scholarly journals An FPGA-Based Hardware Accelerator for CNNs Inference on Board Satellites: Benchmarking with Myriad 2-Based Solution for the CloudScout Case Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1518
Author(s):  
Emilio Rapuano ◽  
Gabriele Meoni ◽  
Tommaso Pacini ◽  
Gianmarco Dinelli ◽  
Gianluca Furano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Consumption ◽  
Power Efficiency ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
European Space Agency ◽  
Low Earth Orbit ◽  
Space Environment ◽  
Hardware Accelerator ◽  
Cloud Detection ◽  
Space Agency ◽  
Field Programmable

In recent years, research in the space community has shown a growing interest in Artificial Intelligence (AI), mostly driven by systems miniaturization and commercial competition. In particular, the application of Deep Learning (DL) techniques on board Earth Observation (EO) satellites might lead to numerous advantages in terms of mitigation of downlink bandwidth constraints, costs, and increment of the satellite autonomy. In this framework, the CloudScout project, funded by the European Space Agency (ESA), represents the first time in-orbit demonstration of a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) applied to hyperspectral images for cloud detection. The first instance of this use case has been done with an INTEL Myriad 2 VPU on board a CubeSat optimized for low cost, size, and power efficiency. Nevertheless, this solution introduces multiple drawbacks due to its design not specifically being for the space environment, thus limiting its applicability to short-lifetime Low Earth Orbit (LEO) applications. The current work provides a benchmark between the Myriad 2 and our custom hardware accelerator designed for Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs). The metrics used for comparison include inference time, power consumption, space qualification, and components. The obtained results show that the FPGA-based solution is characterized by a reduced inference time, and a higher possibility of customization, but at the cost of greater power consumption and a longer Time to Market. As a conclusion, the proposed approach might extend the potential market of DL-based solutions to long-term LEO or interplanetary exploration missions through deployment on space-qualified FPGAs, with a limited cost in energy efficiency.

scholarly journals Computer Aided Design to Produce High-Detail Models through Low Cost Digital Fabrication for the Conservation of Aerospace Heritage

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 2338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose Luis Saorín ◽  
Vicente Lopez-Chao ◽  
Jorge de la Torre-Cantero ◽  
Manuel Drago Díaz-Alemán
Keyword(s):  
Computer Aided Design ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Collaborative Work ◽  
European Space Agency ◽  
Digital Fabrication ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
Space Agency ◽  
Physical Scale ◽  
Scale Models ◽  
Aided Design

Aerospace heritage requires tools that allow its transfer and conservation beyond photographs and texts. The complexity of these engineering projects can be collected through digital graphic representation. Nevertheless, physical scale models provide additional information of high value when they involve full detailed information, for which the model in engineering was normally one more product of the manufacturing process, which entails a high cost. However, the standardization of digital fabrication allows the manufacture of high-detail models at low cost. For this reason, in this paper a case study of the graphic reengineering and planning stages for digital fabrication of a full-scale high-detail model (HDM) of the spatial instrument of the European Space Agency, named the Solar Orbiter mission Polarimetric and Helioseismic Imager (SO/PHI), is presented. After the analysis of this experience, seven stages of planning and graphic reengineering are proposed through collaborative work for the low cost digital manufacture of HDMs.

Tunable Low Power UWB Transmitter for WBAN Application

2015 ◽  
Vol 24 (03) ◽  
pp. 1550040 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Vinod Kumar ◽  
M. Meenakshi
Keyword(s):  
Power Consumption ◽  
Low Power ◽  
Power Efficiency ◽  
Delay Line ◽  
Data Transfer ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Wireless Body Area Network ◽  
Superior Performance ◽  
Area Network ◽  
Coverage Area

