In the space of just three decades, Luxembourg has seen its success in the space industry skyrocket. The NewSpace movement has seen the Grand Duchy prioritise its space strategy, with a commercial boom of over 50 companies establishing themselves in the area.
Since 2009, the University of Luxembourg’s Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust, have been partnering with space companies to support this thriving ecosystem. With more than 20 collaborations in the space sector – and more than 40 projects with the European Space Agency, SnT is helping Luxembourg to turn its science-fiction dreams into an economic reality.
In this highly competitive industry, having a team that is comprised of interdisciplinary expertise is absolutely necessary to succeed. However, for most start-ups this simply isn’t attainable from the outset. Within the framework of SnT’s Partnership Programme, their team of more than 450 researchers lend their multifaceted expertise to over 60 companies. This not just offers companies the ability to fill a gap in their missing fields, but also allows them to focus their efforts on their original specialty.
Building on their existing expertise, SnT welcomed its newest space expert in the field of space systems engineering, Prof. Andreas Hein. His background as an aerospace engineer will see his research group focus on four main topic areas: miniaturised space systems, space-based services, space manufacturing, and in-situ resource utilisation. Miniaturised satellites have largely been the catalyst for the NewSpace movement, with more companies than ever before taking advantage of the ability to manufacture a smaller, less-costly satellite. This has allowed companies a far more accessible way to launch their innovative technologies into orbit.
“My long-term goal is to contribute towards sustainable development on Earth via space – and hopefully vice versa in the future, develop space from a sustainable Earth.”
Prof. Andreas Hein
“Our research will also explore how CubeSats and ChipSats – satellites the size of a credit card – can function in swarms or formations,” explains Prof. Hein, whose experience compliments the Centre’s existing expertise in satellite communications, computer vision and space robotics. This interdisciplinary approach doesn’t just allow researchers at SnT to look at a project from all angles, it enables them to be attuned to what the future of space will look like. Being aware of the technologies of the future can enable their partners to reach for the stars by chasing real breakthroughs.
“At SnT, there’s a strong focus on applied research with close industrial partners. It’s rewarding to see the results of our work being used in industrial settings, experiencing first-hand how this changes the way that people work. It really shows how research can deliver value to partners and have socioeconomic impact,” says Prof. Hein.
With work experience spanning space systems and sustainable development, as well as additional applications within industrial settings, Prof. Hein is striving to bring a sustainability mindset to our planet – and beyond. “I learned from my work in this area that we cannot achieve our visions of humans in space without first creating a sustainable Earth. My long-term goal is to contribute towards sustainable development on Earth via space – and hopefully vice versa in the future, develop space from a sustainable Earth.”
As many other experts in the field, part of Hein’s reasons for joining SnT comes from the appeal of the Grand Duchy in the space sector. “I really like Luxembourg’s ‘can do’ attitude and pioneering spirit. I want my research to make an impact in the space ecosystem,” he says. That’s also why he looks forward to connecting with companies in the framework of the SnT Partnership Programme. “We are very interested in starting a conversation about potential opportunities to collaborate with industrial partners,” he concludes.
