Last Wednesday, the 29th of March, His Excellency Mr. Ambassador Giorgio Novello, Italian Ambassador to The Netherlands, and Pina Alivernini, Commercial Attaché for the Italian Embassy, visited ATG’s ultralight lattice structure. They were accompanied by ATG Europe’s Chief of Operations Massimiliano Mazza and Director of Operations of ATG Engineering Jacob Pasqualotto in the Airborne facility, where the structure is hosted as part of their collaboration.

The cost of space launches is a major contributor to the overall mission cost and the future of space missions, especially the commercial ones, depend massively on its reduction. The implementation of ATG’s patented technology in the development of ultralight interstage structures, in collaboration with Airborne expertise in carbon composite manufacturing, tackles this precise problem. ATG and Airborne work together to implement an efficient architecture at a low manufacturing cost while building products with higher performances.

Massimiliano Mazza (ATG) said “We are immensely proud of our achievements so far and pleased of the continuously recognition of our results by commercial players and institutional parties. The visit of His Excellency Novello is a mutual token of appreciation and friendship between ATG Europe and the Italian Embassy”.

Sandor Woldendorp, Director at Airborne Aerospace, guided the tour through Airborne’s facilities in The Hague, to show the incredible projects ATG and Airborne are developing together in the context of ultralight lattice and grid-stiffened composite structures for launcher vehicles.

These structures are manufactured through an ATG patented process and can reach high stiffness and strength at a minimum weight. The cost of the structures is comparatively low since everything is produced in a true one-shot process. This efficient process makes these structures an attractive solution for potential customers as it ensures a single layup and curing step which results in a net shape structure.

The ultralight structure is indeed a result accomplished thanks to ATG patented process and Airborne facilities and expertise in developing and manufacturing space-grade composite part.

These new structures provide a superior structural efficiency compared to any conventional architecture. This is achieved by placing uninterrupted, uni-directional composite ribs along the main load paths, thus utilising the full strength and stiffness of the composite material.

With this new structure for space vehicles ATG Europe and Airborne confirm to be extraordinary prime actors of the NewSpace sector.

About ATG Europe

ATG can count on an international team, made of professionals of 32 different nationalities, through which it has been providing to its customers over 50 years of value-added engineering services, 3D photo-realistic images and animations, VR&AR experiences, tech products and a praised management support at the highest possible standard. ATG truly values every culture brought by its people as they strengthen its core and make it more aware in addressing new markets and business environments. ATG serves institutional and industrial players of the big science sector, and especially the space and nuclear fusion ones, complementing and enhancing their capabilities, performances, and competitiveness and driving them beyond their ambitions.

This is how ATG is accelerating innovation.

About AIRBORNE

Airborne is leading the way in the engineering and manufacturing of composite panels for aircraft, satellites and launchers. Through industrialisation, digitalised automation and applying different production process technologies, we are making aerospace components more affordable for our customers and partners.

Airborne is the European market leader in the manufacturing of solar-array substrate panels and has delivered over 400 state-of-the-art solar-array substrates to several paramount institutional as well as commercial satellites. With over 25 years of expertise and qualifications, Airborne also grows in the manufacturing of sandwich panels for satellite platforms and instrument structures.

Production automation is applied for satellite constellations as well as for micro-launchers, where smart robotic systems enable affordability as well as higher volume production. Airborne is committed to be a key partner to the NewSpace system integrators.

For more information please contact:

ATG Communications 

Space Business Park
Huygensstraat 34
2201 DK Noordwijk (NL)

communication@atg-europe.com  

T: +31 (0)71 579 5500 

 

In recent years the ATG Engineering team has continuously extended on its predictive capabilities for thermo-elastic (TE) behaviour of spacecraft and other high tech systems. Our newly developed toolset combined with our extensive knowledge allows us to provide you with both general and bespoke solutions at highly competitive turnaround times, specifically:

• Extended and fast classification of a thermo-elastically challenged system; identifying the key components and or assemblies that contribute to distortions and loads and thus pin-pointing where to solve issues,

• Efficient (coupled) TE or STOP iterations for e.g. sizing of thermal control systems and mechanical designs, providing direct insight on the results at greatly improved speed compared to conventional processes

These capabilities and knowledge have been developed in-house as well as in R&D programmes directly for and with ESA. Most recently we are wrapping up a program for ESA and the space industry in general, together with our consortium partners TAS-F, OHB and TAS-I; leading to novel guidelines for Thermo-Elastic verification, to be presented at the #ECSSMET conference next week.

