Software development
On of our main topics is professional software development, where we gained significant competences over time, for example related to the development of simulation software for aeronautics, i.e. for the domains of atmospheric re-entry and satellite aerodynamics.
Within the scope of software development, we work closely with our main customer, the European Space Agency ESA and in compliance with the ECSS Standard (European Cooperation on Space Standardization, www.ecss.nl).
Re-entry analysis
Re-entry is the critical phase of a spacecraft entering Earth's atmosphere. Objects that are not protected by any heat shield will get (partly) destroyed by the extreme temperatures that occur. But what about the fragments that survive the re-entry and reach the ground?
In the scope of re-entry analysis we simulate the break-up process of the spacecraft during atmospheric re-entry to assess the on-ground casualty risk. In addition, we focus on the compliance with ESA's space debris mitigation guidelines ESA/ADMIN/IPOL (2014)2 ("Space Debris Mitigation Policy for Agency Projects"), using our software products SCARAB (Spacecraft Atmospheric Re-entry and Aerothermal Break-up) and DRAMA/SESAM.
Satellite aerodynamics
In general, aerodynamics is decided according to it's area of application into aerodynamics of aircraft, projectile aerodynamics and automotive aerodynamics. Aeronautics, especially satellite aerodynamics, is a special field of application. It includes all phenomena that result from the rarefied flow around the satellite in orbit, as well as self-induced flow related processes by the spacecraft, like outgassing or thruster firing.
Thus, in addition to software development and atmospheric re-entry, we focus on the determination of the aerodynamic properties of spacecraft in low Earth orbit (LEO). Another topic is the prediction of disturbing forces and momenta, as well as the resulting tumbling motion using insights from our software products ANGARA and RAMSES.