The ATLAS project aims to position the Czech Republic as a leader in this effort, advancing innovative laser technologies to support sustainable practices both on Earth and in space. By focusing on Earth observation, space environment management, and a circular space economy, ATLAS is set to shape the future of space sustainability and its impact on society.
Main goals:
ATLAS is focused on developing advanced and innovative laser-based solutions to strengthen all three pillars of Space sustainability:
Sustainability from space – This includes all Earth Observation (EO) technologies and services to monitor the climate and sustainable development. It also includes green energy technologies from space.
Sustainability in space – the sustainable use of the space environment, which includes managing space traffic, all Space Situational Awareness and related technologies, plus active debris removal.
Sustainability of the space sector – the goal is to achieve a circular space economy in which in situ resources are used rather than continuously transferring mass from Earth into space and then dispersing it either in the atmosphere or in space. This includes all in situ manufacturing, recycling, regenerative, and resource utilization technologies.
The main goal of this ERA Chair project is to develop new capacities in the field of Space-borne Laser Research and Applications in the region of Central and Eastern Europe, namely at the Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences (FZU) – HiLASE Centre, Czech Republic, by establishing an excellent international scientist, Professor of Space Systems Engineering Massimiliano Vasile (University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK), as an ERA Chair and a leader of a new research programme on Advanced Technologies for Laser Applications in Space.
