The project aims to develop a compact cold atom gravimeter and identify routes to development for a space-deployable system. Space-based high precision gravimetry as offered by cold atom approaches is an emerging key enabling technology for a range of markets dependent on Earth observation. Furthermore gravimetry has a broad number of terrestrial applications from underground surveying to locating oil and mineral deposits. Although the levels of precision of cold atom gravimetry have been demonstrated, in comparison to current gravimeters the most prominent drawback is the systems size weight and power (SWaP) characteristics. SWaP requirements are seen as the key roadblock in the wider adoption of cold atom gravimeters, despite having a multitude of advantages over existing solutions. This project brings together routes to miniaturised, compact and space deployable subsystems to yield a compact cold atom gravimeter demonstrator. In 2016 flooding caused £1.6bn of damage, and accurate flood prediction could have avoided some of these costs and associated stress of losing homes. Accurate location of underground infrastructure could reduce traffic congestion that costs the UK £4.6bn per year.
77,627
2017-03-01 to 2019-03-31
Collaborative R&D
New developments in quantum technology have resulted in the ability to cool atoms close to absolute zero using lasers. At these temperatures, laboratory experiments have shown that these “cold atoms” can be used as ultra-sensitive sensors for measuring gravity. CASPA will translate leading UK science into commercial products for space and other markets. It will take the technology out of the laboratory and build it into a small satellite payload that is capable of producing “cold atoms” in space. Demonstrating this new technology in space is a vital first step towards realising real instruments that are capable of mapping tiny changes in the strength of gravity across the surface of the earth. The extreme sensitivity brought by “cold atom” sensors will provide the ability to finely monitor the movement of mass within Earth systems. This has multiple applications including more accurate monitoring of changes in polar ice mass, ocean currents and sea level. Higher resolution data will lead to the ability to monitor smaller water sources and discover new underground natural resources which are currently not detectable. Similar technology will also be used for deep space navigation and for providing higher precision timing sources in space.
73,744
2015-09-01 to 2017-02-28
Collaborative R&D
In the past years Mars Space Ltd and Clyde Space Ltd have developed, qualified and sold to customers the first units of an electric propulsion (EP) subsystem for cubesat applications called PPTCUP. At present PPTCUP is the only cubesat EP subsystem to have been subjected to flight qualification. Nevertheless, since the development of this product started, the cubesat market has significantly evolved becoming a commercial reality with Earth Observation (EO) cubesats attracting investments in excess of 100 M$ and with two big companies representing about 40% of the total market. The goal of this project will be to modify the existing PPTCUP design to increase its performances and to obtain a product that is tailor made for these customers capturing a significant share of the EO cubesat market and setting the standard for cubesat propulsion. To achieve such a goal Mars Space and Clyde Space are collaborating with the Satellite Application Catapult and the Advanced Manufacturing Centre of the University of Sheffield (part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult) to leverage their know-how and experience in the cubesat market and in advanced manufacturing technologies.
30,770
2012-08-01 to 2014-04-30
Fast Track
This feasibility study will assess the practical implementation of novel motion planning algorithms within flight representative hardware for a minaturised ADCS, addressing the problem of performing minimum resource attitude manoevres within the limitations of available onboard processing capability, and sympathetic to small to nanosatellite sensing and actuation. The on-board optimal motion planner will enable small low-cost spacecraft to perform to the high-precision pointing capability of larger, more expensive, spacecraft. The aim is to develop control algorithms that enhance the capability of small spacecraft re-pointing capabilities that are affordable to a wider range of consumer
13,920
2012-06-01 to 2013-08-31
Fast Track
Cubesat are small satellites with a mass of about 1 – 3 Kg and provide quick and cheap access to space. At present a propulsion subsystem for this class of spacecraft does not exist hence their manoeuvrability and lifetime are limited. Mars Space Ltd and Clyde Space Ltd have already developed a propulsion subsystem (called PPTCUP) able to double the orbital lifetime of a cubesat. During testing the prototype outperformed the requirements in terms thrust and propellant consumption but there was insufficient time and resources available to demonstrate adequate lifetime. The project will investigate the parameters that influence the thruster lifetime with the aim of modifying the PPTCUP design to achieve good performances and long lifetime.