AEROGELS for European Space NonDependence
The AerSUS - Aerogel European Supplying Unit for Space Applications project (www.spi.pt/aersus) which has received funding of 1.952.090,06 Euros from the European Union Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), started in January 2012. The project partnership is composed by nine organisations from Portugal, Germany, Italy, France and the United Kingdom. The overall project coordinator is Sociedade Portuguesa de Inovação - www.spieurope.eu - and the project scientific coordinator is Active Space Technologies S.A. - www.activespacetech.com. Aerogels are the lightest solid materials in the world, and are composed over 90% of air. Due to their unique properties, including low density and low thermal conductivity, they have emerged as the best alternative to currently used advanced thermal control materials for space applications, such as Multi Layer Insulations (MLI). MLI are typically used for thermal control in space applications. However, the basic materials for MLI, such as Kapton and Mylar, are procured from non-European sources (e.g. USA) and are subjected to export-control regulations (ITAR restrictions). The development of advanced thermal control materials is thus considered as a critical space technology for the future a non-dependent European space system. The AerSUS project, by creating a European supply unit of aerogels for space applications, will help reduce Europe’s technological dependence on non-European suppliers and increase its competitiveness in the face of existing (e.g. USA) and emerging space powers (e.g. China and India). For more information, please visit the project website at www.spi.pt/aersus or contact the project manager: Dora Fazekas, dorafazekas@spi.pt
Countries
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Spain, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia, United Kingdom