The Mission

Our vision is to increase the accessibility of space engineering in the region of Eindhoven. With close contact with sectors in BrainPort, the most advanced technologies can be taken to space to improve their capabilities. The current mission of Aster is to build a CubeSat (small satellite) which will use different technologies to find the most sustainable space-ready hardware. It will use photonic sensors to measure the CubeSat's strain, tension and pressure and its components inside. This satellite will also function as a vessel for researchers to increase the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of their components and products.

The Challenge 

Humanity has travelled to space using electronic chips powering mechanical components. With the constant burst of radiation from the sun and the rest of the universe, data can get corrupted. To combat this problem in space, a lot of defensive measures are taken to keep the gathered data safe. These methods are extremely costly. Next to this, sending equipment to space remains a tricky process. How can we quantify exact issues better? How can we safely transmit/receive data in a different way?

The Solution

The solution to data corruption and excessive measures against it in space is found in Photonics. Aster is building a CubeSat (small satellite) which will use photonic sensors to measure the CubeSat's strain, tension and pressure and its components inside. This satellite will also function as a vessel for researchers to increase the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of their components and products.

This project is being coached by