NASA and Wuppertal: Satellite research for safe space travel!

NASA and Wuppertal: Satellite research for safe space travel!

What's happening in the world of space exploration? An exciting research project called “AtmOCube” is currently being funded by NASA and brings together several institutions: the University of Wuppertal, the Jülich Research Center and the University of Colorado. The focus is on the safety of satellites in near-Earth space and the influence of the atmosphere and ionosphere on satellite traffic. NASA has recently recognized the importance of small satellites that will fly approximately 500 kilometers high and will carry essential measuring instruments from Wuppertal to detect infrared waves emitted by oxygen in the atmosphere. These measurements are intended to help identify disturbances caused by temperature fluctuations and air currents that could endanger the safety of satellite traffic. Climate change also plays a role because it affects weather and circulation patterns that extend into near-Earth space. The first measuring instruments are expected to be launched into space in 2029 to shed light on these challenges. According to WDR, this will provide important insights for the future of space travel.

But that's not all that satellite technology currently has in the pipeline. The ROMEO mission, carried out by the Institute of Space Systems at the University of Stuttgart, aims to bring satellites more safely into the inner radiation belt. The focus here is on demonstrating the radiation resilience of the satellite bus. A small highlight: The satellite will be equipped with an engine that can increase the apogee to over 2000 kilometers. However, if the engine fails, there is a clever plan: the perigee is lowered to avoid the creation of space debris. This is in accordance with the European Code of Conduct of Space Debris Mitigation, which requires re-entry within 25 years. At ROMEO, new technologies are also being tested in low (LEO) and medium Earth orbits (MEO), which are intended to contribute to climate and space weather research, as can be found on IRS Stuttgart.

A look at the climate threats

The challenges that both the AtmOCube and ROMEO missions address are in a larger context. Climate change not only affects the weather on our planet, but also the conditions in near-Earth space. The implications of these changes are of significant importance for future satellite missions. With their research, scientists are raising hopes that the data obtained will help make satellite traffic safer - a topic that is becoming increasingly topical, especially in times of climate change.

The synergistic collaboration between universities and research centers shows that nations are pulling together to meet the challenges of the future. There really is something going on, and developments in satellite technology could soon open up new dimensions - both in climate research and in ensuring undisturbed satellite traffic.