Exploiting the International Space Station a Mission for Europe-Appendix

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BR-141

AppendixFebruary 1999

Directorate of Manned Spaceflight and Microgravity Direction des Vols Habités et de la Microgravité

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A Mission for Europe

Exploiting the International Space Station

UtilisationbyEuropeanIndustry



Exploiting theInternational Space

Station: A Mission for Europe

Utilisation by European Industry

BR-141

AppendixFebruary 1999

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Directorate of Manned Spaceflight and Microgravity Direction des Vols Habités et de la Microgravité



Appendix to BR-141 (ISBN 92-9092-625-2)‘Exploiting the International Space Station: A Mission for Europe’

Text by: The staff of ESA’s Directorate of Manned Spaceflight & Microgravity and Directorate of Industrial Matters & Technology Programmes

Published by: ESA Publications Division,ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands

Edited by: Andrew Wilson, ESA Publications Division

Design: Carel Haakman & Andrew Wilson

Price: 30 Dutch Guilders/ 14

© European Space Agency 1999



Contents

Space: a Tool for European Industry 4

Part I: ISS Utilisation by Non-Space Industry 6 A marketplace for new industrial materials, products & services

Materials, crystals, fluids and combustion 8

Biotechnology and biomedical applications 14

Medical care and health services 16

Services from the Space Station 18

Part II: ISS Utilisation by Aerospace Industry 20 A testbed for advanced technologies

Using the ISS as a Testbed for Technology 20

Technology R&D Areas 21

Electric power 21

Robotics 22

Thermal control 22

Life support 22

Space environment and effects 23

Communications 24

Propulsion 24

Appendix: EUROSPACE Report i-xxviiIndustrial Utilisation of the ISS by European Space Industry



4

• use the Station as a platform tointroduce and sell new services , for example, in communications andimaging. New markets for serviceproviders targeting the general publicor specific groups will be opened up.

ESA is promoting areas with promisingapplications potential. The first TopicalTeams have been formed to work withindustry identifying relevant researchtopics, leading to Microgravity

Applications Promotion Projects that prepare industrial application projects for

Space Station via European-widenetworks involving academia, researchorganisations and industrial R&D businessunits. The existing teams and projects are

This document is an Appendix to ESA BR-141 ‘Exploiting the InternationalSpace Station: A Mission for Europe’. It provides more detailed coverage of the

utilisation possibilities offered by theInternational Space Station (ISS) toEuropean industries.

Promising areas for non-aerospaceindustry and enterprises are highlightedin Part I:

• innovative materials, products andprocesses,

• biotechnical and biomedicalapplications,

• medical care and health services,• new services provided from theStation.

In all of these areas, the InternationalSpace Station offers a uniqueenvironment for industrial applicationsand private sector initiatives. We can:

• improve industrial products andprocesses on Earth using the resultsof specific experiments on theStation,

• introduce new commercial productsand instruments to the market by licensing new methods andtechnologies used on ISS,

Space: a Tool forEuropean Industry

The interest by European industries – such as metal producers,refiners and end users; oil; car manufacturers; energy producers; food; cosmetic; pharmaceutical – in flyingexperiments on the Space Station as a tool for R&D andindustrial applications, is expressed through their participationunder their own funding in several of ESA’s existing andplanned Microgravity Applications Projects. In the longer term, substantial contributions by industry to ISS-relatedprojects can be expected, provided that ESA’s utilisationpreparation effort remains at a steady and reliable level.



5

described in detail in ESA BR-136 ‘TheInternational Space Station – Microgravity: A Tool for IndustrialResearch’.

A total of 24 Topical Teams have already been created in Physical Sciences &

Applications; Biotechnology; and LifeSciences. Three pilot projects are under way, with identified applications andindustrial partners contributing up to50% in the first phase.

More than 130 proposals were received

in response to a recent ESA Announcement of Opportunity for Microgravity Research & Applications. Themajority relate to future industrial

applications and involve Europeanindustries as partners. The existingTopical Teams have proposed new application projects, with participation of

industrial partners. Proposals for formingnew Topical Team s have been submitted.

The response demonstrates a substantialinterest by different European industriesin using and exploiting the spaceenvironment for commercial purposes.

Part II of this document outlines theStation’s role as a testbed for advancedspace technologies, for the benefit of European aerospace industries.

This is complemented by a report fromEUROSPACE , which lists some 60industrial proposals from the Europeanaerospace industry for the Station’s initialutilisation. This reflects the strong interest that the ISS is generating amongaerospace industries, and underlines theneed for access to the Station’s facilitiesby European industry. Remainingcompetitive in a rapidly-expanding spacemarket requires equally rapiddevelopment of advanced technologies.

The Space Station will become a unique marketplace for new business, new commercial products and new services. Industry has already started to invest its own resources in space-basedresearch and technology developments. Regular access to theISS by European industry will accelerate this process and attractmore private sector financial investments targeting new commercial products and profitable services.

Transferring results from Station space research and technology activities to terrestrial applications will open up broad

opportunities for creating new high-technology businesses andenterprises. European industry is ready to embrace the SpaceStation as a means for commercial activities.

ESA/D. Ducros



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for related projects on industrial materialsand technology, biotechnology, healthand environment can be expected from

the Framework Programmes of theEuropean Commission . Owing to the pre- competitive nature of that research,several companies with similar researchobjectives, from different EU member states, generally work in networks withinstitutional partners, experienced inapplied research with industrial goals. At present, EU funding of industry is about 50% which, together with industry’scontribution, could cover ground-basedresearch work and preparation for space

experiments.

Based on the evaluation of the proposalsin response to ESA’s Announcement of Opportunity, additional Microgravity

Applications Promotion (MAP) Projectswill be selected and new Topical Teamswill be formed for redefinition of futureapplications projects. The followingthemes are currently covered:

• Biotechnology and Biomedicine• Interfaces and Transport Phenomena• Fluid Thermodynamics and

Thermophysical Properties• Combustion• Solidification Processes• Crystal Growth• Protein Crystallisation• Fundamental Physics

The following sections present examplesof promising areas for industrial andmedical applications and commercialservices. In some areas, European

research and industrial teams are already actively preparing application projects for the ISS.

The International Space Station opens upnew opportunities to use the spaceenvironment to our advantage and to

make space work for us. The knowledgefrom research under microgravity conditions into materials processing,crystal growth, fluid physics, combustionprocesses and in the medical andbiotechnology areas will improveterrestrial production processes for high- tech materials , lead to new advancedmaterials , and help to design and test new pharmaceutical drugs in the battleagainst disease. Medical research usingastronauts has already contributed to

improving health services on Earth , by introducing advanced medical diagnosticsystems and by developing positivecountermeasures for preventativemedicine and rehabilitation.

The transfer of results to terrestrialapplications from two decades of microgravity research aboard Spacelab,Eureca, Mir and others has already started – fundamental knowledge onphysical processes in melts, crystalgrowth, fluids and combustion.Continuous research on the Station willaccelerate the transfer rate.

More and more European industries arebecoming actively involved in space- related research areas. The motivation isacquiring information that cannot beprovided by Earth-based research and theattraction of incorporating those resultsinto industrial processes and product development . Synergies with relatedEuropean Union (EU) programmes are

being established to carry out appliedand industrially oriented research by parallel and coordinated activities onEarth and in space. Additional funding

I: ISS Utilisation by Non-Space Industry

A marketplace for new industrial materials, products & services



7

The response to the recent ESA Announcement of Opportunity demonstrated

the strong interest of European industries inexploiting the Space Station for application-

oriented projects.

Examples of Research Topics for Gravity-related Research with Industrial Objectives

Objectives of microgravity Industrial research objectives Applications

investigations

Casting of High Performance Alloys

Advanced process control Validation of theoretical models Cast products with reproducible and Turbine blades and cast under controlled conditions. predictable properties structural parts with improvedDetermination of thermophysical properties and reliability data with an accuracy not attainable under normal gravity

Particle reinforced Understand particle motion and Homogeneous dispersions in metal Cast parts of light metal withcomposites aggregation mechanisms matrix composites improved stiffness and high

thermal conductivity

Crystal Growth

Crystal growth of electronic Understand the influence of gravity Improve the quality and High sensitivity X-ray detectorsand photonic materials from on the crysta l growth process and homogeneity of crystals of for medical diagnosticsa melt or the vapour phase produce benchmark samples compounds such as GaAs, ZnSe,

CdTe etc.

Crystal growth of biological Monitor and control the process in Identify the drug inhibiting an Fast drug design on the basis of macromolecules order to grow high quality crystals active molecule the detailed structure of the

suitable for detailed structure target moleculedetermination

Particle Technologies Understand particle nucleation, Production of nanoscale particles Advanced nanomaterialsgrowth, aggregation and dispersion Coating of optical surfacesmechanisms

Energy Production and Management

Heat and mass transfer Validation of theoretical models for Understanding of the basic rules of Enhanced oil recovery andmultiphase flows, boiling mechanism, processes energy production techniquesflows in porous media

Combustion Basic understanding of droplet and Accurate models of energy Low consumption, low pollutant spray vaporisation production and propulsion processes emission engines and power plants

Biotechnology and Medicine

Biology and physiology Role of gravity at the molecular level, Molecular and cellular control of Drugs modulating cell activity on cell physiology, and on gene expression, of cell and proliferation for applicationsdevelopmental processes differentiation and proliferation in agronomy and medicine

Tissue engineering Cell-cell relations and tissue Controlled tissue development, Organotypical materials, artificialdifferentiation in stable, controlled intelligent bioreactors, organotypical organs, and implantablefluidic systems conditions intelligent curing devices

Medicine and health care Better understanding of gravity effects Undertstanding of mechanisms Therapies for osteoporosis andon metabolism and physiology leading to diseases and validation of wound healing, health monitoringpreventat ive and therapeut ic and analytical techniquescountermeasures



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The more precise measurements of thermophysical properties possible under microgravity can be applied in numerical

models to optimise and control material- forming processes – solidification andhigh-precision casting , for example. Thishas already led to the introduction of lighter, higher strength materials offeringa wide range of industrial applications inthe automobile , aeroplane and consumer goods industries. This was made possibleby the improvement in foundry andcasting technologies and processes ,which increasingly rely on numericalmodelling for optimisation and control.

