Starting June, AOES will be involved in a research and development project under the Dutch PEP-scheme (Pre-qualification ESA programs). The PEP scheme is an NSO (Netherlands space office)-subsidy scheme that aims at improving strategic positioning of Dutch space-companies in acquiring space-related projects in general and ESA projects in particular.

The project is called “Conductive panel technology” and its aim is to develop spacecraft panels using conductive CFRP materials in order to increase conductivity and stiffness while reducing structural mass and thermal expansion relative to the reference technology. Eventually this new conductive panel technology is aimed to be applied on satellite structural panels as well as radiator panels.

Apart from AOES, two other parties will be involved, Airborne composites and the NLR. Airborne Composites is a Dutch manufacturer of composite parts for the space (and other) industry. In this project they will produce the hardware (test-samples, demonstrator panel etc.).

The NLR is the Dutch National laboratory for the aerospace sector. In this project, they will perform the testing.

AOES’s main task will involve structural and thermal design and analyses of the panels.