Technological projects portfolio

Thousands of satellites circle overhead, providing a wide range of services in different fields such as telecommunications, internet, geolocation, navigation, maritime safety, natural resource management, prevention and monitoring of natural hazards, or meteorology.

By 2030, the global private space market could be worth more than 500 billion euros, whereas before the 2020s, the near-majority of private players’ revenues came from governments. We can expect a major turning point.

From the 2030s, there are likely to be more than 27,000 satellites in orbit. These will mainly be small satellites (CubeSats – 1 kg, Nano-Satellites – 2 to 10 kg, Micro-Satellites – 10 to 200 kg).

HELSA will make it possible to realistically test the attitude determination and control system of a satellite on the ground by simulating magnetic fields in orbit. It will also enable us to characterize the residual magnetism of the satellite’s components by cancelling out the ambient magnetic field. Helsa consists mainly of a cage with Helmholtz coils to generate and control the Earth’s magnetic field within it and an air-cushioned table to simulate an almost frictionless environment.

Other components include a mechanical support to secure the satellite to the table, control electronics with AI algorithms to determine the satellite’s attitude, and a compressed air device to power the air-cushioned table. To improve the test system and make it unique, we want to add optional external sources to simulate the space environment.

Space is going to be increasingly crowded. The threats associated with the establishment of mega-constellation of satellites (Starlink) will increase. The risks of collision in space will multiply. Simulating the conditions of the space environment and the risks in orbit is becoming a major challenge.

In the future, satellites will have to be equipped with orbit attitude determination and control systems and thrusters. This is vital if we are to avoid collisions that can have dramatic consequences. It is to be expected that national laws and space law will become stricter in order to comply with certain rules in this area.

If no action is taken, the proliferation of satellites in low Earth orbit could lead to collisions and trigger a chain reaction known as Kessler Syndrome.