Lios wins at the European Space Agency (ESA) Global Space Markets Challenge. ESA promotes and supports SMEs working in the space industry to expand into international markets through their Global Space Markets Challenge. This competitive award saw space-related SMEs across Europe compete to show their potential for international growth.
Based in Dublin, Lios has worked with ESA since 2019 through the Future Launchers Preparatory Programme – with their acoustic metamaterial technology, SoundBounce, which works to improve the acoustic environment in the launch vehicle fairing. Lios is reducing the noise and vibrations within the rocket, – using their innovative material, which is high performance, thin, and non-toxic, – enabling an increase in the size and mass of satellites launched by ESA.
Current acoustic and vibration materials in launch vehicles are thick and heavy to absorb the high levels of low frequency noise generated at the launch and separation flight stages. Critically, this reduces space in the cargo section of the launch vehicle, limiting the development of future satellites. There is also a risk the vibrations will damage the delicate instrumentation before it reaches its final destination, wasting years of work and money.
SoundBounce can mitigate the effects of this harsh environment and protect the sensitive payload while reducing mass and cost. ESA is keeping Europe at the cutting edge of new developments in space by collaborating with a broad network of companies all across the continent.
On receipt of the award Rhona Togher, CEO of Lios, said “We are delighted to win second place in the upstream category at the Global Space Markets Challenge. As we increase our presence in the Japanese market, this prize boosts our profile and gives a clear message of support for our business by ESA. The award includes mentorship, which will be invaluable as we grow internationally”.
