During the last 30 years of science exploration in space, the complexity of experiments and related equipment has continuously increased, leading more and more frequently to the impossibility to fulfill the quadruple constraints: science, technologies, safety and cost. Since a few year, a fresh approach appears in the new space mood where key words are simpler and faster.

1. 5;2 Optics for science exploration 1
CONFIDENTIAL Template Innovation Day 2018CONFIDENTIAL
OPTICS FOR SCIENCE EXPLORATION
Olivier Dupont
CEO Lambda-X SA, member of Masters in Innovation
odupont@lambda-x.com
TRACK 5 - SPACE TECHNOLOGY FOR A BETTER WORLD

2. 5;2 Optics for science exploration 2
CONFIDENTIAL
MASTERS IN INNOVATION
Lambda-X in a Nutshell
Market: Conception, prototyping, qualification
& manufacturing of optical systems and
subsystems for imaging, metrology and
control.
Team of 43 highly specialized individuals:
Physics, engineering, software design,
production and QC.
ISO 9001:2015 & EN9100:2016 certified
INDUSTRIAL OPTICS MEDICAL OPTICS SPACE SYSTEMS SECURITY SYSTEMS
Founded in 1996, 100% Belgian private
shareholders
Member of Masters In Innovation
C.A. 2017: 6.2M€; target 2018: 7.0M€

3. 5;2 Optics for science exploration 3
CONFIDENTIAL
CONTENT
1. Scientific and technological research in Space
2. Positive return: Space to Earth Tech Transfer
3. Origin of this increase of complexity
4. Solutions to bypass the constraints
5. New Space approach: new opportunities
6. Extending the New Space approach to payload design

4. 5;2 Optics for science exploration 4
CONFIDENTIAL
Scientific and technological research
in Space
Evolution of the complexity

5. 5;2 Optics for science exploration 5
CONFIDENTIAL
Scientific and technological research in Space
• Onboard:
• Apollo 14, (02-1971)
• Apollo 17, (12-1972)
• Parameter:
• Liquid thickness
• Heating profiles
• Diagnostics:
• Flow visualization and thermal
distribution by follow-up of
encapsulated liquid crystals
tracers.
Fluid physics experiment
Onset of convection due to surface tension heated from below

6. 5;2 Optics for science exploration 6
CONFIDENTIAL
Scientific and technological research in Space
• Onboard:
• Texus 21, MBI module (04-1989)
• Spacelab-D2 mission, AFPM
(05/1993)
• Parameter:
• Liquid thickness
• Heating profiles
• Diagnostics:
• Velocimetry in surface
• Thermal distribution in surface (IR
camera)
• Vertical profile of temperature
Same fluid physics experiment
Onset of convection due to surface tension

7. 5;2 Optics for science exploration 7
CONFIDENTIAL
Scientific and technological research in Space
• Onboard:
• MASER 9 (03/2003)
• MASER 10 (05-2005)
• Parameters: None
• Fixed liquid thickness
• Fixed cooling profile
• Diagnostics:
• 3D temperature distribution
(tomograph with 6 interferometric
arms)
• Surface deformation measurement
Fully automated experiment
Fluid physics experiment
Onset of convection due to surface tension cooled from above

8. 5;2 Optics for science exploration 8
CONFIDENTIAL
Scientific and technological research in Space
• Onboard:
• Never flew
• Parameters:
• Liquid thickness
• Cooling profile
• Liquid
• Diagnostics:
• 3D temperature by tomography
• Surface deformation measurement
• Velocimetry in surface
• IR thermal measurement
• Automated liquid flatness control
Fully automated experiment
Fluid physics experiment
Onset of convection due to surface tension cooled from above

9. 5;2 Optics for science exploration 9
CONFIDENTIAL
Scientific and technological research in Space
Visualisation
of convective
motions
under 0g
Measurement
of the onset
of convective
motions
Years
Technicalcomplexity
3D
measurement
of the thermal
profile;
Evaporating
liquid
Various
liquid;
various
heating
profile;

10. 5;2 Optics for science exploration 10
CONFIDENTIAL
• Evolution of the complexity :
• Number of experimental parameters increases
• Number of simultaneous diagnostic increases
• Automation of the experiment becomes mandatory
• Volume allocated to the experiment shrinks
• Size of the investigator’s team increases
• Duration of the development phase of the experimental set-up increases
• The complexity of the payload hosting the experiment increases
Scientific and technological research in Space

11. 5;2 Optics for science exploration 11
CONFIDENTIAL
Positive return: Space to Earth Tech
Transfer
Positive return: Scientific results but also “collateral innovation”

12. 5;2 Optics for science exploration 12
CONFIDENTIAL
Space to Earth Tech transfer:
Genesis of the Phase Shift Schlieren
Evaporation fluid
physics research
Phase shifting
Schlieren
instrument for
interface
monitoring
Results in space
Physics in
microgravity
Place a lens in the
system….. Just to
see
Quality control of
lenses ?
Spectacle
lenses
Intraocular
lenses
contact
lenses

13. 5;2 Optics for science exploration 13
CONFIDENTIAL
Space to Earth Tech transfer:
Product line from manual to automated operations

14. 5;2 Optics for science exploration 14
CONFIDENTIAL
Space to Earth Tech transfer:
From 0g to worldwide leader in ophthalmic metrology
• USA
• Canada
• Brazil
• Costa Rica
• Australia
• Japan
• Taiwan
• China
• Singapore
• South Korea
• Turkey
• Thailand
• Israel
• Europe (UK, DE, FR,
NL, BE, CH, SP….) 320 tools in operation WW

