The Stardust Reloaded programme is a continuation of the original four-year Stardust 1 project, which kicked-off in 2013 and pioneered new techniques for asteroid and space debris monitoring, removal and deflection.
The new four-year project goes a step further to understanding the evolution of the space environment around Earth.
Since it started this year it has accepted requests for new partners, including from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
The Space Systems Laboratory from the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), one of Europe’s most famous science and technology institutions, have all also recently joined the project, which now has 25 international partners.
Professor Massimiliano Vasile, project lead, said: “Since we officially kicked off Stardust-R at the start of the year we have received a number of requests to join in, including from JAXA.
“We are proud to now be coordinating a network of 25 international partners, including four space agencies and five universities in the top 10 of the world.”
The European Space Agency (ESA), the CNES – the National Centre for Space Studies in France and German space agency DLR are all also on board, along with Europe’s largest aeronautics and space company, Airbus Defence and Space.
Other partners include the universities of Texas at Austin, Stanford University and the University of Arizona in the USA, TU Delft in the Netherlands, and Politecnico di Milano – the largest technical university in Italy.
Stardust Reloaded is probing how increasing space traffic can be safely managed to prevent inevitable collisions and allow a sustainable use of space.
The project also aims to increase knowledge of the shape, gravity, composition and dynamics of asteroids and comets in view of possible actions to prevent a catastrophic impact with the Earth.
It is also examining how mineral resources on these celestial minor bodies could be exploited to enhance exploration of the Solar System.
Jean-Sebastien Ardaens from the German Space Operations Centre (DLR), said: “Joining an international network of recognised experts like this offers a unique opportunity to share knowledge and experience and accelerate the research and development roadmap and attract new talent willing to explore thrilling future space endeavours.”
Dr Juan Carlos Dolado Perez, head of the Space Debris Modelling and Risk Assessment Office at CNES, said: “Our interest is focused on the development of synergies with academia, which are of paramount importance to develop innovative and effective methods to overcome barriers and increase our ability to detect, track and catalogue the increasing population of space debris.”
Professor Simone D’Amico, director of the Space Rendezvous Lab at Stanford University, said: “The Stanford’s Space Rendezvous Lab is thrilled to be a partner of Stardust-R due to the strong overlap in research activities at the forefront of astrodynamics and spacecraft autonomy.”
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