Measuring the thermophysical propertiesof metallic melts is emerging as an areaoffering rapid transfer into industrialpractice. Most properties of metals andalloys, such as mechanical strength,creep resistance, ductility and wear resistance, are determined by their microstructure. In turn, controlling themicrostructure is very important for quality control and the design of new

advanced materials for specifictechnological applications. For example,the control of crystal nucleation and

growth is essential during melt processing for casting, welding, singlecrystal growth and directionalsolidification. In addition, the heat flow and the fluid flow must both be knownand controlled. The basis for understanding and predicting transport phenomena and their coupling withmicrostructure formation lies inknowledge of the thermophysicalproperties.

Production routes for materials withlower wear and friction and higher strength have been identified from spaceresearch. These materials are findingapplications as advanced slide bearingsin car engines and in the fabrication of safety-relevant cast parts for cars andaircraft.

Topical Team: ‘ThermophysicalProperties on Fluids’

The research programmeprepared by this ESA TopicalTeam aims at the accuratemeasurement of thermophysical data for various materials of interest to industry. These includemetallic glasses ,multicomponent alloys (Fe- based, Al-based) and single- and poly-crystalline materials .The team has conducted alarge survey on the needs of the European

metal industry for accuratedata, and receivedoverwhelming support for this initiative.

Materials, Crystals,

Fluids and Combustion



9

Topical Teams: ‘Convection andPattern Formation in MorphologicalInstability during Directional

Solidification’ and ‘The Influence of Steady and Alternating MagneticFields on Crystal Growth and Alloy Solidification’ These teams are investigating themechanisms that control the formationof microstructures during castingprocesses. We can expect improvements in the performance andreliability of advanced materials, suchas light alloys and superalloys usedin the aircraft industry. A number of

research project are under evaluation, all involving major industrialconsortia.

Topical Team: ‘Metastable States andPhases’ The Team deals with the formation of microstructures in undercooled metalsand alloys. Solidification experiments inthe German TEMPUS electromagneticlevitation facility were carried out in1994, providing containerless processingfor tightly controlled experiments for parametric mapping. For some materials,this technique can be used only inmicrogravity.

The contacts established by these teamswith European metallurgical industries ,foundry and casting companies ,aluminium - and steel-producingcompanies , glass industries , numericalsoftware developers , providers of measuring techniques and end-users

from processing industries have resultedin a large number of proposals for new teams and projects with significant industrial partnership.

In general, significant progress has beenmade in understanding and modellingthe crystal-growth process. A specific ESA MAP Project is dealing with the growthof cadmium telluride (CdTe) andrelated compounds . An experiment performed aboard the Space Shuttle in1998 will allow the crystal quality andresulting sensor performance to becorrelated with the growth conditions.

The ultimate objective is to improve theprocesses for production of high-quality,large single crystals . CdTe and (Cd, Zn)Tesemiconductors can be used as X-ray detectors operating with only 1% of theradiation dose required by conventional

X-ray films. They have a broad potential

for applications in medical X-ray imagingsystems (dental, mammography,dosimetry). Other application areas areelectro-optical switches in advanced



10

ABB Kernkrafttechnik (CH), Acofluid (F), ACOM s.r.l. (I), Advanced Accoustics

GmbH (D), AEG Infrarot Module (D), AlcanInt. Ltd (UK), AMI Ducoco GmbH (D), Analog

Speed Instr. GmbH (D), Agrotec (F), ASCOMETAL-CREAS (F), Aubert & Duval (F),BEOS (D), Bosch GmbH (D), British Steel Ltd(UK), CALCOM (CH), CERAMEL s.p.r.l. (LUX),

CEZUS (F), CIME-BECUZE (F), CORECOMPirelli Cables (I), Creusot-Loire Ind. (F),

CRISA (E), Crismatic (F), Degussa (D), DMT Technologie (I), Dunaferr Acelmüvek (HU),

Edisoft (P), EFU Umformtechnik (D),Eisenwerk Brühl (D), Engelhardt-Compagnie

des Metaux Precieux (F), ENI Chem (I),Federal Mogul (D), Flamatel S.p.A. (I),Freiberger Compound GmbH (D), GEC-

Marconi (UK), Guhring o.H.G. (D),Helmholtz-Inst. f. BiomedizinischeTechnik (D), Hoogovens B.V. (NL),

Innovative Products & Processes (D), Inst. f.Giessereitechnologie (D), IP&P (D), IRSID (F),Liquid Research Ltd (UK), Magyar Alu (HU),

MAGMA Giessereitechnologie (D),Materials GmbH (D), Netsch Gerätebau (D),

Novo-Control GmbH (D), OHB (D), Osprey Metals Ltd (UK), Panacol-Elosol GmbH (D),

Péchiney (F), Plansee AG (D), RapidProduction GmbH (D), REOSC (F), Rolls- Royce (UK), S&CC (F), Saint Gobain (F),

Sandvik Steel AB (S), SATELEC (F), Schenk Sintermetall GmbH (D), Schott GmbH (D),

Schwermetall AG (D), Siemens KWU (D),SIKORA Industrie Elektronik (D),

SNECMA (F), Speed Form GmbH (D),SSAB (S), H.C. Starck GmbH (D),

Swissmetall SA (CH),TFB Feingusswerk (D),

Techmeta (F), Thermo-Calc AB (S),Thyssen-Krupp Stahl AG (D),

Titan Alum. Feinguss (D),Three-Five Services (F),

Unilever (UK),VAW Aluminium (D),

Vakuum Schmelze (D), VDG (D),

Wieland Werke AG (D),Zeiss (D), ZENECA (UK).

This non-exhaustive list includes European companiesinterested in partnering planned teams covering the

research topics addressed in this section, preparing andconducting industrially-oriented projects aboard SpaceStation, or which are already actively participating by

identifying and defining process parameters of industrialinterest, providing materials, samples for the experiments

and participating in the evaluation of the results:



11

diffusion processes in liquids. This can

best be studied in detail in microgravity freed from convection, sedimentationand buoyancy. Understanding thesefundamental phenomena has direct applications, for example, in thedevelopment of models for oil reservoirsand in avoiding Hot Spot Drying inindustrial fruit juice and milk evaporators.They also relate to industrial surfacetreatment techniques such as ElectronBeam Evaporation.

Topical Team: ‘Magnetic Fluids: Gravity Dependent Phenomena and Related

Applications’ Experiments in microgravity provide abetter understanding of the magneticflow control in magnetic fluids . Inpartnership with leading industries in thefield, this team is designing a magneticfluids experiment facility to investigatethermal transport processes in ferrofluids.Potential applications include magneticfluids in cooling devices (e.g. for high- power transformers, and the damping

and cooling of loudspeakers), thin-filmbearings, sealing of rotating shafts, andin techniques for cancer therapy (magnetic fluid hypothermia).

telecommunications; photorefractivecrystals in ultrasonic sensors for non- destructive testing equipment; substrate

material for infrared sensors . Theindustrial partners in this project cover this very large field of applications.

Improvements in the numerical modellingof silicon crystallisation is of industrialinterest to foster application of large-scalesemiconductors in integrated circuits.Industrial manufacturers of germanium(Ge) and gallium arsenide (GaAs)semiconductor raw materials have showninterest in joining related ESA Topical

Teams and application projects.

Topical Team: ‘Equilibrium andDynamic Properties of AdsorbedLayers’ This team is studying the effects of surfactants on the surface tension of liquids. Surfactants affect fluid propertiessuch as the stability of foams andemulsions, liquid bridges and thin films.They influence the dissolution of oneliquid in another, the floating capabilitiesof particles on liquid surfaces, andfluid/fluid interface relations. A first seriesof space investigations using a dedicatedinstrument was performed in 1998. Theresults triggered the interest of other companies dealing in the industrialproblems of coatings (painting, printing),oil recovery, and environmental clean-ups.The team identified further applications of this research in cooperation with thefood, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical andchemical industries.

Topical Team: ‘Double DiffusiveInstabilities with Soret Effect’ This team is addressing the complexcoupling between heat and mass



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Examples of combustion research in

microgravity with relevance for industry include turbulent combustion of pre- mixed gases, and the vaporisation andauto-ignition for droplet and spray combustion.

The ‘Droplet-Particles-Spray-CloudCombustion’ and ‘Flame-VortexInteractions’ Topical Teams are dealingwith the optimisation of combustionprocesses. The ultimate aim is tocontribute to reductions in fuelconsumption, pollution and cost .Possible applications are efficiency improvements for any fuel combustionengine ( cars, domestic or industrialburners, power plants and aircraft gasturbines ).

Another application area is the study inmicrogravity of the fire extinguishingprocess. This will lead to more reliable fireprotection and fire extinction methods.

The study of soot formation under

microgravity conditions may lead to soot reduction and lower emissions fromcombustion engines , particularly dieselengines, gasoline direct injection engines

and gas-turbine combusters, a topic of particular interest for car and aeroenginemanufacturers.