15. 5;2 Optics for science exploration 15
CONFIDENTIAL
Origin of this increase of complexity

16. 5;2 Optics for science exploration 16
CONFIDENTIAL
Access to Space Limited number of solution
Origin of this increase of complexity
Up to 10s. 30s. 9 min. few days few weeks…or more

17. 5;2 Optics for science exploration 17
CONFIDENTIAL
Constraint
Reaction
Flight opportunities rather limited
When onboard: maximization of the scientific return
Crew availability rather limited
Automated experiment
Programmatic impact (waiting time and slot)
Emergence of standardized facility (laboratory)
Adaptation of the experiment to the capability of the facility
Miniaturization and increases of the experiment complexity
Safety issues
Double or triple containments: additional complexity
Origin of this increase of complexity

18. 5;2 Optics for science exploration 18
CONFIDENTIAL
More & more difficult to fulfill all the scientific, technical, safety
and financial constraints
Origin of this increase of complexity

19. 5;2 Optics for science exploration 19
CONFIDENTIAL
Solutions to bypass the constraints

20. 5;2 Optics for science exploration 20
CONFIDENTIAL
• Sounding rockets
Emerging players offer micro-g flights as a secondary stream
of revenue:
• Developers of small launchers (50+) offering sub-orbital
flight in an attempt to develop their service
incrementally;
• Sub-orbital flights, meant for space tourism, aim to
diversify their services to include microg research,
small sat launch, etc.
In addition to more operational flexibility, they can offer
technical advantages (e.g. rapid post-landing access, etc.).
Solutions to bypass the constraints
Arion 1 sub-orbital rocket from PLD
Space, intermediate development before
the Arion 2
Pathfinder fluid physics experiment
flown on the New Shepard of Blue
Origin

21. 5;2 Optics for science exploration 21
CONFIDENTIAL
• Retrievable orbital payloads:
Simplifying access to the ISS
CubeSat standard for ISS experiments :
• First introduced by NanoRacks (US), now also made
possible by Space Tango (US) and soon Space Application
Services (BE);
• Cost remains high (50- 90k€/kg) and offer is “too disruptive”
as compared to traditional ISS experiments.
Consequence :
• Funding agencies and experiment designers are slow to
follow
• Currently mostly educational payloads.
Solutions to bypass the constraints
Space Application
Services’ ICE
Cubes platform for
microg
experiments on-
board the ISS (B)
Nanoracks
(US)
Space Tango
(US)

22. 5;2 Optics for science exploration 22
CONFIDENTIAL
• Retrievable orbital payloads:
A new generation of micro-g services
Microg services on CubeSat platforms:
• Enabled by progresses in nanosatellite technologies and
building upon tele-operation and miniaturization;
• Allow for long-duration microg without the burden of human
spaceflight constraints.
Brand new field :
• Many experiments, trial & error.
• Only commercial service is SpacePharma and Spacety, both
at prototype level.
Solutions to bypass the constraints
Artist rendering of SpacePharma’s 3U
CubeSat, a platform for life science
experiments

23. 5;2 Optics for science exploration 23
CONFIDENTIAL
New Space approach:
new opportunities

24. 5;2 Optics for science exploration 24
CONFIDENTIAL
• Space tourism: frequent and affordable access to
microgravity conditions
New Space approach: new opportunities
First space flight ticket available: 250k$
Objective:
In 10 to 15 years: flight ticket shall be +/- 75k$
That means:
few minutes of 0g for
+/- 1k$ per kg !

25. 5;2 Optics for science exploration 25
CONFIDENTIAL
Extending the New Space approach
to the payload design

26. 5;2 Optics for science exploration 26
CONFIDENTIAL
All previous solutions focus on launchers or hosting platforms
 What about the experiment including diagnostics and stimulus?
Key goals are probably:
• Standardization
• Interoperability
• Quality grades
Extending the New Space approach to the payload design

27. 5;2 Optics for science exploration 27
CONFIDENTIAL
• Quality grades
 What would be the cost of a failure or reduced lifetime?
• The answer is directly dependent on:
• Launch cost per kg
• Number of launch opportunities
• Ex: High quality COTS objectives tailored for Cube Sat apps
Extending the New Space approach to the payload design
+ Mechanical interface adapted, total length reduced;
+ Disassembled, degreased, iris and focus adjusted and glued;
+ Performance unaffected
+ Cost: 1/5 to 1/8 of a custom design
- Lifetime reduced: impact on radiation on cemented lenses.

28. 5;2 Optics for science exploration 28
CONFIDENTIAL
• Standardization
 Modular approach:
• Standardized interface
• Plug and play: easily adaptable to the experiment evolution
• Easily replaceable in case of failure
• Adaptable to new technologies
Extending the New Space approach to the payload design

29. 5;2 Optics for science exploration 29
CONFIDENTIAL
• Interoperability
 Modular approach:
• Usable from the early phase
• Reusable on various platform: save time and money;
• Reuse of known and mastered hardware: focus on your objectives;
• Adaptable to the environmental constraints;
Extending the New Space approach to the payload design

30. 5;2 Optics for science exploration 30
CONFIDENTIAL
Conclusion:
New Space is not an evolution but
a revolution

31. 5;2 Optics for science exploration 31
CONFIDENTIAL
One group, five brands
Our services are marketed through 5 brands each
addressing specific missions in product development.
INTEGRATED PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
ON-SITE
PRODUCT
DEVELOPMENT
DIGITAL
PRODUCTS
DEVELOPMENT
OPTICAL
PRODUCTS
DEVELOPMENT
VENTURING