This paper presents the design and simulation results for a Federal Communication Committee (FCC) complaint current starved delay line based Ultra Wide Band (UWB) Gaussian pulse transmitter, which is designed for operating in the 3.1–10.6 GHz range. The wavelet is a mono cycle Gaussian impulse wave, which is practically well suited for low cost, low power, low data rate wireless data transfer such as in wireless body area network (WBAN) applications. The transmitter operating frequency and bandwidth (BW) is controlled using a dc voltage provided at the input stage of a voltage controlled delay line (VCDL) and this aspect can be exploited for increasing the communication coverage area without compromising on the power consumption. A Gaussian wave shaping is performed for FCC compliance and the simulation has been carried out with 130 nm technology. The simulation of our design suggests an average dynamic power consumption of 1.11 mw for an energy efficiency of 14.2 pJ/pulse. The proposed IR-UWB transmitter design though a bit inferior in terms of the power efficiency, can claim superior performance with respect to tuning the BW, which is very relevant in a cognitive wireless networking scenario with other interfering signals.

scholarly journals Icarus: In-situ monitoring of the surface degradation on a near-Sun asteroid

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikael Granvik ◽  
Tuomas Lehtinen ◽  
Andrea Bellome ◽  
Joan-Pau Sánchez
Keyword(s):  
Near Infrared ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Bulk Composition ◽  
European Space Agency ◽  
Space Mission ◽  
In Situ Monitoring ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Spacecraft Design ◽  
Cost Constraints ◽  
Space Agency

<div class="page" title="Page 1"> <div class="layoutArea"> <div class="column"> <p>Icarus is a mission concept designed to record the activity of an asteroid during a close encounter with the Sun. The primary science goal of the mission is to unravel the nontrivial mechanism(s) that destroy asteroids on orbits with small perihelion distances. Understanding the destruction mechanism(s) allows us to constrain the bulk composition and interior structure of asteroids in general. The Icarus mission does not only aim to achieve its science goals but also functions as a technical demonstration of what a low-cost space mission can do. The proposed space segment will include a single spacecraft capable of surviving and operating in the harsh environment near the Sun. The spacecraft design relies on the heritage of missions such as Rosetta, MESSENGER, Parker Solar Probe, BepiColombo, and Solar Orbiter. The spacecraft will rendezvous with an asteroid during its perihelion passage and records the changes taking place on the asteroid’s surface. The primary scientific payload has to be capable of imaging the asteroid’s surface in high resolution using visual and near-infrared channels as well as collecting and analyzing particles that are ejected from the asteroid. The payload bay also allows for additional payloads relating to, for example, solar research. The Icarus spacecraft and the planned payloads have high technology readiness levels and the mission is aimed to fit the programmatic and cost constraints of the F1 mission (Comet Interceptor) by the European Space Agency. Considering the challenging nature of the Icarus trajectory and the fact that the next F-class mission opportunity (F2) is yet to be announced, we conclude that Icarus is feasible as an F-class mission when certain constraints such as a suitable launch configuration are met (e.g., if EnVision is selected as M5). A larger mission class, such as the M class by the European Space Agency, would be feasible in all circumstances.</p> </div> </div> </div>

Juno Diagnosis of Magnetospheric Dynamics at Jupiter with Energetic Neutral Atoms

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barry Mauk ◽  
George Clark ◽  
Frederic Allegrini ◽  
Fran Bagenal ◽  
Scott Bolton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neutral Atom ◽  
European Space Agency ◽  
Space Environment ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Polar Regions ◽  
Icy Moons ◽  
Space Agency ◽  
Orbiting Spacecraft ◽  
Proper Interpretation ◽  
Juno Mission

<p>Energetic Neutral Atom (ENA) cameras on orbiting spacecraft at Earth and Saturn have helped greatly to diagnose these complex magnetospheres. Within this decade, the European Space Agency’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) mission will arrive at Jupiter and make ENA imaging a major thrust in helping to understand its complex magnetosphere. The present polar-orbiting Juno mission carries no ENA camera, but the energetic particle JEDI instrument is serendipitously sensitive to ENA’s with energies > 50 keV, provided there are no charged particles in the environment to mask their presence. Juno offers great service to the interpretation of both past and future ENA imaging with its orbit allowing unique viewing perspectives. Here we report on several components of ENA emissions that can probe the dynamical state of the regions involved, including the space environment of the orbit of Io, that of Europa, and Jupiter itself. A special focus here will be new observations of ENA emissions from Jupiter’s polar regions, the proper interpretation of which may end up being unique to the Juno mission, even after the JUICE mission.</p>

scholarly journals Space Biology Research and Biosensor Technologies: Past, Present, and Future

Biosensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 38
Author(s):  
Ada Kanapskyte ◽  
Elizabeth M. Hawkins ◽  
Lauren C. Liddell ◽  
Shilpa R. Bhardwaj ◽  
Diana Gentry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Low Earth Orbit ◽  
Space Environment ◽  
Model Organisms ◽  
Deep Space ◽  
Space Biology ◽  
Small Satellites ◽  
Biological Phenomena ◽  
Space Environments ◽  
The 1960S

In light of future missions beyond low Earth orbit (LEO) and the potential establishment of bases on the Moon and Mars, the effects of the deep space environment on biology need to be examined in order to develop protective countermeasures. Although many biological experiments have been performed in space since the 1960s, most have occurred in LEO and for only short periods of time. These LEO missions have studied many biological phenomena in a variety of model organisms, and have utilized a broad range of technologies. However, given the constraints of the deep space environment, upcoming deep space biological missions will be largely limited to microbial organisms and plant seeds using miniaturized technologies. Small satellites such as CubeSats are capable of querying relevant space environments using novel, miniaturized instruments and biosensors. CubeSats also provide a low-cost alternative to larger, more complex missions, and require minimal crew support, if any. Several have been deployed in LEO, but the next iterations of biological CubeSats will travel beyond LEO. They will utilize biosensors that can better elucidate the effects of the space environment on biology, allowing humanity to return safely to deep space, venturing farther than ever before.

scholarly journals Developing Technologies for Biological Experiments in Deep Space

Proceedings ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth M. Hawkins ◽  
Ada Kanapskyte ◽  
Sergio R. Santa Maria
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Model Organism ◽  
Low Earth Orbit ◽  
Space Environment ◽  
Model Organisms ◽  
Biological Study ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Deep Space ◽  
Biological Phenomena ◽  
Space Environments

In light of an upcoming series of missions beyond low Earth orbit (LEO) through NASA’s Artemis program and the potential establishment of bases on the Moon and Mars, the effects of the deep space environment on biology need to be examined and protective countermeasures need to be developed. Even though many biological experiments have been performed in space since the 1960s, most of them have occurred in LEO and for only short periods of time. These LEO missions have studied many biological phenomena in a variety of model organisms, as well as utilized a broad range of technologies. Given the constraints of the deep space environment, however, future deep space biological missions will be limited to microbial organisms using miniaturized technologies. Small satellites like CubeSats are capable of querying relevant space environments using novel instruments and biosensors. CubeSats also provide a low-cost alternative to more complex and larger missions, and require minimal crew support, if any. Several have been deployed in LEO, but the next iteration of biological CubeSats will go farther. BioSentinel will be the first interplanetary CubeSat and the first biological study NASA has sent beyond Earth’s magnetosphere in 50 years. BioSentinel is an autonomous free-flyer platform able to support biology and to investigate the effects of radiation on a model organism in interplanetary deep space. The BioSensor payload contained within the free-flyer is also an adaptable instrument that can perform biologically relevant measurements with different microorganisms and in multiple space environments, including the ISS, lunar gateway, and on the surface of the Moon. Nanosatellites like BioSentinel can be used to study the effects of both reduced gravity and space radiation and can house different organisms or biosensors to answer specific scientific questions. Utilizing these biosensors will allow us to better understand the effects of the space environment on biology so humanity may return safely to deep space and venture farther than ever before.

