Bridging Worlds: How Aerospace and Industry Forge Innovation Together

In a unique dialogue, ESA astronaut Dr. Matthias Maurer and Porsche Engineering's Dr. Christoph Roggendorf explore the synergistic relationship between aerospace and the automotive industry. Their conversation highlights shared challenges, technological cross-pollination, and the future of innovation driven by interdisciplinary collaboration.

Key Takeaways

• The LUNA Analog Facility in Cologne is a state-of-the-art simulation environment for lunar missions, attracting international interest, including from NASA.

• Both aerospace and industry face similar challenges in areas like temperature extremes, material resilience, and the need for robust, reliable systems.

• There's a significant opportunity for "spin-in" from industry to aerospace, bringing faster development cycles and cutting-edge technologies to space exploration.

• Aerospace advancements, particularly in material research and autonomous systems, offer valuable insights and potential applications for the automotive sector.

• Embracing an "error culture" in pre-development phases, inspired by industry, can accelerate innovation in aerospace, provided safety is paramount in manned missions.

• International collaboration and the integration of diverse engineering expertise are crucial for Europe's advancement in space exploration.

The LUNA Facility and Lunar Challenges

Dr. Matthias Maurer, an astronaut with extensive experience on the International Space Station (ISS) and now leading the LUNA Analog Facility, detailed the facility's advanced capabilities. This simulation center is designed to replicate the harsh conditions of the Moon, including abrasive dust, extreme temperatures (as low as -250 degrees Celsius in shadowed craters), and challenging lighting conditions. NASA has already visited to test new lunar camera technology within this environment. The facility is preparing to test a high-tech container habitat for long-duration stays, connected via a tunnel to simulate continuous operation without sunlight.

Bridging the Gap: Industry Meets Space

Dr. Christoph Roggendorf, Director of Energy Systems at Porsche Engineering, emphasized the value of interdisciplinary teams, noting that many developers have backgrounds in aeronautics and aerospace. He highlighted that requirements in low-Earth orbit, such as temperature profiles and vibration during launch, share similarities with automotive challenges. Porsche Engineering is currently developing an energy system for satellite applications, demonstrating this direct transfer of expertise.

Navigating Risk and Innovation

Maurer discussed ESA's responsible use of taxpayer money, which can lead to bureaucracy and delays. He suggested that greater agility could be achieved if industry could define and pursue goals with their own capital, supported by ESA as a customer. Roggendorf, quoting Ferry Porsche, stated that setbacks are expected and that engineers must push the limits of feasibility, especially in pre-development. He stressed the importance of an "error culture" in these early stages, contrasting it with the absolute reliability required for series production.

Mutual Benefits: Spin-in and Spin-out

Maurer expressed a strong desire for "spin-in," where industrial innovations are integrated into aerospace projects. He pointed to the automotive industry's rapid development cycles and the wealth of technology available. Conversely, aerospace has historically contributed high-end materials to industry. Both sectors are seeing growth in new business areas, such as satellite development, where industrialization and modular construction are key. Autonomous systems represent another significant overlap, with AI playing a crucial role in managing the increasing density of satellites in orbit, mirroring the development of autonomous driving on Earth.

The Future of Collaboration

Both experts agreed on the importance of virtual testing methods and digital twins. Roggendorf explained how digital twins of systems like vehicle batteries provide deep insights and extend service life, a concept even more critical in space where repairs are difficult and costly. Maurer confirmed that VR technology is used at the LUNA facility to simulate devices that cannot be physically replicated. The conversation also touched upon the necessity of international networks, with Maurer emphasizing Europe's need for collaboration to compete globally, and Roggendorf highlighting Porsche Engineering's international presence to attract talent and understand diverse market needs.

Driving Forces

For Roggendorf, the drive comes from a passion for technology and a desire to advance new technologies for the planet and future generations. Maurer is motivated by the vastness of the universe, the quest for discovery, and the fundamental questions about life and our solar system. He finds energy in conducting new experiments in space and dreams of future lunar missions, aiming to share knowledge and inspire the next generation.