Contact us to find out more about how we can improve the Thermo-Elastic design, prediction and turnaround time in your projects with Thermo-Elastic drivers.

Thank you all for having me today. Everything started at the beginning, where I was born in in Italy. I studied in a scientific high school in Mantova because I always liked scientific subjects and their rational aspects. After that, it was difficult to choose my university course.

My first idea was Architecture, as I really love interior design, but at that time was highly requested and this made me think that I wouldn’t have had career opportunities afterwards.​​​​​​​

So, I decided for Economy of Tourism course in Bologna, to pursue my passion for travelling, maybe first hints for exploration? I also had the opportunity to work in a café during that time, it was an interesting and funny experience because I was quickly leading the shifts, giving me a first hint to what I am good that, managing, scheduling and team building.​​​​​​​

Simone attending the ESA’s #Pangaea astronaut geology field training course with the Astronaut Team (ESA 2017) Ries Crater – Germany

One event that I remember pretty well, was the DJ session of Luca from ISS during World Club Dome. Some unforgettable memories I cherish were; the talk between Luca and Paul McCartney or the duet with Jovanotti.

What does your position entail today, could you give us a glimpse into your daily work routine?

Well, the list is long, but overall, I contribute to preparing and implementing all communication campaigns for human exploration missions in cooperation with ESA’s Media Relations departments, ESA Outreach, National Space Agencies, and the ESA Newsrooms, as well as all international bodies taking part in the latter operations.

I also support media and institutional events related to ESA astronauts’ appearance, plan the execution of ESA/EAC participation in events and exhibitions, and support all the communication activities of ESA Italian Astronauts.

This allowed me to take part in some very tense interactions when I was implementing Luca Parmitano and Samantha Cristoforetti’s missions. It’s very inspiring and extraordinary job, comporting high responsibility. Sometimes I had to settle live events with Luca or Samantha from ISS to Earth, interacting with NASA, its operators setting up for a 20 min connection that had to fit a specific orbital window. Quite unusual but amazing to experience. There is a lot of coordination and preparation behind every activity implemented.

Is there an event, or a moment that stands out to you?

I think is difficult to pick up a moment in these years, as I said, it is an extraordinary and unique job. One highlight of my work until today was when Luca started mentioning how he wanted to talk more about Climate change. Astronauts take picture form space of our planet, and natural events, like for example hurricanes, but we wanted to see what’s happening with a closer eye. That’s when we decided to organize an initiative with ESA Earth Observation department and partners. We organized an expedition on the glaciers on the Swiss alps. Luca attended despite a very dense communication schedule. No one can communicate better about Climate change than our Astronauts, and I truly believe we can make an impact.

On the other hand, Samantha’s work was more about the Climate, its preservation and restoration, preparing for the future through meaningful scholarships; furthermore, I also really enjoyed communicating about Earth, managing UN related cooperations. I felt glad to contribute to spread these important messages. 

On a side note, Luca was the one that captured some beautiful shots of the CAT 5 Hurricane Dorian, quite the event.

What does innovation mean to you, Simone?

In my job’s perspective, it’s all about teaching children the importance of space and what we do up there. It’s about offering them role models through our Astronauts, inspiring great values.

For me innovation is another word for dream, a great medium to inspire it. It’s about planting a seed in the right place and watching it grow.​​​​​​​

Could you tell us something about yourself that not many people know?

Like I said I love interior design, so I love to redecorate my home and create things. I am full of energy and turning that energy into something that’s useful for myself is what I love to do. My work consists of a lot of hours in front of the laptop, so I like to loosen the focus and work with hands on what I can benefit from.

Otherwise, I am a big photography fan, I love it.

Simone at The European Astronaut Centre

If I really need to answer though, then I would travel. Cliché, but then again, I would still communicate about my trips.​​​​​

We would like to thank Simone for taking the time to answer these questions. Best of luck for what’s to come in the new year ahead.

ATG Europe and its partners Solenix, Alia Space Systems, PwC and the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (National Research Council of Italy – CNR) are proud to officially announce their selection to work on supporting the IRIDE Earth Observation constellation.