Overview of the Natural Space Environment and ESA, JAXA, and NASA Materials Flight Experiments

MRS Bulletin ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
David L. Edwards ◽  
Adrian P. Tighe ◽  
Marc Van Eesbeek ◽  
Yugo Kimoto ◽  
Kim K. de Groh
Keyword(s):  
International Space Station ◽  
Interplanetary Space ◽  
European Space Agency ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Thermal Exposure ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Low Earth Orbit ◽  
Space Environment ◽  
International Space ◽  
Micro Particles

AbstractSpace environmental effects on materials are very severe and complex because of the synergistic interaction of orbital environments such as high-energy radiation particles, atomic oxygen, micrometeoroids, orbital debris, and ultraviolet irradiation interacting synergistically, along with thermal exposure. In addition, surface degradation associated with contamination can negatively impact optics performance. Materials flight experiments are critical to understanding the engineering performance of materials exposed to specific space environments. Likewise, the spacecraft designer must have an understanding of the specific environment in which a spacecraft will operate, enabling appropriate selection of materials to maximize engineering performance, increase mission lifetimes, and reduce risk. This article will present a methodology for assessing the engineering performance of materials baselined for a specific spacecraft or mission. In addition, an overview of the space environment, from low Earth orbit to interplanetary space, will be provided along with an overview on the effects of the space environment on materials performance. The majority of this article is devoted to materials flight experiments from the European Space Agency (ESA), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Some of the experiments reviewed include ESA's Materials Exposure and Degradation Experiment on the International Space Station (ISS), JAXA's Micro-Particles Capturer and Space Environment Exposure Device experiments on the ISS Service Module and on the ISS Japanese Experiment Module Exposed Facility, and NASA's Long Duration Exposure Facility satellite and the Materials International Space Station Experiment series flown on the exterior of ISS.

The Particle Environment Package on board JUICE: What Can We Learn about Callisto's Atmosphere and Space Environment?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
André Galli ◽  
Audrey Vorburger ◽  
Shane R. Carberry Mogan ◽  
Elias Roussos ◽  
Gabriella Stenberg-Wieser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Model Development ◽  
European Space Agency ◽  
Recent Model ◽  
Space Environment ◽  
Operation Planning ◽  
Origin And Evolution ◽  
Icy Moons ◽  
Plasma Environment ◽  
Space Agency ◽  
Science Operation

<p class="western">The JUpiter ICy moons Explorer (JUICE) of the European Space Agency will investigate Jupiter and its icy moons Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto, with the aim to better understand the origin and evolution of our Solar System and the emergence of habitable worlds around gas giants. The Particle Environment Package (PEP) on board JUICE is designed to measure neutrals, ions, electrons, and energetic particles over an energy range from eV to MeV.</p> <p class="western" lang="de-DE"><span lang="en-US">In the vicinity of Callisto, PEP will characterize the Jovian plasma environment and the outer parts of Callisto’s atmosphere and ionosphere. Roughly twenty Callisto flybys with closest approaches between 200 km and 5000 km altitude are planned over the course of the JUICE mission. This study aims at optimizing the scientific insight gained from the foreseen flybys by combining the input from the PEP science team and operation planning with recent model efforts for Callisto’s atmosphere, the plasma environment and the production of Energetic Neutral Atoms. The results of this study will inform both science operation planning of PEP and JUICE and they will guide future model development for Callisto’s atmosphere, ionosphere, and their interaction with the plasma environment.</span></p>

Activities of the International Space Organization and Station

2021 ◽  
pp. 140-152
Keyword(s):  
International Space Station ◽  
Artificial Satellite ◽  
European Space Agency ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Low Earth Orbit ◽  
Joint Project ◽  
Intergovernmental Organization ◽  
International Space ◽  
Space Agency ◽  
Space Organization

This chapter describes the establishment process, purpose of establishment, mission, exploration plan, activities of the European Space Agency (ESA) and International Space Station (ISS), and an explanation of the contents of the treaty that is legal basis for its establishment. The European Space Agency (ESA) is an intergovernmental organization of 22 member states dedicated to the exploration of space. Established in 1975 and headquartered in Paris, France, ESA has a worldwide staff of about 2,200 in 2018 and an annual budget of about € 6.68 billion (US $ 7.43 billion) in 2020. ESA also works closely with space organizations outside Europe. ESA has missions planned for Jupiter (JUICE, 2022) and others that will seek dark matter (Euclid, 2020) and observe the energetic universe (Athena, 2028). The International Space Station (ISS) is a space station (habitable artificial satellite) in low Earth orbit. The ISS programme is a joint project between five participating space agencies: NASA (United States), Roscomos (Russia), JAXA (Japan), ESA (Europe), and CSA (Canada).

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