Objective
Our ever-expanding use of, and dependence on, space is under threat from space debris – objects resulting from our activities beyond Earth and ranging in size from flecks of paint to whole rocket stages. These pose an impact hazard to orbiting satellites and, ultimately, the continued safe access to space. De-orbiting objects into the atmosphere is also a potential pollution risk. This is thus an anthropogenic, technological geohazard in the near Earth environment arising from aerospace engineering activities. The need for sustainable use of space is thus now a global challenge championed by spacefaring nations and their associated agencies.
The PROSPER project will explore three key topics under the subject of “sustainable space” through fundamental laboratory-based research. These are: 1) the development of new debris detectors to better constrain the contemporary flux, 2) the influence of impactor shapes on the damage they inflict, and 3) potential side-effects of currently favoured mitigation strategies (i.e. deorbiting old satellites via atmospheric re-entry).
The planned activities will use and expand upon established capabilities of the Impact Facility at the University of Kent, simulating and studying debris impacts experienced in Earth orbit (improving impact detector designs and better understanding impact damage mechanisms), and looking at interactions of high speed objects with an atmosphere (i.e. simulating re-entry) by building on recent advances made in our two-stage light gas gun.
Funding will enable my team to make a transformative leap in addressing the critical issue of space debris, by significantly improving current small debris detector capabilities, furthering our understanding of the impact threat posed by debris, and exploring the wider impact of our spacefaring activities on Earth’s atmosphere. PROSPER will deliver publications and essential, actionable data to drive the debris strategies of space agencies and industry stakeholders.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology mechanical engineering vehicle engineering aerospace engineering satellite technology
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences environmental sciences pollution
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2025-COG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
CT2 7NZ Canterbury, Kent
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.