The IRIDE Earth observation constellation is developed in the frame of the Earth Observation investment of the Italian “Piano Nazionale di Ripresa e Resilienza” (PNRR, or NRRP: “National Recovery and Resilience Plan”) and aims at creating a new Italian Earth Observation capability based on the first array of spacecraft constellations. Composed of ESA, ASI, and a number of research institutes in Italy.

ATG Europe was formally tasked by the Integrated Project Team, composed by ESA, ASI, and a number of research institutes in Italy, to specifically execute technical reviews, the provision of specialised consultancy, and engineering support to the PNRR program and its future constellation.

Mr. Alberto Donadoni (Chief Commercial Officer) of ATG Europe says “This important recognition underlines ATG’s capacity to perform, in cooperation with its partners, all-encompassing technical reviews for space programs and to provide valuable technical support, even to the most complex and challenging projects.”

Solenix

Solenix is an international company providing engineering and consulting services in the space market. Solenix’s software team consists of highly skilled professionals focused on delivering smart and reliable solutions. 

Alia Space Systems

Alia Space Systems is devoted since its foundation to bring the rich skill set of its personnel into the development of Mission Control Systems, Mission Planning Systems, Operational Simulators and Earth Observation related software for the European Space Agency.

PwC

PwC’s purpose is to build trust in society and solve important problems. Stemming from a network of firms in 155 countries with over 284,000 people who are committed to delivering quality in assurance, advisory and tax services.

IRIDE Earth observation constellation

IRIDE is developed in the frame of the Earth Observation investment of the Italian “Piano Nazionale di Ripresa e Resilienza” (PNRR, or NRRP: “National Recovery and Resilience Plan”) and aims at creating a new Italian Earth Observation capability based on the first constellation of spacecraft constellations. Composed of ESA, ASI, and several of research institutes in Italy.

ATG Europe

For 50 years we have been supporting our customers to transform their challenges into success by providing services and solutions with expertise and innovative thinking. Today, ATG Europe is a key player in delivering value-added engineering services, solutions, and technologies to the European Space, Defense and Big science sectors at the highest possible standards. 

Find out more about our work here

Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche

The National Research Council of Italy (CNR)’s duty is to carry out, promote, divulge, transfer, and improve research activities in all the sectors relevant for the scientific, technological, economic, and social development of the Country.

For more information please contact:

ATG Communications 

Space Business Park
Huygensstraat 34
2201 DK Noordwijk (NL)

communication@atg-europe.com  

T: +31 (0)71 579 5500 

 

Last week, the European Space Agency celebrated this year’s Council Ministerial in Paris, where government ministers representing ESA’s Member States, Associate States, and Cooperating States witnessed a fantastic and successful event which resulted in a record 17 percent rise in budget to strengthen Europe’s space vision and commit to the future of space exploration. 

We want to dedicate this space to everything that happened behind the curtains at CM22. Our IT Support Team worked relentlessly throughout the event to ensure a flawless execution of ESA’s most important event of the year. 

From ATG Europe, we would like to thank the entire IT Support team for their commitment, dedication, and hard work in Paris last week.

Congratulations. This success is also yours.

Paolo then ran us through the initial stages of the mission, where they made a recount of the various areas of expertise they would need to complete the mission. Between ESA and NASA/JPL, they counted with a few talented and experienced specialists, but due to the mission’s innovative and ground-breaking nature, there were certain areas – such as experience in comet rendezvous, hibernation, or optical navigation – for which they needed to pioneer totally new fields, developing new tools and techniques from zero. Challenging management’s recommendation to hire the most experienced and senior experts, Paolo decided to bet on new, young talent instead, hoping that this new generation of engineers and scientists would replace the mission leaders fifteen years forward. Putting an emphasis on diversity, motivation, and flexibility, Paolo nurtured these young talents, who eventually went on to lead the mission in its later stages. Later in the presentation, Paolo showed a photo of the full team when the mission launched and mentioned proudly that most of those young talents have gone on to important leadership positions at ESA.

Rosetta flight control team seen in the mission’s Dedicated Control Room during the flyby of asteroid Lutetia, 10 July 2010. 

CREDIT – ESA/J. Mai – CC BY-SA IGO 3.0

Image credit – ESA

Rosetta’s mission control team at the European Space Operations Centre in Darmstadt, Germany, celebrating the “wake up” moment.

CREDITS – Juergen Mai/ESA