ESA StarTiger project showcases innovation, collaboration in space industry
ESA initiative brought together a multidisciplinary team to harness advances in space technology and manufacturing such as metal and composites AM, robotics and advanced perception capabilities.
StarTiger team. Photo Credit: 9T Labs
9T Labs AG (Zürich, Switzerland), an expert in digital, automated and cost-competitive serial production of continuous fiber components, announces the successful completion of the European Space Agency (ESA, Paris, France) StarTiger project, an initiative that has brought together leading companies and academic institutions including key participants Airbus Defence & Space (Taufkirchen, Germany), 9T Labs, Ommatidia Lidar (Madrid, Spain), Cranfield University (U.K.), the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) and the ESA to demonstrate cutting-edge advancements in space technology and manufacturing.
The ESA StarTiger framework seeks to fostering innovation and collaboration within the space industry. The projct began its kick-off in March 2023 in Toulouse, France, bringing together a diverse team representing six nationalities. This team was composed of four industrial entities, two academic research laboratories and the ESA. The initiative was designed to challenge the conventional boundaries of space technology by showcasing the complete manufacturing and assembly, integration, tests and verification chain of a space robotic factory within an ambitious timeline of just 6 months.
The multidisciplinary team undertook its mission within the Airbus incubation laboratory, where a fusion of space and non-space technologies were harnessed to achieve the project’s goals. Notable technologies included state-of-the-art additive manufacturing technologies for metal and carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastics, robotic manipulators and advanced perception capabilities featuring cutting-edge cameras and 3D LiDAR technology.
“We are proud of the achievements of the ESA StarTiger project and the collaborative effort demonstrated by all participants,” Gianfranco Visentin, head automation and robotics section at ESA, says. “This endeavor exemplifies the power of partnership and innovation in driving the boundaries of what is possible in space technology.”
The ESA StarTiger project’s successful conclusion marks a significant chapter in the journey of space exploration and technology advancement. It serves as a testament to the collective capabilities of the participants and their commitment to pushing the envelope of space innovation.
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