European Space Agency Phase 2 Launch
Rhona Togher and Eimear O’Carroll Launch Phase 2 of ESA contract. Image Source.
ESA Phase 2 Launch 🚀
Following our recent top global prize at She Loves Tech, Lios is delighted to announce, as seen in the Business Post, our renewed six-figure development contract with the European Space Agency.
ESA is preparing new space transportation systems to respond to Europe’s future institutional needs and to continue at the forefront of new developments in space. This contract is valued at almost one million euro in co-funding. This new ESA contract with Lios supports advanced material innovations for the future of acoustics in space.
As pioneers in acoustic metamaterials, Lios is working with ESA’s Future Launchers Preparatory Programme (FLPP) to develop, test, and qualify SoundBounce as a new acoustic protection material for launch vehicle fairings.
Lios is a young Irish company on the road to further increasing involvement in the space programme and is part of the ever-growing space sector in Ireland.
Noise Problems in Space
Launch vehicle payloads, such as satellites and delicate instrumentation, are subject to high levels of noise and vibration during space flight. Lios is working with ESA towards improving the acoustic environment within the launch vehicle fairing – the nose cone that protects the satellites during launch on their way into orbit. Acoustic noise and vibration caused by the rocket engines can damage the satellite without adequate protection.
Current acoustic and vibration protection materials in launch vehicles are either thick or heavy to absorb the high levels of low-frequency noise generated at the launch and separation flight stages.
This reduces the volume and mass available for the payload or cargo that the launch vehicles carry and, in some cases, results in larger launchers being required. SoundBounce has the potential to mitigate the effects of this harsh environment and protect the sensitive payload while reducing the thickness, mass and cost of the acoustic protection.
Phase 1
The Phase 1 development contract between ESA and Lios took place over 12 months, finishing in Q1 2022. Through this work, Lios successfully demonstrated the acoustic insulation performance of using SoundBounce for Fairing Acoustic Protection (FAP) through large-scale testing in the laboratory. The project focused on the low-frequency noise and vibration generated during the launch and separation phases of launcher flight.
Lios collaborated with two of Europe’s leading space manufacturers during Phase 1, who addressed flight-ready specifications on the path to developing a new FAP.
Phase 2
This 18-month project further examines the feasibility of SoundBounce for use as fairing acoustic protection. The main technical requirement of Phase 2 is the capability of SoundBounce to meet the low-mass targets necessary for space flight.
This project will build on the progress made on mass reduction in Phase 1, where mass per unit area was reduced by around 50% with respect to the original SoundBounce design while maintaining acoustic insulation performance above that of the specifications. Pending confirmation of the successful outcome of Phase 2, SoundBounce can enable an increase in the size and mass of satellites launched by ESA. This will give Europe a key advantage in the competitive space sector.
Impact Beyond the Space Industry
Innovations applicable to the space sector have uses far beyond just launchers and satellites. Developing and qualifying SoundBounce to meet the rigorous demands of the space sector will open further opportunities in other sectors requiring high levels of reliability, such as automotive and commercial aviation. In all these cases saving space and reducing mass while maintaining acoustic performance is critical. Creating lightweight, high-performance technologies is the focus of this Phase 2 development contract.
Lios are also working with market leaders in automotive, home appliances, and building materials. These other customers will directly benefit from developments made in this ESA FLPP project.