Radio Link for a Lunar CubeSat: the LUMIO Case

The Lunar Meteoroid Impact Observer (LUMIO) is a mission designed to observe, quantify, and characterize the meteoroid impacts by detecting their flashes on the lunar far side. Earth-based lunar observations are restricted by weather, geometric and illumination conditions, while a lunar orbiter can improve the detection rate of lunar meteoroid...

Design Challenges and Opportunities Offered by the LUMIO Spacecraft: a CubeSat for Observing and Characterizing Micro-Meteoroid Impacts on the Lunar Far Side

The Earth-Moon system is constantly bombarded by meteoroids of different size and impact speed. Observation of the impacts on the Moon can enable thorough characterization of the Lunar meteoroid flux, which is similar to that of the Earth. While Earth-based Lunar observations are restricted by weather, geometric and illumination conditions, a...

A five-stage treatment train for water recovery from urine and shower water for long-term human Space missions

Long-term human Space missions will rely on regenerative life support as resupply of water, oxygen and food comes with constraints. The International Space Station (ISS) relies on an evaporation/condensation system to recover 74–85% of the water in urine, yet suffers from repetitive scaling and biofouling while employing hazardous chemicals....

On the accuracy of automated shoreline detection derived from satellite imagery: A case study of the Sand Motor mega-scale nourishment

Measured trends and variability in shoreline position are used by coastal managers, scientists and engineers to understand and monitor coastal systems. This paper presents a new and generic method for automated shoreline detection from the largely unexplored collection of publicly available satellite imagery. The position of the obtained...

LUMIO: Characterizing Lunar Meteoroid Impacts with a CubeSat

The Lunar Meteoroid Impact Observer (LUMIO) is a mission designed to observe, quantify, and characterize the meteoroid impacts by detecting their flashes on the lunar farside. Earth-based lunar observations are restricted by weather, geometric, and illumination conditions, while a lunar orbiter can improve the detection rate of lunar meteoroid...

Farside explorer: Unique science from a mission to the farside of the moon

Farside Explorer is a proposed Cosmic Vision medium-size mission to the farside of theMoon consisting of two landers and an instrumented relay satellite. The farside of the Moon is a unique scientific platform in that it is shielded from terrestrial radio-frequency interference, it recorded the primary differentiation and evolution of the Moon,...

From space exploration to commercialisation

Space exploration has captured the imagination and dreams of many scientists, engineers and visionaries.The ISS is being built by five ISS partners; NASA, RSA, ESA, CSA and JAXA. ISS commercialisation is the process by which ISS products and services are sold to private companies, without transferring ISS ownership. This thesis has two...

Development and operations in the Dutch utilisation centre

At the early beginning (1989) of implementation of the European User Support Organisation (USO) concept, development and implementation of a Dutch Utilisation Centre (DUC) started at NLR premises. After development of several pilot DUC facilities, DUC participated in a Columbus simulation mission and in the 2nd International Micro-gravity...

Studie naar de opzet van een nationaal ERS-1 datacentrum - Phase-A/B study of a national ERS-1 data centre

Within the framework of the National Remote Sensing Programme and under contract with the Netherlands Remote Sensing Board (BCRS), the National Aerospace Laboratory NLR has carried out a Phase-A/B study of a national ERS-1 data and information centre. The first European Remote Sensing Satellite (ERS-1) is due to be launched by the European Space...

Dissemination of ERS-a low bitrate data and the use od L-band receiving stations

The dissemination of ERS-1 real-time thematic products via the Global Telecommunication System, the ECS satellite telecom system or the Eiuronet packet switching network is analysed and evaluated against the use of direct-receive L-band stations as used for NOAA weather image reception.