‘Combustion Synthesis’ is the theme of another ESA Topical Team, whosemicrogravity research is expected toprovide the project’s industrial partnerswith the basis for control andoptimisation of the combustion process.

Car and aeroengine producers andindustrial fire-research departmentsinterested in participating are: ABB (CH),

Aerospatiale (F), BASF-Fire Department(D), Bayern-Chemie GmbH (D), BMW-

Rolls Royce AeroEngines (D), Daimler- Chrysler (D), Degussa-Hüls AG (D),ENEL (I), ESYTEC GmbH (D), Fiat (I),IST GmbH (D), Istituto Malari (I), MAN- Nutzfahrzeuge AG (D), MTU (D),Norwegian Fire Research Lab (N),Quanta System Srl (I), Rolls Royce(UK), SEP (F), Shell International (NL),Siemens KWU (D), SNECMA (F).



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Bioengineering in space is a very dynamic and rapidly evolving high-techarea offering near-term prospects for

creating marketable products and turninginvestments into profitable returns.Experiments in space allow effectsmasked by gravity to be studied, thusproviding a better understanding of basicbiological processes at the cellular andmolecular levels.

Bioreactors in spaceprovide – throughbetter control under microgravity –

improved growth of 3-dimensionaltissues, and cell andorgan cultures, opening up new ways toprevent and treat diseases . Current spaceresearch, particularly by US companies,includes growing skin and liver tissuesand cancer tumours in laboratory cultures. This has prospective applicationsfor transplantations of artificial tissuesand organ-like structures, and productionof pharmaceutical agents . Better understanding of growth mechanisms of biominerals and bioactive substrates willlead to the development of a new generation of biomaterials for implants.

Results from plant tissue culturing inspace bioreactors will have applicationsin agriculture . Biomolecular self-assembly for biosensor and bio-chip generation isanother commercially interesting area,with applications in environmentalmonitoring and clinical diagnostics.

The ESA MAP Project ERISTOOsteoporosis (loss of calcium andtrabecular structure in bones) focuses onthe study and development of an

accelerated in vitro engineered bone- tissue model for the evaluation of trabecular bone architecture and bone

quality evaluation. The ERISTO teamcomprises 10 European partners,including academia, clinical centres andindustries. An ESA-developed bonedensitometer used and validated duringthe Euromir-95 mission is now on the

market in acommercial version.In the longer term,better diagnosisand treatment of osteoporosis are

expected.

ESA Topical Teamsworking with European industrialpartners to identify space-relevant biotechnology areas are:

‘Controlled Tissue Development in aBioreactor’ The requirements for a miniaturemembrane bioreactor for growingorgano-typical functional tissues in acontrolled 3-D micro-environment will bedefined by this team. This couldeventually lead to a pharmaceuticaldevice for in vitro tissue growth of skin,liver and brain nerve cells , serving for high-throughput screening of drugs.

‘Nutrition’ This activity focuses on nutrition for preventing and treating diseasesanalogous to the physiologicalmodifications observed inweightlessness. Possible medical

applications: design and use of nutrients for people with specific dietary needs, especially in the ageingpopulation.

Biotechnology and

Biomedical Applications

These ESA-initiated activities include:active participation by the European

biotechnology and biomedical industry;transfer to industry of the knowledge

gained through space experiments; the

fostering of new commercial products.



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Cell Topical Team (‘Elucidation of theMechanisms of Eukaryotic CellGravisensity’)This team is studying the role of gravity at the cellular level. Applications: agriculture,medicine.

Plant Topical Team (‘Perception of Gravity, Signal Transduction and Gravi- response in Higher Plants’)

Applications: possible improvement of

transgenetic plant strains.

‘Biomonitors’ This team is dealing with biologicalenvironmental monitoring anddiagnostics for space and terrestrialapplications, and measures for theassessment and managing of environmental risks.

‘Tissue and Cell Engineering’ This team will focus on tissueengineering in a reduced gravitational

field for a variety of tissues. Applicationareas include: growth of pseudo- organs and tissues for clinicaltransplantation .

‘Microbial ContaminationMonitoring and Control’ This team intends to investigate themicrobial evolution in confined systemssuch as the Space Station, testinginstruments and procedures to identify and neutralise microbial hazards .Potential applications: food industry,medical and environmental fields.

‘Microencapsulation (Cells andDrugs)’ This Team is dealing with ways toexploit the microgravity environment inorder to better understand the physicalprocesses of microcapsule formationand the mass-transfer mechanisms inmicrocapsules. This knowledge isrequired to develop efficient microencapsulation methods.

Applications: controlled drug releases;encapsulation of living cells;immobilisation of biocatalysts, artificialseeds.

Links between the existing and proposed new biotechnical research teams and interested or currently cooperating companies include:

ADERSA (F), Bavarian Nordic Research (D), Bayer AG (D),Biomaterial GmbH (D), Biomaterials (UK), Bertin & Cie (F),Brace GmbH (D), Byke Gulden (D), Carlo Gavazzi (I), CCM(NL), Cell Concept (D), Celler Pflanzen & Gewebekultur (D), Clondiag Chip Techn. (D), Consortium f.Elektrochemie (D), Cortex Biophysik GmbH (D), Dierks & P.System. (D), ELA Medical (F), EPSa (D), Ergotest Techn. AS(N), Escubes (D), Glaxo Welcome Ware (UK), Glott GmbH(D), Hoffmann La Roche & Böhringer (CH/D), IndustriasQuirirgicas de Levante SL (E), Inotech AG (CH), IntospaceGmbH (D), Invitro Systems & Services (D), Iontech SA (E),Kayser-Italia Srl (I), La Vision GmbH (D), Lab. Innothera(F), Laffit SA (E), Dr. Lange GmbH (D), LEMI (F), MEDES(F), Merck (D), Meredos GmbH (D), Millenium Inc. (CND),Molmed (I), Morcher Optics (D), MSTB Ltd (UK), Nilstar (I),Nisco Engin. Inc. (CH), Norvartis (CH), Novotec GmbH(D), NTE SA (E), OHB (D), PARI GmbH (D), PronovoBioMedical (N), Rhône Poulenc (F), Sacher Lasertech. (D),SAPA (S), Scanco Medical AG (CH), Schering AG (D),

Siemens (D), SKF (S), Stork BV (NL), Sulzer Medica (CH),Surgival Co SA (E), SWD Saatzucht (D), Swedish Ind. Des.Inst. (S), Viso Medical (CH), YoYo Techn. AB (S)

Immobilisation Osteoporosis: Those at Risk

High risk

No risk Athlete

Healthy mobile adult

Sedentary desk-bound adult

Postmenopausal sedentary personElderly sedentary person

Astronaut Fracture or injury (isolated limb immobilisation)

Prolonged bed-rest Paraplegia

Normal activity

Hyperdynamics

Hypodynamics



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Space research in physiology, biology and animals down to the cellular levelcontinues to provide important results,with applications for improving our health on Earth. For example, certainphysiological changes in the humanbody observed in space are similar tothose caused by ageing on Earth:

• weakening of bones, and loss of muscle mass and strength;

• weakening of the cardiovascular system;

• weakening of the immune responsesystem (e.g. problems of wound

healing);• balance disorders;• metabolic disorders;• disturbed sleep.

The medical field has benefited frommedical research in space , including thecountermeasures developed to monitor

and maintain astronaut health – preventing the weakening of many body systems and remotely diagnosingpossible illnesses. Space research resultsand space medical methods are helpingto improve the quality of our health caresystems on Earth. Some techniques havefound applications in our daily lives.

The astronauts’ need to maintain physicaland mental fitness has led to specificphysiological, nutritional, psychological

and pharmaceutical measures, which arealso being applied in terrestrial healthservices.

Telemonitoring, telediagnosis and non- invasive and ambulatory healthmonitoring systems have been

developed. Lightweight miniaturetelemedical instrument packages, whichcollect health data parameters (includingaudio and video) for wirelesstransmission, are used to conduct remotehealth examinations. Smart, non-invasivesensors provide long-term recording andmonitoring of physiological status, suchas blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen uptake and blood analysis;

these instruments are now commercially available. The medical instrumentationindustry is a rapidly expanding market with high revenue expectations.

Medical Care

and Health Services

The space environment offers an accelerated view of the ageingprocess. A better understanding of the problem in space willlead to countermeasures against similar problems on Earth.Fitness, recreation and health maintenance techniquesdeveloped for astronauts are already employed by preventive

and rehabilitation medicine on Earth.



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ESA Topical Teams with medicalapplication areas are:

Bone Topical Team (‘Bone Biology inSpaceflight’)Potential applications: osteoporosistreatment, bone surgery.

Muscle Topical Team (‘Skeletal MuscleWeakness caused by SpaceflightConditions’)Potential applications: rehabilitationmedicine (after trauma), preventativemedicine (physical deconditioning in theelderly population).

Cardiovascular Topical Team(‘Cardiovascular Physiology’)Potential applications: rehabilitation

It can be expected that space medicine research will continue to yield valuable applications in clinical health services, advancemedical care delivery and lead to pharmaceutical products and

advanced medical instrumentation.

medicine (heart failure patients),treatment of orthostatic intolerance.

Fluid and Kidney Topical Team (‘FluidBalance and Kidney Function’)

Potential applications: improvements intreatment of patients with kidney andheart failures; technology development:non-invasive biosensors.

