The number of satellites being launched into orbit is increasing rapidly every year, and with it the complexity anThe number of satellites being launched into orbit is increasing rapidly every year, and with it the complexity and capabilities of each satellite continues to grow dramatically. Today, near full earth coverage by optical sensors is achieved daily by civilian spacecraft, and soon civilian SAR will achieve a similar daily coverage. The ever growing amount of spaceborne data will need new solutions to get that data to the ground, because the available downlink is always a limitation in space system design. Better on-board data processing and storage will allow future iterations of spacecraft to achieve higher performance in smaller and smaller packages. Current solutions present limitations in computational performance, memory capacity and performance, and data reliability in very small form factors. SOPHOS will design and implement enabling technology for high-end data products produced on-board spacecraft via the implementation of more power efficient high performance space processing chains for various Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) missions, with a focus on Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), which is one of the most data intensive space applications currently used. This implementation will be achieved through the optimisation of the payload processing and data storage system accompanied by the use of COTS components and the miniaturisation of high-performance hardware in combination with robust firmware and software with heritage in high-end space applications. SOPHOS will combine state-of-the-art industrial computing technologies (COTS) including high-end FPGAs and GPU equipped SoCs, along with advanced and scalable processing capabilities. The modules developed within SOPHOS will allow for higher data product performance in small and nanosatellite platforms, with the ability to deliver more data from data-intensive applications including SAR earth observation.

The overarching goal of CARIOQA-PMP is to prepare the deployment of quantum gravimeters/accelerometers in space, within the decade, through a Quantum Pathfinder Mission. Indeed, the emergence of quantum sensors offers an opportunity to provide new applications for climate sciences through the improvement of space gravimetry performance. Hence, the mastery of this technology in space is one of the major environmental, technological and strategic challenges of the decade. Three main objectives have been set for the scope and duration of CARIOQA-PMP: 1. To develop an Engineering Model (EM) of the mission’s instrument and to increase the TRL of the critical subsystems up to 5. Complementary EU industrial partners develop the subsystems of the instrument (i.e. Physics Package, Laser System, Microwave Source and Ground Support Equipment) and increase its TRL by assessing the critical technologies in relevant environments. Excellent institutes bring their quantum expertise for the definition of the EM and the mastering of its performance 2. To guarantee the adequacy of the hardware development with the future scientific needs. Through their knowledge of scientific applications, leading institutes in geodesy analyse and simulate potential mission scenarios for the Quantum Pathfinder Mission and future Post-Pathfinder scientific missions 3. To establish a technical and programmatic roadmap for Quantum Space Gravimetry Missions. This roadmap will be shared and validated by European stakeholders. It ensures the impact maximisation of the project’s results through its harmonisation with the European programmatic framework CARIOQA-PMP brings together the main players of quantum sensors in Europe. It gathers unique skills among 16 partners from 5 EU Member States including 2 space agencies, 8 research organisations and 6 industries. As a result, CARIOQA-PMP will secure the capacities for implementing quantum gravimeters/accelerometers in space within the EU, contributing to the EU's strategic goal of non-dependence and autonomy.

Through the digitalization & Space 4.0 program, the space industry is transforming many elements of its engineering process. In that frame, one of the main targets is the improvement of the Integration Verification and Validation (IVV) process through cost reduction and duration optimization. Electrical Ground Support Equipment are essential tools at all levels of pre-launching testing of satellite / spacecraft namely the Assembly, Integration and Test and/or Verification activities (AIT/AIV). The current EGSEs challenges are: • Current solutions are hardly reusable & very costly, usually being custom developed for each mission/spacecraft. • New technologies available from the IT sector, which have not yet affected the EGSE market. • There are new standards (EGS-CC) to support space systems test, monitoring and control. There is a clear need coming from Spacecraft Manufacturers for new generation EGSEs, providing the opportunity to challenge the current architectures & suppliers. In this context, TELETEL wants to initiate the next generation modular EGSE architecture (NG-EGSE) project, to achieve the following main benefits: • Establishment of a breakthrough innovative modular EGSE architecture, influencing cost and duration of the AIT/AIV operations in the space sector. • Improve the competitive positioning of TELETEL in space EGSE market with game-changing, low cost EGSEs solutions, different to any alternative in the market. • New opportunities in the general avionics market (not only space related). • New EGSEs Building Blocks ready for use by Spacecraft Manufacturers such as Thales Alenia Space & Airbus Defence & Space.

With the increase of the density of people in urban areas, modern cities experience significant needs related to planning, maintenance and administration. As a result, many cities are engaged in massive investment for infrastructure development across many structural elements including water supply, lighting, maintenance, traffic and transportation systems, refuse disposal and all the factors which form a part of the completed city. The public transportation systems, assisting the movement of people in urban areas using group travel technologies such as buses and trains, are continuously evolving in terms of areas coverage, comfort and technology. Such systems can be exploited by the cities in order to serve both public and benefits including: • Maintenance of infrastructure such as lighting, road deteriorations etc. • Inspection of points of interests such as parking spaces, garbage collection points etc. • Provision of services to the private sector such as inspection of advertisement points etc. The main objective of the GHOST project is to design, develop and validate at an operational environment a GALILEO-based intelligent system for vehicles in order to take advantage of the public transportation fleet routes, towards enabling development of new cross-functional applications for infrastructures maintenance, street parking and garbage management in smarter cities environment. The GHOST intelligent system will be validated at an operational environment, by demonstrating and experimenting on three (3) use cases of the GHOST applications including: • Reporting of street lighting anomalies or road deteriorations (ex: pothole). • Detection of double parking or occupied parking reserved for disabled drivers by unauthorized vehicles. • Monitoring of public garbage completion level.

The main objective is to develop a standard interface that considers a set of connections that allow coupling of payload to manipulators and payload to other payload. The realization of a modular reconfigurable system depends, among other things, on interfaces, that includes mechanical interfaces connecting the blocks to one other, electrical interface for power transmission, thermal interfaces for heat regulation and interfaces to transmit data throughout the satellite. Multi--‐functional “Intelligent” interface will be considered to interconnect building blocks and also to connect to the satellite with a servicer. The standard interface will require standardization and modularization of the different components in an integrated form (where mechanical, thermal, electrical, data connections are combined) or a separated form. The standard interface shall allow building up large clusters of modules. APMs are considered for demonstration, validation and verification of all properties of the standard interface. An end-effector for a robotic manipulator will be designed according to the layout of the standard interface. The Modular Interface will take into account long duration missions, no logistics support and missions composed of multiple payloads and architectures. Main benefits: - Improve operational capacity - Reduced logistics with common and modular spares - Common maintenance standards - IF architecture flexibility: common infrastructure needed to support the modular design - Mission flexibility (configuration changes) - Standardizes mechanical, data, electrical, thermal Interfaces - Keep existing standards where applicable - Introduce in the design aspects related to interchangeability and interoperability The standard interfaces will allow to develop the SRC end goals. The output of this development will address the Future Low--‐cost EXchangeable/EXpandable/EXtendable SATellite, which targets the demonstration of robotics servicing technology.