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Current projects

Controlled deployment of CubeSat booms

The deployable boom for the SEAM project was uncontrollably deployed by the stored strain energy. One way of controlling the deployment speed without a motor is to use shape memory polymers, cf. shape memory alloys. By heating a part of the boom to a temperature above the glass transition temperature, the deployment for the heated part can be initiated.

ESA Cluster mission

The four Cluster  satellites were sent up in the year 2000 and still deliver excellent scientific data. KTH has contributed detectors for measuring electric fields and waves (EFW) as well as holding the Scandinavian data centre for analysis and diffusion of EFW data. SPC made the decision in Mars 2023 that the data recording will continue until end of year 2024, when the first of the Cluster satellites will begin re-entry in the atmosphere. More than 3600 publications of Cluster results have been made, around 10 % from the EFW team.

ESA JUICE, Jupiter Icy moon Explorer

JUICE  - JUpiter ICy moons Explorer is planned for launch in 2023 and arrival at Jupiter in 2030. JUICE will make detailed observations of the giant gaseous planet Jupiter and three of its largest moons, Ganymede, Callisto and Europa. KTH has contributed to the calibration of Radio and Plasma Wave Instrument as well as thermal analysis for the mission.

ESA Solar Orbiter

Solar Orbiter  is European Space Agency mission to investigate how the Sun drives the solar wind and space weather in the solar system. The Solar Orbiter was launched 6 February 2020 and will be operating at least until 2027. KTH has participated in building parts of the electronics and testing of the Radio and Plasma Wave instrument (RPW) necessary for measuring electric fields and plasma density fluctuations.

ESA/JAXA BepiColombo mission

BepiColombo  is a combined European Space Agency and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency mission to explore Mercury, the least investigated terrestrial planet in our solar system. BepiColombo was launched on 6 October 20, 2018, and will arrive at Mercury in 2025. KTH’s has built MEFISTO, an instrument to measure the electrical field, part of a larger instrument for field and wave measurements on the Mercury probe, Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter. These are going to be the first measurements ever of the electrical field around Mercury.

EUSO (Extreme Universe Space Observatory)

An experiment for the International Space Station (ISS) to study extremely high energy cosmic particles (E>10^19 eV) through measuring the UV light that these generate in the atmosphere. Numerous feasibility studies are being carried out and planned, both from the ground, using balloons and using Mini-EUSO for ISS. A PhD student, Francesca Capel, was employed in September 2015 with funding from Stiftelsen Olle Engkvist Byggmästare. Her main work is with Mini-EUSO which will be sent to the ISS in 2018 in order to test the technology but also provide some science on light phenomenon in the atmosphere and meteors. 

Fermi

This is a NASA-led international satellite project for studying high-energy cosmic radiation, above all gamma particles. Fermi was launched in 2008 and will be operational for many years ahead. KTH contributed to the development of the detector’s calorimeter and is now most active in analyses of “gamma-ray bursts” (GRB) and active galaxy nuclei (AGNs). KTH is currently leading the GRB analyzing team within the Fermi experiment.

Geographic Information Technologies for Disaster and Natural Resource Management in Moçambique

The project is funded by SIDA and carried out in collaboration with Lund University in Sweden, North West University in South Africa and Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM) in Moçambique. The aim of this project is to develop a new MSc program in Geographic Information Technology (GIT), cooperate on training for university staff in GIT and disaster management, and to increase the capacity at the target university to improve long term sustainable development in Mozambique. The Project duration is 2018 to 2023.

Hubble Space Telescope programs

KTH frequently leads observation campaigns with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) on the large Galilean moons of planet Jupiter. In these programs, HST takes images and spectra of ultraviolet emissions and absorptions in the moons’ atmospheres. The limited observing time with HST is granted in intense competition and KTH has been successful in having selected programs almost every year. Last year, the largest moon Ganymede was observed while transiting in front of the bright planet, similar to exoplanet observations. In November 2023, Ganymede will be observed while being in shadow (eclipse) of Jupiter in the search for aurora from water vapor in the moon atmosphere.