CNES



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Services from the Space Station

The Space Station with its many laboratories and external mounting sitesoffers excellent opportunities for

introducing new services on acommercial basis, aimed at the generalpublic or at specific end user groups.

Potential applications cover communication and navigation services ;imaging services from optical cameras;multispectral digital video and infraredsensing ; environmental monitoring ;meteorological observations .

The first pilot demonstration for a

commercial service is the GlobalTransmission Services (GTS) broadcastingsystem, which is already partially installedon the Russian Service Module. Thismodule will be launched as the thirdmajor Station element in a few months’time. After successfully demonstratingreception and conversion by groundusers of accurate time and location data,a service provider company will take over and sell services such as worldwidewristwatch synchronisation or car theft protection to the end user.

A project using the Internet todisseminate near-realtime local Earthimages from a multispectral digitalcamera mounted aboard the Station isunder consideration. Utility applicationsrange from disaster monitoring, naturalresources observations and prospectingto using pictures from a user’s ownhometown and its environment on theInternet.

The commercial applications potential for the European cold-atom clock that will betested on the Station from 2002 is

considerable. After demonstrating theexpected improvement in accuracy over the ground-based version by a factor of

10-100, applications would includeimproved frequency standards and timesynchronisation on a global scale. In thelonger term, incorporating it in globalpositioning satellites would provide aquantum leap in position and distancedetermination services, one of the fastest growing areas of commercialcommunications applications.

ESA/D. Ducros



19

Services from the Focus intelligent infrared sensor system , expected to beadded to the Station in 2003 to locate

and monitor forest fires, volcaniceruptions and major industrial fires, couldbe sold to public and private customerssuch as local fire departments, insurersand oil industries. Focus is being studiedin a public/private partnership, involvingEuropean aerospace and non-aerospaceindustries.

Physics, chemistry and geography lessonspaid for and transmitted from the SpaceStation by TV networks can be envisaged

for the future. In the longer term,support to film productions and art fromspace can also be expected.

The Russian Service Module (left) carries the Global Transmission Services

system. Inset: the GTS antenna installed on the Service Module.



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II: ISS Utilisation by Aerospace Industry

A testbed for advanced technologies

By its very nature, space technology research probes the limits of what istechnically feasible. In preparing the

ground for future space programmes, it creates new techniques and productswhich are then adopted for future spacemissions or which find their way intofuture commercial applications. In-orbit demonstration is an essential ingredient of the R&D effort: it completes thequalification process of new technologies. Because the spaceenvironment can be difficult to simulateon Earth – and, in some cases, impossible– many R&D activities can be performed

only in space. An orbiting platform is themost effective location for some of thesetechnology experiments.

Technology experiments on theInternational Space Station will benefit the European space programmes andaerospace industries in a number of ways. Technologies developed and testedon the Station, as well as the knowledgegained from the engineering research,will be used to reduce the cost andimprove the performance of future ESA and commercial activities in space.

Using the ISS as aTestbed for Technology Today, there is no permanent in-orbit testbed for technology offering agenciesand industry with regular, long-term andaffordable access to the spaceenvironment. Current opportunities areon the Space Shuttle, Mir and as

piggyback payloads on some larger satellites.

The ISS will provide this in-orbit

technology testbed , offering facilitiessuch as the European Technology Exposure Facility (EuTEF) to provide userswith low-cost and rapid access to space .Numerous potential technology users for the Station have already been identified,both in support of the Agencies’programmes and from industry. Inresponse to ESA’s Early Utilisation

Announcement of Opportunity, 48 of themore than 100 proposals came from thetechnology area. 18 technology proposals have been selected for flight inthe initial period .

Examples of benefits of technology experiments performed on the SpaceStation are described below.

Improving performance and reducingcosts of other space missions

A wide variety of technology demonstration activities on the Station



22

spacecraft demand this type of thermalcontrol system.

Research on the Space Station into thelong-term effects of the spaceenvironment on thermal controlsubsystems will apply only to spacesystems flying in a similar orbit. However,research in such areas as the lifetime of coolers and the performance of fluidsystems in weightlessness will be widely applicable and could enhance theperformance, reduce the costs andextend the lives of other spacecraft. Thisresearch is expected to lead to thedevelopment of new technologies usableon Earth.

Life Support

The ISS will function as a laboratory inwhich controlled environmental life

Robotics

The Space Station will function as a site

for testing and improving the ability of humans and robotic systems to work cooperatively in space . Research willfocus primarily on the development of robots functioning as capable, reliableand intelligent agents that respond tohigher level commands from humans.Their performances will be verified under space conditions.

Much of the technology required for aremotely operated robotic system in

space is identical to that required for terrestrial applications. Consequently,there will be good opportunities for applying new robot technology developed in space to terrestrial systems,where they can be used for deep-seaexploration, hazardous waste clean-upand other activities in environments toohazardous for humans.

Thermal Control

Crucially important for future spaceapplications, the ISS will serve as a sitefor testing the in-orbit performance of advanced thermal components such astwo-phase loops, advanced capillary evaporators, small centrifugal pumps,rotatable thermal joints, controllableradiators and advanced highperformance heat-pipes.

The functional verification, determinationof performance limits and study of interactions between several such

thermal components combined in athermal bus under actual workingconditions is a priority. Increasing thermaldissipation requirements on future

The ISS will serve as a testbed for life support technologies. (Alenia Aerospazio)



23

support systems can be tested andimproved. The technologies involvedinclude atmosphere revitalisation, water purification and recovery, and biologicalsystems. These experiments can be usedto improve the crew’s environment andto reduce the logistics requirements for consumables. This will allow increasingamounts of these consumables to berecycled instead of being transportedfrom Earth. The need for advanced lifesupport technologies is particularly great for missions beyond Earth orbit, for which resupplying consumables will beextremely costly and in some cases (suchas Mars missions) impracticable.

Advances made in water treatment and

purification systems achieved by experiments on the Space Station canpotentially be used in remote andunderdeveloped areas of the world.

Space Environment and Effects

The Station will be used to verify modelsof the space environment, including spacedebris and micrometeoroid models, andmodels of the thermal, radiation, atomicoxygen, plasma and ultraviolet environments in low-Earth orbit. Limitedtests on the effects of materials exposureto the space environment can be carriedout on the ground but their in-orbit

validation is required – which can then beused in turn to optimise and improve theground approach.

An important aspect of the spaceenvironment is the effect of radiation .Exposing electronic components, sensorsand other technologies to the Station’senergetic particle radiation environment will address related effects. Examples of what might be tested are neo-commercial32- and 64-bit microprocessors, high- density memories, Application-SpecificIntegrated Circuits (ASICs), analoguecomponents and opto-electroniccomponents.

A major problem with using advancedelectronics in space is expected to arisewith energetic protons from the radiationbelts, cosmic rays and energetic solar particles. This problem is not only confined to space operations, but is alsoknown to affect electronic systems in high- flying aircraft. This opportunity will allow

technologies of interest for operations inthese environments to be flight-tested andtheir behaviour to be compared withexpectations from ground-based testing.

The Debris In-Orbit Evaluator (DEBIE,the detector is shown at bottom left) will

monitor the meteoroid and space debris environment of the ISS.



24

The measured effects will be correlatedwith the data from the nearby environment monitors and those fromthe ground test campaign. Data receivedfrom these experiments are also requiredfor evaluating the radiation hazard to theastronauts.

Communications

The ISS will serve as a testbed for technology issues of importance to

commercial communication satellites ,including phased array antennadeployment and testing, in-orbit radiofrequency environment characterisation

for electromagnetic interference, high- data rate communications, complexonboard processors for asynchronous

transfer mode signal processing, high- temperature superconductors, opticalcommunications and deployable antennastructures.

Communications technology tested onthe Station will be used in commercialspacecraft , improving their performanceand giving participating companies acompetitive edge in a multi-billion dollar business. Technologies such as opticalcommunications could also have a

significant impact on deep-spacecommunications. Optical high-ratecommunications networks that optimisepower efficiency and minimise power consumption will be important to power- limited applications, such as underwater networks.

Propulsion

The Space Station will serve as a testbedfor advanced space propulsion systems ,particularly low-thrust systems. Theseinclude electric, chemical and hybridpropulsion, and waste gas propulsionsystems. These systems can be tested oneither a dedicated testbed or on self- contained deployable/retrievable test units. Low-thrust technology developedand tested on the ISS will be widely applicable to orbital transfer stages andto other spacecraft. Advanced propulsionsystems will make it possible to usesmaller and cheaper transfer stages, andcould greatly improve spacecraft reliability

and lifetime. Advanced propulsionsystems developed on the ISS will alsolower the costs of future interplanetary missions.



25



26

There is already an increasing demand for in-orbit technology testing by the European space industry. Growing competition in the commercialspace market is driving space industry to invest in this market. Precursor mission opportunities are already being provided to meet this demandand fill the gap before full ISS operations are under way.

In-orbit technology testing will be an important field of industrialutilisation for the International Space Station.

The report reproduced in the following pages is the contribution of European space industry to the ISS utilisation plan. It was independently produced by EUROSPACE, the Association of European Space Industry,without ESA involvement, and gives a good indication of the interest that the ISS programme is generating in European space industry.

Companies participating in the EUROSPACE report were: Aerospatiale (F), Alcatel ETCA (B), Alenia Defensa (I), Alenia Spazio (I), Contraves Space(CH), DASA-RI (D), DSS (D), EDF (F), Fokker Space (NL), Galileo (I),

Intospace (D), Kayser-Threde (D), Matra Marconi Space (F), OHB (D),Sabca (B), Telespazio (I), Verhaert (B) and Vitrociset (I).



