Maximilian Maahn’s Post

New space telescopes as used in the LIFE mission could one day finally answer the question: are we alone in the universe?    To develop these new technologies and test their ability to characterize atmospheres, researchers simulate imaginary worlds and, for the first time, also use the earth as a test object 🌏   Discover more: https://lnkd.in/eZrHPqx9   #Exoplanets #LIFEMission #SpaceDiscoveries

Sentinel: This research station is to be stationed 200 meters underwater Underwater environments are sometimes more challenging than outer space. This is especially true at greater depths. A team from Great Britain has now presented plans for a particularly ambitious underwater project: an underwater habitat called #Sentinel, which can be stationed at a depth of around 200 meters. If this project were to be implemented, it could end up being similar in function to the International Space Station (ISS) – just under water instead of in space. Such a project would undoubtedly have the potential to revolutionize the exploration of deeper ocean areas. 200 meters below the surface The project is being driven by the aptly named DEEP ocean technology and exploration company. Sentinel is planned to be based off the southwest coast of the United Kingdom, probably off the coast of the country of Wales. The station is to be placed there at a depth of around 200 meters, which means it will be at the bottom of the so-called epipelagial, the uppermost zone of the sea. Researchers could reach the station via submarines. It would also be modular and could be moved so it could be used in other locations. “The lower limit of the Epipelagic Zone is the deepest point at which sunlight penetrates into the ocean and it's estimated that 90% of marine life is found in this zone. Being able to comprehensively explore the full extent of this part of the ocean rather than just performing incursions from the surface, will represent a step-change in the way scientists can observe, monitor, and understand the oceans.  Following two years of intensive and pioneering research into innovative manufacturing processes and materials science, DEEP is at the advanced stage of technical design and has commenced production. The Deep system offers a radically more effective way to live and operate underwater than has existed before. Previously, underwater facilities have been temporary and fixed-location. Deep's habitat is modular, scalable, autonomous, recoverable,“says a press release from Deep. Life deep in the sea At least if one believes the graphics available so far, researchers at Sentinel Station would live in relative comfort given that it would be located in pretty much the most challenging environment on Earth... ...Deep wants to enable a permanent human presence under water, similar to what happened with the ISS in space. People will live in the Sentinel station from 2027. But it is still a long and rocky road until then. For example, the structural stability of the station must be guaranteed under the immense pressure at this depth. In addition, Sentinel must be permanently supplied with oxygen and energy. The team is said to be already working on a renewable energy source as well as a large-scale bioreactor for all waste products.--- According to the company, discussions are currently underway with potential investors and partners.--- via DEEP

Space Debris is now a top priority. First commitments are stated, such as in Le Bourget in Paris at #ESA level and at LSI level (see linked article below). Fine 👍. At conferences, there are a lot of talks about "controlled reentry" or "active removal". But it is often forgotten that technologies - like our Dragsail #ADEO - are already available NOW for "passive reentry" of SMALL satellites between 1 kg and 700 kg. Especially smallsats without own propulsion need passive deorbit-devices to disappear 5 years after EoL. For sats with propulsion, ADEO could serve as backup-parachute. A #ZeroDebris policy in ESA/EU from 2030 on is correct, the first launch limitations in the USA from October 2024 are already on the way. It would be consequent that Europe follows. (By the way: if all satellites are actively guided back with chemical fuel, where resp. how long remain all the chemical residues after the activation 🤔? Here is the full ESA-report on the high level panel in Paris: https://lnkd.in/ezDH2p8J I am curious on the outcome of next week's "ESA Zero Debris Workshop" in Darmstadt. 🛰️ Thx for your effort and stay ambitious, dear Josef Aschbacher and Rolf Densing , and stay open minded 😉, dear Jean-Marc Nasr, Herve DERREY, Lutz Bertling. #deorbit #reentry #dragsail #cleanspace #cleangreen HPS High Performance Space Structure Systems GmbH