LEMON (Multispecies LIDAR for measurement of greenhouse gasses using space-born platform)

LEMON (LiDAR Emitter and Multispecies greenhouse gases Observation iNstrument) funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement N° 82688. The project aims at developing laser differential absorption active sensor for simultaneous measurements of CO2, H2O, HDO and CH4 gas concentration distribution dynamics in the Earth’s atmosphere using satellite platform. These measurements are crucial for increasing accuracy of the global climate models. Laser emitter technology developed at KTH will be crucial for successful implementation of the instrument. The project will perform rigorous airborne measurement campaigns, space-flight certification of the instrument and will result in a proposal for a future space-borne mission.

MATS (Mesospheric waves from airglow transient signatures)

MISU leads this SNSA-funded project within the new national small satellite programme, where the object of the research is to study wave movements in higher atmospheric layers fed in from light flashes generated at these heights. KTH contributes with electronics and geodynamics. MATS is the first project under the new national program for small satellites. The satellite was launched on November 4, 2022, and data acquisition is ongoing.

MERiT (MEthane in Rocket nozzle cooling channels - conjugate heat Transfer measurements)

A propulsion system using hydrocarbons, liquid or hybrid, is a grand challenge for today’s rocket and space propulsion systems. As a consequence of the good performance in specific thrust in combination with operating benefits such as low toxicity, availability, storage stability and low production cost, liquid biogas/natural gas (LNG) with a high content of methane is one of the most interesting future solutions as propellant for rocket engines with liquid fuel. A high heat flux thermal stability test rig for rocket nozzle cooling channels designed, built and operated at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH). With the use of the test rig the industry and academia will be able develop necessary knowledge of the heat transfer characteristics and material influence at relevant operating conditions in order to maintain and gain new market shares in future rocket propulsion systems. In 2019 the test rig was installed with operating conditions of 200 bar and 1073K, with gas combustion. During 2020 some test campaigns, mostly related to heat transfer characteristics, have been done and published. During 2021, an online measuring method and instrumentation for detection of onset carbonisation has been developed and pyrolysis investigations done. The project is entering its third phase in 2022 with testing of various AM details, and is funded through 2023.

MESNET

Development of large deployable antenna composed of a deployable ring structure, a triangular cable network and a radiofrequency-reflecting metallic mesh. Principal investigator for the ESA MESNET project is HPS GmbH in Munich.

MIST (MIniature STudent satellite)

MIST is a 3U CubeSat, primarily designed and tested by students working in small teams. The project was defined in 2014 and the work started on January 2015, the launch of the satellite will not occur before 2020. Six technical and scientific experiments will fly on the satellite, the experiments have been proposed from inside KTH and from two Swedish companies.

NASA MMS mission

KTH is participating in MMS (Magnetospheric Multi-Scale), a NASA project with four satellites for detailed studies of the magnetosphere field line connections. KTH contributes with all the electronics and mechanics for the instrument that measures electrical fields as well as for the low voltage power supply. The launch took place on the 12th of March 2015 from Cape Canaveral, and the mission will continue to at least September 2023. More than 350 publications of MMS results have been made, of which 70 have contributions from the Department of Space and Plasma Physics at KTH.

PlanHab/FemHab

KTH participates in the multinational PlanHab/FemHab studies which aimes to simulate future planetary habitats. Experiments are being performed to study the physiological effects – cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and metabolic – from being bedbound over a long period of time in combination with oxygen deficiency. KTH is also investigating the risk of decompression sickness during both long-term and repeated short exposures to lower pressure, studies relevant to future strategies for EVA (Extra Vehicular Activity) in space. Another study focus on the biomechanical effects of resistance training using the ”Fly-wheel-dynamometer”, designed to counteract bone and muscle loss in microgravity.