Appendix

EUROSPACE report on

Industrial Utilisation of the ISSby European Space Industry



i

Industrial Utilisation of the ISSby European Space Industry

Contents

1. Scope of the Report2. Introduction3. Assumptions4. Working Group Action to Solicit Proposals5. Proposals received6. Discussion7. Conclusion8. Appendix A. Summary of the proposals received9. Appendix B. Brief description of the proposals10. Appendix C. Industrial use of the ISS by European Space Industry. Example of a

scenario

1. Scope of the Report

This report is the contribution of European space industry to the plan for the utilisation of the Space Station.

Considering that the routine phase of the Space Station utilisation is still few years aheadthis industrial initiative might look premature. European space industry however believesthat this effort is an essential step to approach the technical, legal and commercial issuesassociated with the proposals presented, in a pragmatic manner.

The majority of the experiments listed in the report have an “ industrial “ character. Thecompanies concerned have submitted the proposals on the understanding that before beingapproved for flight the Agency would organise a formal selection procedure.

The proposals presented have been collected by EUROSPACE as part of the effortassociated with the joint ESA-Space Industry Working Group in the period fromSeptember 1998 to January 1999. The Working Group had the objective to identifypotential industrial proposals for the utilisation of the Space Station. Such proposals could

focus on space technology and also on any other application field of interest for spaceindustry. In addition to the industrial proposals, the Working Group also had the task of



ii

identifying the programmatic and legal access conditions that would be required in order toturn the proposals into firm commitments for the companies concerned.

17 companies, with 57 proposals have participated in the preparation of this report.. Moreproposals could be transmitted to Eurospace in the near future. These figures give anindication of the interest that the ISS programme is generating in European space industry.

2. Introduction

Reducing costs and improving the performance of future missions will require continuingengineering research and technology development. In-orbit testing is an essential part of the Research and Development (R&D) effort: It represents one of the possible ways tocomplete the qualification process of new technologies or pilot services, thereby ensuringan effective preparation for future programmes or commercial activities in space. TheInternational Space Station promises to provide quick and low cost access to space. If thispromise is kept, a significant industrial user community will be prepared to use the SpaceStation to test new technologies, new services, and new processes.

3. Assumptions

It is assumed that that the Agency will adopt a policy for the access to the Space Stationwhereby all experiments will fit in one of the following three categories:

⇒ Scientific Research Experiments: for such experiments both the development costs andthe flight costs are expected to be covered by public funding. In particular thedevelopment costs would typically be covered by the experiment sponsoring Agencyor programme, while the flight costs, including integration and operation, would becovered by the Space Station programme.Typically, in this case selection of the experiment implies peer review

⇒ Industrial Experiment: the development costs of this experiment would be covered inpart or totally by the company concerned, while the flight costs, including operationand integration, would be covered by the Space Station programme.

In many cases companies proposing an experiments in this category would opposeselection by peer review. The degree of motivation of the company, as demonstrated by itseagerness to contribute to the funding, would tend to be a selection criterion.

⇒ Third party experiments or commercial experiments: experiments originating fromMember States not participating in the ESA Space Station programme, or commercialexperiments, would be charged the totality of the flight costs.

This report is mostly concerned with the industrial proposal, where it is expected thatindustry concerned would participate in the development cost of the experiment.

It is also assumed that the industrial users will have access to the standard laboratorysupport equipment and multi-user facility for pressurised and un-pressurised experiments.



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5. Proposals received

5.1. Categories of the industrial proposals

The proposals received have been grouped in the following five categories:

1. Technology demonstration for the commercial market

2. Demonstration/First Implementation of services

3. Technology demonstration for Agency funded missions

4. Technology demonstration for the ISS enhancement

5. Services to Space Station users

This grouping of proposals is useful in view of the different requirements in terms of access conditions.

5.2. List of the Proposals received

(17 companies have submitted proposals. They have been identified by C1, C2 etc..)

CATEGORY I

Technology demonstration for the commercial market

1. Fluid loop experience in space (C2)2. Instrument demonstration in space (C2)3. Technology in space (C2)4. Equipment demonstration in space (C2)5. Bi-phase capillary loops for thermal control of satellites (C11)6. Fluid management (C1) (Could also be IV or III)7. Laser communication experiment (C1)8. Ion thruster tests (C1) (Could also be Cat III)9. Experimental verification of a new generation sun sensor (FSS-NG) (C4) (Could also be Cat III)10. Experimental in-flight verification of a high efficiency visible focal plane array (C4) (Could also be Cat III)11. An integrated package for the experimental verification of a new generation earth sensor on the ISS (C4)12. Optical links, inter-orbit communication, in-orbit testing (C5)13. Solar arrays, high efficiency solar cells, in-orbit testing (C6)

14. Commercial Protein Crystallisation for Industrial Utilisation (C3)15. Deployable radiator with two phase capillary loop (C10)16. Smart Structure for antenna in orbit (C10)17. Composite antenna structures (C10)

CATEGORY II

Demonstration/first implementation of services

1. Early operational testing of a hyperspectral imager instrument, including hardware and software testing (C1)(Could also be Cat III or I)

2. Utilisation of ISS as a monitoring platform for space weather, space debris, and other environmental aspects(C1) (Could also be Cat IV or III)

3. Trapped radiation belt environment monitoring for scientific and industrial applications (C7) (Could lead to CatII application)

4. Fine Tuning of Earth Observation Missions in the field of environment monitoring and risk management :INDUSTRIAL RISK (C15)



v

5. Fine Tuning of Earth Observation Missions in the field of environment monitoring and risk management :LANDSLIDE RISK (C15)

6. Archaeological Researches (C15)

CATEGORY III

Technology demonstration for Agency funded missions

1. Technology demonstration for different components and subsystems (e.g. Electrical, thermal etc..) (C1)2. Materials Behaviour assessment under space conditions (C3) (Could also be Cat I)3. Evanescent wave based sensors networks (C4) (Could also be Cat I)4. Energy storage demonstrator (C7)5. Demonstration of wireless energy transfer by microwave (C17)6. Dpl-10 diode pumped laser , in-orbit testing (C16)7. Active stabilisation of optical elements (C10)8. Smart structure for optical telescope (C10)

CATEGORY IV

Technology demonstration for the ISS enhancement

1. Usage of co-orbiting instrument platform (e.g. Astrospas) for undisturbed observation objective and tests (C1)2. Inflatable structures (C1) (Could also be Cat III)3. Virtual information management (C1) (Could also be Cat I)4. Fast (capillary pressure tensiometer ) (C4)5. The laser ultrasonic diagnostic : LUD (C4)6. Spatial multi-user bioreactor (C4) (Could be category V?)7. Robotics, tactile sensing system (precursor mission SPACEHAB) (C6)8. On-board validation of a training method for staff operating in long-term space missions (C9)9. Collaborative Science experiment (C10)10. Columbus external contamination monitoring experiment (C10)11. On-Board Training System development testing and validation (C10)12. Evaluation of crew work-load for ergonomic development tool (C10)13. COLLAGEX (C10)14. Optical Tomograph for Solution crystal growth and fluid physics (C10)15. On-orbit mechanical environment quality vs equipment ageing (C10)16. Active noise control (C10)17. Cryogenic free superconducting magnet (C10)18. Education in space (C2)19. Autonomous experiment in space (C2)20. Immuno-laboratory (C1) (Could be category V)21. Protein crystallisation (C1) (Could be category V)22. Combustion and particle laboratory (C1) (Could be category V)

CATEGORY V

Services to Space Station users

1. All services including commercial operations (C13)2. Technology exposure facility (TEF) industrial operation (C8)3. CEBAS, multi-user facility, industrial operations (C14)4. Demonstration of Microgravity Research Supporting Services (C12) (Could also be Cat II)5. Solution growth facility (SGF) , industrial operation (C5)6. Car low fuel mission (C1) (Could also be Cat IV)



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6. Discussion

6.1. Category I. Technology demonstration for the commercial market

6.1.1. Nature of the Proposals listed

The proposals in this category include:

• In-orbit testing of spacecraft platform equipment and payload instrumentation• Longer-term activities such as virtual information management and commercial protein

crystallisation. These activities are of interest for the non-space market.

6.1.2. Conditions expressed regarding category 1

6.1.2.1. Freedom of commercial projects

Commercial projects may violate the traditional understanding of space organisation.Commercial enterprises naturally do not tend to respect geographical boundaries• Of markets : they expand their markets• Of deliveries and services : they buy at the best conditions• Of research opportunities : they go to the best sites• In the Space Station : they will look for the best conditions : an international, Europe-

based company will not automatically select the European part of the ISS for itspurpose.

In addition :• A European-funded programme may be of benefit for a non-European industry• Research project are not discipline-oriented, but problem-oriented, with the

consequence that:• More than one facility may be required to solve a problem• The required facilities may belong to different agencies.

6.1.2.2. Schedule requirements :

Demonstrations of the projects proposed by the European space companies are oftenneeded relatively early (1999 for a flight model of fluid loop e.g.), which requires thatprecursor mission be organised, for example on SPACEHAB or satellite platforms,including small platforms (when no retrieval is needed).In certain cases (EO observation instrument, for example), the time schedule can be moreextended but precursor flights are nevertheless desirable.

Certain long-term items do not suffer from the long delays before the station will beoperational.

In any case, firm commitments regarding launch dates proposed to industrial users and leadtimes are needed.

6.1.2.3. Confidentiality/ Proprietary rights

Confidentiality requirements in commercial applications are drastic and condition thereadiness of investors to bring money.Confidentiality may concern:

• Customer identity• Experiment content



vii

• Experiment sample material• Experiment results

Several types of situations may exist.

