A consortium of four European companies led by Portuguese startup Spaceo has won a contract from the European Space Agency (ESA) for a demonstration mission to test an inflatable sail to deorbit end-of-mission satellites and space debris. Solidflow (spin-off of ESA BIC Noordwijk alumnus HDES) is responsible for developing the gas generator needed to inflate the sail for the SWIFT (Spacecraft With Inflatable Termination) project, which will be tested in low Earth orbit by 2028.
The following is related to a news release issued by the consortium-lead Spaceo
Inflatable drag sail system for satellites
The idea behind SWIFT leads to the team’s ambitions that it will become standard equipment on all future satellites. “Until now, satellites are launched, perform their tasks and once their mission ends, they remain orbiting the Earth indefinitely,” explains João Pedro Loureiro, founder of Spaceo. “Our goal is to prove that with our technology attached, satellites can go into space, complete their mission and, once obsolete, initiate a descent trajectory that will cause them to burn up, disintegrate and turn to dust.”
To achieve this, the “parachute for space objects” relies on sophisticated and compact technology. It is a system measuring 20 square centimetres that, once activated, inflates a sail-like structure measuring 1.5 square metres. While SWIFT is being fitted to 12U-type satellites weighing up to 20 kilograms (with 20 x 20 x 30 mm dimensions) for the in-orbit demonstration, the Spaceo founder states that the size of the sail is scalable for larger satellites or even satellite constellations.
European consortium including three ESA BIC startups
Spaceo (ESA BIC Portugal incubatee) will oversee both phases of SWIFT: the on-ground phase and the launch and orbital testing phase. The other consortium companies are: GomSpace subsidiary (LU), SpaceLocker (FR) (ESA BIC Nord France incubatee) and Solidflow (NL) (spin-off of ESA BIC Noordwijk alumnus). For the demonstration mission, GomSpace will provide the host satellite platform, SpaceLocker will optimise and manage the integration of the technology on the satellite and Solidflow will provide the power to inflate the sail.
“In the SWIFT project, Solidflow will develop a new type of small, low cost and safe cool gas generator producing carbon dioxide gas,” explains Berry Sanders, managing director of SBIC Noordwijk-based Solidflow. “Cold gas generators are the best option for inflatable deorbiting devices: they are not pressurised, cannot leak, are compact and are not classified as pyrotechnic.”
The gas generators only activate when the deorbiting manoeuvre is initiated. “Their long lifetime guarantees a correct functioning after being fully inert during the lifetime of the satellite.” He explains further: “Our technology is enabling safer and faster removal of inactive satellites, while also contributing to Europe’s wider sustainability efforts in space.”
Background to the sail-inflation technology
The cool gas generator is a gas storage technology that was originally developed by TNO (the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research) and, in 2011, was spun out to innovative startups for further development.
The generator consists of a casing with a solid block inside that can be decomposed into gas upon activation of a small igniter. When activated, gas is released which can be used for propulsion and inflation of space structures, as well as for the manoeuvring of small satellites, The technology can now also be used for terrestrial applications.
“Solidflow’s technology is enabling safer and faster removal of inactive satellites”
berry sanders
Sustainable practices in space
The SWIFT project is part of ESA’s ARTES (Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems) programme and supports the Agency’s mission Zero Debris Charter, which aims to achieve debris-neutrality in space by 2030.
This news item was initially shared by Solidflow on LinkedIn.
About: Solidflow is based in Noordwijk and develops, builds and markets cool gas generators. The company was founded in September 2023 and is a spin-off of HDES Service & Engineering. Solidflow is active in high-end markets, such as aerospace, defence and safety systems. Its product portfolio include carbon dioxide and oxygen generators and new generators are in development. solidflow.nl
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