Activities at SAPC

PoGO+

PoGO+ is a X-ray polarimeter optimised to observe celestial sources in the hard X-ray band (~20-120 keV). The mission is lead from KTH and is performed together with Japanese collaborators. PoGO+ was launched from Esrange, northern Sweden in summer 2016. The week-long flight was very successful and has resulted in new observations of the polarization of hard X-rays emitted by the Crab nebula/pulsar and the black-hole binary Cygnus X-1. 

Remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) for Rwanda

Collaboration with Lund University and the National University of Rwanda, funded by SIDA (Swedish International Development Agency), in order to develop a master's program in GIS and land management, and to train 4 research students in remote sensing and GIS for environmental modelling, land management and planning.

Sentinel4Urban

The overall objective is to develop innovative methods and algorithms using multi-temporal EO data from Sentinel-1A/-2A to monitor urban development on a global scale. Multi-temporal data means that one observes the same area on several occasions. The project will specifically contribute to:

  • Development of new robust methods and algorithms to obtain reliable data for planning decision-support regarding sustainable urban development.
  • A greater understanding of the significance of data from the Sentinel satellites for analysis, mapping and monitoring of urban development.

Funded by the Swedish National Space Agency during 2016-2019.

Space Sunshade System (S3)

A study about the possibility to control a potentially dangerous high global temperature increase of greenhouse gases by placing a big amount of sunshades in space. During the spring term 2020 two master thesis project studied two different placements: in orbit around Earth or at Lagrange point 1 between Earth and the sun. A lot of it is based on sun sail technology. If the results seems promising, further support will be given for deeper analysis during autumn 2020.

SPIDER sounding rockets

KTH leads this project, whereby 10 detectors shall be sent out from a sounding rocket in order to measure electrical and magnetic fields as well as plasma properties in the ionosphere’s sporadic E-layer. The goal is to study Farley-Buneman electrostatic turbulence in an aurora borealis or northern lights stream, at about 115 km height. SPIDER was launched on the 2nd of February 2016, and another version (SPIDER-2) was launched in February 2020.

SUPERHARD IC (Silicon Carbide Used in Potentially disruptive Emerging Radiation-HARDened Instrument Components)

The objective of the SUPERHARD IC project is to bring a radical new capability to the Swedish and European space sector in the manufacture of radiation hardened instrument components, with spin out applications to other harsh environment sectors, including aerospace, energy, industrial production and health, through the design, production and radiation testing of innovative new radiation-hardened SiC bipolar devices. These will include the key analog and digital building blocks necessary to construct mixed signal application-specific integrated circuits. The project is funded by the Swedish National Space Association 2017-2021.

Upgrading and Strengthening the University Wide GIS Centre

Funded by SIDA, in collaboration with Lund University and Makerere University in Uganda, the project aims to develop the existing GIS laboratory into a state of the art GIS laboratory by training, capacity building and renewal of personnel, spatial data, hardware and software. The Project duration is 2015 to 2020. 

X-Calibur and XL-Calibur

X(L)-Calibur is a balloon-borne hard X-ray polarimeter which uses a different instrument approach compared to PoGO+. A ~10 m long optical bench houses X-ray optics and a scattering polarimeter at the focal point. The optical bench is pointed with arcsecond accuracy. The XL-Calibur mission is a continuation of the X-Calibur mission which has conducted several test flights, culminating in observations of the accreting X-ray pulsar GX 301-2 during a flight on Antarctica in December 2018 which KTH participated in. XL-Calibur is a second-generation instrument which achieves approximately six times better sensitivity than X-Calibur. XL-Calibur will study a sample of archetypical X-ray sources (15-80 keV), including but not limited to, stellar mass black holes in X-ray binaries such as Cyg X-1 and GX 339-4, accretion and rotation powered neutron stars such as Her X-1, Vela X-1, GX 301-2, and the Crab, as well as a sample of flaring binaries.

Page responsible:Ceona Lindstein
Belongs to: KTH Space Center
Last changed: Jun 04, 2023