The first situation concerns highly confidential tests and demonstrations.Platform equipment and payload instruments in this case are supposed to remain companyproprietary. Results of demonstrations should be confidential and not disseminated to othercompanies. In certain cases, the concept itself is to be kept confidential.

The second situation concerns tests and demonstrations of a less confidential nature, forwhich the ISS is used as a test bed. In this case also, the objective of the company is to gainadvantages in cost, performance over the competition, and confidentiality is to beguaranteed.

The third situation is that in which companies are looking for partners for a studyor for the development of some instruments or technologies. In such cases, confidentiality

rules cannot always be applied very strictly, but have to be accommodated on a case bycase basis.

Finally, there are the consequences of cost sharing with ESA. If ESA shares the cost, it canbe envisaged that proprietary rights are also shared with ESA, on a basis that is to be fixedon a case by case basis.

6.1.2.4. Selection Process

For most cases the ESA selection process must remain confidential and based on a pureindustrial approach sustained by a clear business plan showing the interest of the test. Peerreviews are not acceptable.

It must also be taken into account that in certain cases, industry will be in competition withacademia.

6.1.2.5. Cost and Funding

Funding is expected from the following sources:• User industry is supposed to contribute directly for its own experiments.• Support from ESA and/or EU programmes

It should be noted that in the past (in the Spacelab Programme e.g.) costs were so high thatindustries were reluctant to engage into ventures that had a commercial potential, and thatwere considered excessively risky at the costs requested. ESA and the public authorities(National Space Agencies, the European Commission etc…) are thus expected to providetheir support, for example by funding all or part of the launch costs, or the cost of theadaptation to space conditions.

For the most immediate preparation of commercial programmes, industry can be expectedto be ready to contribute more of the costs, but it is important that the proposed fundingschemes will make ISS competitive as a test-bed with alternative approaches such asground tests or utilisation of small satellites.Also, since it is possible that industry may well be in competition with projects fostered byacademia, clear rules should be established that guarantee that both types of organisation

will be treated fairly.



ix

6.3.2.2. Confidentiality/Proprietary rights

In principle, technologies and instruments developed are due to remain the property of thecompanies having developed them. The situation is, in principle, less severe regarding thiscriterium than in the case of commercial products (Category I) There are howeverexceptions. In addition, several of the activities proposed can be regarded as pertaining toCategory III and/or to Category I.

As a matter of fact, most of the proposals received to date are confidential. Some are evenhighly confidential to the point that even the information that a company is working on theconcept is confidential.

6.3.2.3. Funding

Co-funding by the companies is envisaged in certain of the proposals, i.e.: those thatconcern the development of equipment that could be installed on many satellites.For certain equipment however, the proposal received is classic (i.e. ESA is expected to

provide the complete funding).For purely scientific proposals (payloads of payload elements), funding is expected tocome from various scientific institutions, ESA is expected to complement this bysupporting adaptation and launch costs.


With a few exceptions, companies consider that the selection process by ESA must remainconfidential and based on the competence of the company and the interest of the activityproposed. Peer reviews could be accepted in certain cases but not all.

6.4. Category IV Technology demonstration for ISS enhancement

6.4.1. Nature of the proposals Listed

The proposals in this category include:

• Development of enhancements (Inflatable Structures, Robotics, Virtual Informationmanagement, measuring methods, establishment of test-beds, including with the use of co-orbiting platforms) , some of which have a commercial potential.

• Activities regarding the enhancement of the efficiency of the crew (training, helmets..)• Activities on-board specialised laboratories in the ISS (some of which, maybe for

customers which are the space companies themselves, or a department of their mothercompanies – or are for other customers) have in general been classified under CategoryV. Most of them are proposed with the prospect of initiating a service.

6.4.2. Conditions expressed

6.4.2.1. Schedule requirements

In principle, the activities are proposed on-board the European part of the station, but notalways. Certain companies made it clear that they could start their proposed activities on

other parts of the station if the conditions offered are more advantageous. Many largecompanies have non-European partners.



x

In many cases, precursor missions are recommended.

6.4.2.2. Confidentiality/Proprietary rights

Certain developments are to remain property of the companies, as well as certain activitieson board specialised laboratories.The measure in which confidentiality is required is to be dealt with on a case by case basis.Due to the long lead time, confidentiality should be less an issue than for other categoriesof applications. A certain number of proposals require a co-operation with other companiesanyway.

6.4.2.3. Funding

Most of the listed proposals foresee industrial investments to develop the hardware, whileit is expected that the mission costs, as a minimum, will be sustained by the Agency. Thebearing of the mission costs by ESA is considered at present necessary to make ISScompetitive with respect to other space-based technology teste-beds.


The companies originating proposals are entitled to expect some degree of priority in theselection process.

6.5. Category V. Services to Space Station users

6.5.1. Activities listed

Under this category have been listed all proposals in which a company offers a service onboard the ISS (or possibly on-board one of the precursor flights such as SPACEHAB or

other space laboratories).There are 8 such proposals. In three of them it is not completely clear whether the promotercompany wishes to sell an equipment (in which case, the proposal would pertain toCategory I) or to offer a service.

6.5.2. Conditions expressed

The proposals under category V are perhaps less characteristic of what is expected fromEuropean space companies in the context of the preparation of the ESA plan of utilisationof the ISS. The conditions under which such proposals are made are those that can beexpected from service providers working on a commercial basis or in partnership withESA. There is no need to present them in detail in the context of the present report.

Note 1. Safety issues

In view of the complexity of some proposals, industry might require the support of ESA insome cases to obtain the safety certification of the payload.

Note 2.

The classification of some of the proposals in only one of the five categories might beimprecise. The classification is based only on the arbitrary judgement of the WorkingGroup on the information contained in proposals



xiii

8. Appendix A

Summary of the proposals received.

Degree of Confidentiality

(1)

Possibility of Co-funding

Commercialisationpossible

Used bythe spacecompany

Possiblyoperated by

the spacecompany

originatingthe proposal

CATEGORY I

Technology demonstration for the commercialmarket

Fluid loop experience in space (C2) F Y YInstrument demonstration in space (C2) F Y YTechnology in space (C2) F Y YEquipment demonstration in space (C2) F Y YBi-phase capillary loops for thermal control of satellites(C11)

C Y Y

Fluid management (C1) (Could also be Cat IV or III) F Y Y YLaser communication experiment (C1) C Y Y Y YIon thruster tests (C1) (Could also be Cat III) C Y YExperimental verification of a new generation sunsensor (FSS-NG) (C4) (Could also be Cat III)

C Y

Experimental in-flight verification of a high efficiencyvisible focal plane array (C4) (Could also be Cat III)

C Y

An integrated package for the experimental verificationof a new generation earth sensor on the ISS (C4)

C Y

Optical links, inter-orbit communication, in-orbit testing(C5)

F Y

Solar arrays, high efficiency solar cells, in-orbit testing(C6)

F Y Y

Commercial Protein Crystallisation for IndustrialUtilisation (C3)

F ? y Y

Deployable radiator with two phase capillary loop (C10) C Y YSmart Structure for antenna in orbit (C10) C Y Y YComposite antenna structures (C10) C Y Y Y

(1) Confidentiality :S : Sensitive. Proposal may not be distributedC: Detail confidential. Title may be communicated.F: Partners welcomed



xiv


(1)




Possiblyoperated by

the spacecompany


CATEGORY II

Demonstration/first implementation of serviceEarly operational testing of a hyperspectral imagerinstrument, including hardware and software testing(C1) (Could also be Cat III or I)

F Y Y Y Y

Utilisation of ISS as a monitoring platform for spaceweather, space debris, and other environmental aspects(C1) (Could also be Cat IV or III)

C Y Y Y

Trapped radiation belt environment monitoring forscientific and industrial applications (C7)

C No Y

Fine Tuning of Earth Observation Missions in the fieldof environment monitoring and risk management :INDUSTRIAL RISK (C15)

C Y Y Y

Fine Tuning of Earth Observation Missions in the fieldof environment monitoring and risk management :LANDSLIDE RISK (C15)

C Y Y Y

Archaeological Researches (C15) C Y Y Y

Degree of

Confidentiality(1)

Possibility of

Co-funding

Commercialisation

possible

Used by

the spacecompany

Possibly

operated bythe spacecompany


CATEGORY III

Technology demonstration for Agency fundedmissions

Technology demonstration for different componentsand subsystems (e.g. Electrical, thermal etc..) (C1)

F Y Y Y

Materials Behaviour assessment under spaceconditions (C3) (Could also be Cat I)

F ? Y Y Y

Evanescent wave based sensors networks (C4) (Couldalso be Cat I)

C Y

Energy storage demonstrator (C7) S Y YDemonstration of wireless energy transfer bymicrowave (C17)

F ? Y Y Y

Dpl-10 diode pumped laser, in-orbit testing (C16) C YActive stabilisation of optical elements (C10) Y Y YSmart structure for optical telescope (C10) Y Y Y

(1) Confidentiality :S : Sensitive. Proposal may not be distributedC: Detail confidential. Title may be distributedF: Partners welcomed



xv


(1)

Possibilityof Co-

funding



Possiblyoperated by

the spacecompany


CATEGORY IV

Technology demonstration for the ISS enhancement

Usage of co-orbiting instrument platform (e.g.Astrospas) for undisturbed observation objective andtests (C1)

F Y Y Y Y

Inflatable structures (C1) (Could also be III) C Y YVirtual information management (C1) (Could also be I) C Y Y YFast (capillary pressure tensiometer ) (C4) C YThe laser ultrasonic diagnostic : LUD (C4) C YSpatial multi-user bioreactor (C4) (Could becategory V?)

