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SciencesSwiss researchers will help clean up space
A research team from the University of Lucerne takes part in a mission of the European Space Agency. Objective: to develop a space debris detector.
According to the ESA, approximately one million objects larger than one centimeter circulate in space (computer image).
AFP
The European Space Agency (ESA) estimates that nearly one million objects larger than one centimeter – ranging from tools lost by astronauts to disused rocket engines – are currently circulating in space. Their presence is problematic and specialists even fear that the existence of space navigation is at stake if they are not removed. ESA therefore launched the “ClearSpace-1” mission, led by an EPFL spin-off. This in order to develop a probe capable of recovering the debris and crashing it in a controlled way so that it burns up in the Earth’s atmosphere. The University of Lucerne (HSLU) is participating in the creation of a capital piece for the project.
Klaus Zahn, one of the co-directors of the Intelligent Sensors and Networks Competence Center at HSLU, explains how the cleaning of space must take place: “The last phase of the hunter spacecraft’s approach to its target must be autonomously, that is to say without control by a human being from Earth. For this, an intelligent system of sensors and navigation is necessary. Together with our consortium partners, we are pursuing the goal here of an integrated camera with artificial intelligence capable of detecting, characterizing and tracking the target, and then directing the fighter in a controlled manner towards it”.
This smart space camera will only be a small part of the whole mission, but it is very important. “If something goes wrong on approach to the target and the spacecraft is damaged in the worst case, there would be more space junk in orbit at the end of the mission instead of less,” continues -he.
This is the first time that Klaus Zahn and Jürgen Wassner, the second co-director, have worked on a space research project. “On the one hand, the challenges are enormous. On the other hand, working together in an international environment is extremely exciting and inspiring,” they conclude.
Collaboration with Japan
Klaus Zahn and Jürgen Wassner were recently in Tokyo to discuss the next phase of this project with their partners, including a professor from the University of Science and Nikon. “The discussions in Japan were very fruitful”, rejoice the two Swiss who were able to clarify many points concerning the exact distribution of tasks and the interfaces between the teams.
(Sara Andrea Formentin)
