Theme: Innovative Electro-Optical technologies solutions for remote sensing

Team: Stefano Aliberti, Riccardo Apa, Catello Leonardo Matonti (Politecnico di Torino, IT)

Multi-Input - Multi-Output Synthetic Aperture Radar systems are a significant advancement in satellite-based remote sensing, leveraging advanced techniques such as phased array beamforming, tomography and interferometry to achieve performance far superior to traditional monostatic systems. Current implementations of such spaceborne systems rely on constellations of satellites operating in formation flying, and this approach presents several challenges, such as difficulties in maintaining the spatial distribution of satellites, increased collision risks, uncertainties in relative positioning that degrade data quality etc.

ASTRO proposes an innovative Tethered Satellite System specifically designed and optimized for Multi-Input - Multi-Output Synthetic Aperture Radar applications, based on a patented stabilization technology that ensures tether stability in various configurations using advanced control methods.

In addition, as ASTRO project is fully in line with increasing interest and business of Leonardo Group on Earth Observation, the #T-TeC Evaluation Board assessed its maturity at the right level for a “step-up”: this is the reason why Telespazio will also offer to the ASTRO team the participation to one of the two 2025 Seraphim Space Camp Accelerator batches, managed by the Space-specific VC fund Seraphim Space.

Theme: Innovative Electro-Optical technologies solutions for remote sensing

Team: Roberto Del Prete (Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, IT), Domenico Barretta (Università degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, IT), Alessandro Crispiels (Politecnico di Milano, IT)

New Space market in Earth Observation is leading more and more companies towards developing larger constellations of nano and microsatellites. The needed supply chain is more and more focussed to heavily reduce the resources needed while still maintaining a high level of quality and facilitating the integration.

However, there is a substantial lack of solutions for panchromatic imaging, a technology that allows for higher spatial resolution, superior signal-to-noise ratio and enhanced Modulation Transfer Function: this is the goal of P³ANDA project, integrating in a compact 1U assembly a panchromatic imager, an on-board processing unit capable to run AI-based algorithms, advanced computer vision algorithms and on-board data preprocessing tools, meeting the operational needs of small-satellite integrators and Earth Observation service providers.

Being this project very promising and interesting for Leonardo Group future Earth Observation activities, we will also offer to the P³ANDA team the opportunity to participate to a pre-incubation path with cesah GmbH, which would allow them to move towards their incorporation in start-up and to also participate to the selections for the ESA incubation process in the frame of one of their Business Incubation Centres.

Theme: Space Exploration and Extra-terrestrial Exploitation

Team: Enrico Sabbatini, Federico Fantastico, Ludovica Giacconi, Stefano Giulianelli, Damiano Carra (Politecnico di Torino, IT)

NASA Artemis and ESA Moonlight programmes aim to establish sustainable human presence and infrastructures on the Moon, including lunar habitats and communication and navigation networks: part of the future inhabitants will also be robotic platforms and rovers.

ARDITO is an advanced modular planetary rover platform engineered for lunar surface operations. The rover stands out for its flexible architecture, with the ability to operate autonomously and coordinate swarms of rovers, with an advanced locomotion system and cutting-edge electronics. It allows for in-situ upgrades and mission reconfiguration by astronaut teams or swarm units, optimizing operational flexibility.

Theme: Innovative Electro-Optical Technologies and Solutions for Remote Sensing

Team: Annarita di Toma, Giuseppe Brunetti (Optoelectronics Laboratory of the Politecnico di Bari, IT)

In the context of space applications, Synthetic Aperture Radar systems can benefit from photonic systems, aiming to ensure higher performance and new functionalities, along with much greater compactness and lightness compared to commercial SAR systems, as required by New Space Economy constraints.

This proposal focuses on the development of an innovative optical processor for SAR data based on Lithium niobate technology, aimed at improving on-board satellite processing through direct optical processing that overcomes the limitations of traditional electronic systems. This project has a high scientific and technological profile, with potentially very important implications in satellite data processing.

Moreover, although being still at a low technology readiness level, this project is of interest with future perspectives for the whole Leonardo group: therefore, the team will also participate to a pre-incubation path provided by cesah GmbH, which also prepares them to possibly target the participation to the selections for the ESA incubation process in the frame of one of their Business Incubation Centres.

Theme: Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) Solutions for Earth and other celestial bodies

Team: Alessio Mastrogirolamo, Samuele Ebano, Enrico Cestra, Nicolò Giandinoto, Emanuele Di Matteo (Sapienza Università di Roma, IT), Jacopo Alati (Università Luiss Guido Carli, IT)

RAYSILIENCE is an innovative technological solution for autonomous navigation in environments without Global Navigation Satellite System signal, the so-called GNSS-denied situations. The system offers an alternative positioning method based on satellite imaging and data interpolation, designed for autonomous air vehicles in dual scenarios where traditional navigation systems may be compromised.

This is an extremely interesting proposal that addresses a critical need in the field of autonomous navigation systems.

Category: Idea

Theme: Space Domain Awareness for the Protection of Space and Ground Infrastructures

Team: Tom Love, Gianluca Borgo, Angelika Kochajkiewicz, Harry Johnson, Georgia Skelton, Kian Patel (University of Southampton, UK)

The GHOST project targets an innovative payload designed to improve space based image and tracking in Geostationary Orbit, enabling optical sensors to detect and track objects without requiring the host satellite to maneuverer or change its orientation. We find this an innovative project with commercial potential: for this reason, also GHOST team will participate to a pre-incubation path provided by cesah GmbH.