C ? Y Y

Robotics, tactile sensing system (precursor missionSPACEHAB) (C6)

F Y Y

On-board validation of a training method for staff operating in long-term space missions (C9)

C Y Y

Collaborative Science experiment (C10) F YColumbus external contamination monitoringexperiment (C10)

C Y Y

On-Board Training System development testing andvalidation (C10)

Y Y

Evaluation of crew work-load for ergonomicdevelopment tool (C10)

Y

COLLAGEX (C10) F YOptical Tomograph for Solution crystal growth and fluidphysics (C10)

C Y

On-orbit mechanical environment quality versusequipment ageing (C10)

Y Y

Active noise control (C10) C YCryogenic free superconducting magnet (C10) F YEducation in space (C2) C YAutonomous experiment in space (C2) C ? Y YCombustion and particle laboratory (C1) (Could becategory IV)

C Y y Y

Immuno-laboratory (C1) (Could be category IV) F Y y YProtein crystallisation (C1) (Could be category IV) F Y y Y

(1) Confidentiality :S : Sensitive. Proposal may not be distributedC: Detail confidential. Title may be communicatedF: Partners welcomed



xvi


(1)




Possiblyoperated by

the spacecompany


CATEGORY V


All services including commercial operations (C13) F Y YTechnology exposure facility (TEF) industrialoperation (C8)

F Y Y

CEBAS, multi-user facility, industrial operations(C14)

F Y Y

Demonstration of Microgravity Research SupportingServices (C12) (Could also be Cat II)

C Y Y

Solution growth facility (SGF) , industrial operation(C5)

F y Y

Car low fuel mission (C1) (Could also be Cat IV) F Y Y Y

(1) Confidentiality :S : Sensitive. Proposal may not be distributedC: Detail confidential. Title may be communicatedF: Partners welcomed



xvii

9. Appendix B

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSALS RECEIVED

CATEGORY I

Technology demonstration for the commercial market

1. Fluid loop experience in space (C2)

Telecommunication satellites are increasingly demanding in heat power transport and thermaldissipation. Thus the classical use of thermal devices such as heat pipe and radiator becomesirrelevant for the overall thermal control of the spacecraft.The use of fluid loop as a passive thermal device becomes imperative to fulfil future thermal needsfor telecommunication and constellation satellites, and also for accommodating future payloads onthe ISS Express Pallets.The main objective of the project is to characterise the in-orbit behaviour of a fluid loop type inorder to define the performance variation due to micro-gravity environment and to confirm itsautostart capability at low heat load.The proposed experiment (fluid loop, condenser and evaporator) will be integrated on a carrierwith the necessary test support devices

2. Instrument demonstration in space (C2)

The evolution of space business increases the market for the utilisation of specialised instruments

for earth observation, which may cover a wide variety of missions.One of the key issues is the overall demonstration and performance of the instrument. The ISS iswell adapted to this test bench approach by offering a quick access to space using the ExpressPallet adapter.The objective is to benefit from the ISS capabilities, i.e.: to install and operate the instrument in areal space environment resulting in an effective in-orbit proof of the design.Such demonstration is clearly associated with the business development of observation instrumentsthat consequently may be proposed to users, either on a dedicated platform (small satellites), or asa single equipment to be accommodated on behalf of the customer.

3. Technology in space (C2)

The evolution of technology used in space applications makes the assessment of performance onground more critical and requires the development of a specific test approach to be demonstrated.In particular, the vibration control devices, the active isolator, the ultra stable structure for anoptical bench, etc. have to be demonstrated, leading to complex and costly tests devices. Theproject is to build a generic installation and to use it for in-orbit testing.

4. Equipment demonstration in space (C2)

The project aims at using the ISS as a service provider for testing industrial equipment likedeployable antennas, electrical propulsion devices, etc.

5. Bi-phase capillary loops for thermal control of satellites (C11)

No communicable data.



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CATEGORY II

Demonstration/First implementation of service.

1. Early operational testing of a hyperspectral imager instrument, includinghardware and software testing (C1) (Could also be Cat III or I)

Preparation of commercial utilisation of hyperspectral imaging for earth observation.

2. Utilisation of ISS as a monitoring platform for space weather, space debris,and other environmental aspects (C1) (Could also be Cat IV or III)

Programme to take advantage of the long-term presence of man in orbit as well as the increasedsensitivity of systems to monitor space weather, space debris, near earth objects, ISS environmentcorresponding to ISS activities.

3. Trapped radiation belt environment monitoring for scientific and industrialapplications (C7) (Could lead to Cat II application)

Electronic Satellite Subsystems are often damaged by high-energy charged particles present in thesolar wind and in the trapped radiation belts. A test-bed for the qualification of electroniccomponents and shields is proposed that monitors the radiative environment. The use of twoparticle telescopes makes it possible to measure the East-West Anisotropy and hence to determinethe atmospheric scale height.

4. Fine Tuning of Earth Observation Missions in the field of environmentmonitoring and risk management : INDUSTRIAL RISK (C15)

Prediction and observation of toxic cloud evolution

5. Fine Tuning of Earth Observation Missions in the field of environmentmonitoring and risk management : LANDSLIDE RISK (C15)

Detailed cartography of exposed areas to landslide risk

6. Archaeological Researches (C15)

Use of non-invasive techniques for archaeological research.

CATEGORY III

Technology demonstration for Agency funded missions

1. Technology demonstration for different components and subsystems (e.g.Electrical, thermal etc.) (C1)

Self-explanatory



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2. Materials Behaviour assessment under space conditions (C3) (Could also beCat I)

The knowledge of the ageing of such materials in a space environment is of prime importance forthe definition of all space platforms and vehicles, and particularly for those with a long operationallife.The project defines an experiment to be developed in order to assess the behaviour of variousmaterials when placed in a space environment. Material candidates for this testing are thosetypically directly exposed to space environment in space applications, for instance thermalprotection, microdebris and meteoroid protection, structural composite materials, etc.

3. Evanescent wave based sensors networks (C4) (Could also be Cat I)

The project addresses the problem of monitoring environmental variables with the use of a sensorsystem based on surface sensitive changes utilising integrated and quantum optics principles.

The aim is to overcome the complexity and proliferation of sensing systems, which are based onthe measurement of different chemical and/or physical parameters and which present negativefeatures such as overweight, power consumption, complex architecture, necessity for crewoperation, insufficient electromagnetic compatibility, requirement for frequent sampling,intrinsically unsafe devices, etc..

4. Energy storage demonstrator (C7)


5. Demonstration of wireless energy transfer by microwave (C17)

Still to be defined with precision, on the basis of existing reports- possibly in co-operation withESTEC.

6. Dpl-10 diode pumped laser , in-orbit testing (C16)

No Detailed Data communicated.

7. Active stabilisation of optical elements (C10)

The objectives of the experiment to be performed on the ISS are:§ Qualification of a system for the active stabilisation of the distance between optical markers with

sub-nanometric accuracy;§ Verification of techniques for the coherencing and cophasing of a Fizeau-type optical

interferometer by means of the active stabilisation system.The utilisation of the ISS for this purpose will allow the following results to be obtained:

§ The qualification of the system for operation in space§ The verification of the active stabilisation system performance in an environment characterised by

a wide spectrum of disturbances acting on the optical interferometerThe verification of the possibility of cophasing an optical interferometer for astronomical

observations operating on a wide spectral band for an extended time period.

8. Smart structure for optical telescope (C10)

Objective of the proposed technological experiment is to demonstrate the utilisation of smartstructures for the isolation of an optical payload from a noisy spacecraft environment and toqualify an active vibration suppression system.The ISS is a very suitable testbed to perform this test activity because of the wide spectrum of

disturbances generated by its attitude actuators and by the crew activities.



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7. Robotics, tactile sensing system (precursor mission spacehab) (C6)

No detailed data communicated.

8. On-board validation of a training method for staff operating on long-termspace missions (C9)

The activity will be focused on the on-board validation of the system in the real environment witha twofold purpose:1. Support to on-board crew activities during ISS operational phase;2. To achieve a space qualified system able to be used for the next long-term space missions.

9. Collaborative Science experiment (C10)

Prepare and perform Collaborative Science Experiments for micro-gravity payloads on-board of the Columbus Laboratory, enabling the science home base on ground to co-operate with theastronauts while executing the planned interactive experiments, with reactive science approaches

10. Columbus external contamination monitoring experiment (C10)

The experiment has two equally important chief objectives:§ The validation of ESA contamination analysis software tools via the correlation of

contamination monitoring data and external contamination modelling results;§ The achievement of real-time external contamination monitoring on Columbus EPF, as a

service to externally mounted contamination sensitive payload instrumentation (e.g. for thedetermination of optics performance degradation and identification of out-of-specenvironmental conditions).

Validation of European contamination analysis software codes (ESABASE Out-gassing) has neverbeen achieved in similar flight conditions. Due to the “local” characteristics of the contamination

environment, the proposed objectives cannot be otherwise achieved, e.g.: via on-ground analyticalor testing activities, nor via differently located instrumentation.

11. On-Board Training System development testing and validation (C10)

The training of the ISS crew is an extremely demanding task, from both the organisation and timepoint of view. The extension of the mission in scope and in length could need new requirementsfor training and/or re-training activities on-orbit. The objective is therefore to develop, test andvalidate on-orbit system to support on-board training. It will be realised by combining VirtualReality and other computerised training techniques. The system will be focused on training:§ In the field of emergency and contingency operations;§ For rehearsal of procedures particularly demanding (e.g. EVA or robotic arm procedures);§

For payload and other elements for which training may not be completely executed on-ground.Although development of this tool can be accomplished mostly on-ground, some applications (e.g.rehearsal of EVA procedures) can be validated only with a flight experiment, due to unavailabilityon-ground of a suitable environment for simulation of specific system features.

12. Evaluation of crew work-load for ergonomic development tool (C10)

Fatigue and comfort on board are very important key factors for a proper utilisation of the crew.For this reason it is considered mandatory to improve the quality of the ergonomic tools beingutilised both for habitat and crew operation, similarly to what is currently happening in groundapplications. This is particularly important in view of the future missions, in which the crew willlive in zero-g and partial gravity environments.Thus, it is proposed to perform a measurement campaign on a group of astronauts and to developan ergonomic simulation tool using a Neural Network approach (as already used in a Brite-EuramProject currently running).



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13. COLLAGEX (C10)

Study of colloidal aggregation phenomena under micro-gravity; this field of investigation is of great interest under both scientific research and industrial applications aspects.The capabilities of the COLLAGEX facility provide the potential for application to other fields of fluid physics experimentation, e.g. : protein crystallisation, zeolite crystal growth, phaseseparation, etc.

14. Optical Tomograph for Solution crystal growth and fluid physics (C10)

Objective of the proposed technological experiment is the development of an optical tomograph,based on innovative optical technologies, for three dimensional non-invasive measurements of physical parameters related to the refractive index of transparent fluids (i.e. concentration,temperature, density, etc.).The introduction of new optical technologies in the design of the tomograph can allow us todevelop an instrument with more than six view directions.The instrument is conceived as a multi-user facility to be inserted in the FSL experiment container.

15. On-orbit mechanical environment quality vs equipment ageing (C10)

The goal of this activity is to guarantee the micro-gravity and on-orbit vibro-acoustic qualityduring the ISS operational lifetime by a constant mechanical environment monitoring of the maindisturbance sources.

16. Active noise control (C10)

To verify the performance of the newest acoustic active noise control based on electro-mechanically treated films

17. Cryogenic free superconducting magnet (C10)

Objective of the proposed technological experiment is to acquire the necessary experience toparticipate to the realisation of high performance magnetic facilities to be operated on board theISS or other space systems such as interplanetary manned vehicles. The applicability to themanned vehicles stems from the fact that the high energy components of solar cosmic rays isdirectional so that a shielding system based on a superconducting magnetic lens could reduce thedaily dose of solar cosmic rays, to the one delivered by galactic cosmic rays.The necessity of the space environment to conduct the experiment is obvious, as the atmosphereattenuates cosmic rays.

18. Education in space (C2)


19. Autonomous experiment in space (C2)


20. Combustion and particle laboratory (C1) (Could be category V)21. Immuno-laboratory (C1) (Could be category V)22. Protein crystallisation (C1) (Could be category V)



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CATEGORY V


1. All services including commercial operations (C13)2. Technology exposure facility (TEF) industrial operation (C8)3. CEBAS, multi-user facility, industrial operations (C14)4. Demonstration of Microgravity Research Supporting Services (C12) (Could also

be Cat II)5. Solution growth facility (SGF) , industrial operation (C5)6. Car low fuel mission (C1) (Could also be Cat IV)

Programme to contribute to the goal to develop engines with a significant lower fuel consumption.



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10. Appendix C.

Industrial use of the ISS by European Space IndustryE XAMPLE OF A SCENARIO

In the following, a scenario based on the use of the Space Station by European Space Industry is brieflydeveloped.The aim is to provide a broad illustration of how, in financial terms, Space industry is to use ISS for its ownbenefit. This exercise also shows what a Space company has to lose should the ISS not exist, or not beavailable for the proposed experiment. The last section provides some of the legal concerns such anexperiment will raise in a Company.The scenario is real, albeit purposely vague in terms of the hypothesis used. Confidentiality requirementspreclude any precise and in-depth scenario appearing in the current report.It must be emphasised that European Space industry has more to lose than US Space industry should therebe no Space Station available for technology experiment. This stems from the fact that US Space industryhas an easier and cheaper access to the Shuttle, and can therefore more easily conduct Space validation / testing of satellite equipment with a commercial dimension.

Scenario:The technology is an innovative form of cladding for radiators on board communication satellites. It hasvery low weight compared to currently used systems. It is also much cheaper and has a higher level of emissivity. It can be manufactured using different processes yielding a coating with long-termcharacteristics that differ from each other. The technology will not be selected for commercial spacecraftbefore it is flight-proven.i. What are the technological objectives?ii. What is there to gain in financial terms (Net Present Value or Return On Investment)?iii. What is there to lose should the experiment not fly on ISS?iv. Definition of technical, legal and financial requirements accompanying such a proposal to be

addressed to ESA.

The most difficult part of the exercise in answering these questions is the necessity for a market analysis,based on a number of assumptions and a sensitivity analysis. This will allow the range of the impact of these assumptions on financial gains to be assessed.

i. What are the technological objectives?- To validate the concept in Space by demonstrating that its thermo-optical characteristics, having been

already determined on the ground, are confirmed at 400 km altitude over a period of several months;- To assess which manufacturing process is the most suitable (SOL-GEL or CVD, for example);- To flight-prove the concept for its immediate application in orbit, on-board communication satellites in

particular.

ii. What is there to gain in financial terms ?- It will contribute to a weight reduction of approximately 50 kg per satellite. There are 20 satellites in

the constellation, so this corresponds to a total mass saving of 1000 kg, corresponding, in financialterms, to about EURO 20M (@ ± 20 kEURO /kg). This is the figure as seen from the customerperspective and therefore constitutes a selling argument- see next two points.

- By providing a competitive advantage, it will contribute to orders for a near-future constellation of telecom satellites and to individual satellite orders.

- It can be sold to satellite manufacturers including the parent company. This selling process generatesrevenue. Determining the corresponding ROI (Return On Investment) is similar to computing the NPV(Net Present Value) of the project, the goal being to make this technology marketable.

- This is done on the basis of discounted cash flows. We suppose that the investment in the first year of theproject (year 0) is 400 kEURO,followed by 300 kEURO in year 1. The flight occurs in year 2 and thatexpenses balance orders related to the technology, and that sales in years 3, 4 and 5 amount respectively to200, 300 and 400 kEURO. The investment is all-inclusive and assumes that transport costs and use of SPOE are covered by ESA. The life time of the project is taken to be 6 years, because it is deemed that anew and better technology will be available on the market at that time. The NPV is then determined using



an inflation of 3%. With a flight proven technology 2,5 years, at the latest, after the beginning of investments, it can be seen that the technology therefore “generates” 101 kEURO of gross revenue. Taxwould then have to be applied for a more precise estimate of potential revenues. This rough estimate showsthat the operational interest of using the Space Station. Revenues generated, do not include the fact that thetechnology surely contributes to winning satellite orders for another division of the same company.

0 1 2 3 4 5 TotalProject cash flow (kEURO) -400 -300 0 200 300 400

Discount factor (at 3%) 1 0.971 0.943 0.915 0.888 0.863Present Value -400 -291 0 183 264 345 +101

The following table is an example of the same flight delayed by one year: Investment has to be kept up,though at a slightly lesser level. All other things being equal, this rough estimate indicates that the projectgenerates a gross loss or NPV of 443 kEURO. This is the main reason that Space industry, and industry asa whole, could be dissuaded from using the Space Station before flight opportunities are available in areliable schedule and in the not too distant future.

0 1 2 3 4 5 TotalProject cash flow (kEURO) -400 -300 -200 0 200 300

Discount factor (at 3%) 1 0.971 0.943 0.915 0.888 0.863Present Value -400 -291 -189 0 178 259 -443

iii. What is there to lose should the experiment not fly on ISS?Losses are a consequence of the time lag for the technology to be available for commercial use. This makesproposals less attractive and less competitive when US competitors already have it flight-proven thanks tothe shuttle. As seen above, in terms of revenues, the time lag in delays themselves will decrease the ROI,additionally resulting in a loss of competitive advantage on the satellite market. As previously mentioned,this competitive advantage cannot be quantified in financial terms but the effects of better and flight proventechnology in a competitive bid are very tangible.In general, there are presently so few flight opportunities for European Space Industry to test and validatenew technology in Space (such as small experimental satellites), that these cannot be considered as analternative to ISS for the time being.

iv. Some legal concerns accompanying such a proposal to be addressed to ESASecuring the revenues estimated above assumes that a certain number of conditions have been fulfilled. Inparticular, a certain level of confidentiality concerning the experiment and its results must be guaranteed. Itis assumed that ESA will fulfill its role of promoting and protecting European Space industry against UScompetitors and the issue is therefore not considered to be a stumbling block.Should a technology be patented, free access to ESA could be granted for a period of, say, 5 years. Thiswould mean that the patent could be used freely by ESA or its nominated European Prime Contractors onESA-funded projects over that period. This would obviously not apply to commercial projects.The diffusion of knowledge and results gained following an experiment on the ISS must clearly be in linewith the legal rights of a company concerning the disclosure of background knowledge as opposed to ESA-funded knowledge.For technologies that are not patented, the ESA experiment selection process must guarantee a minimumlevel of discretion concerning the hardware used, protocols and results. This is not necessarily in violationof safety-related requirements. The proposing company should have the right to be present in the selectionmeetings.

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