Duration: 12 months
The space sector is experiencing transformations driven by involvement of the private sector, innovative satellite-based services, and reductions in launch costs. New Space actors bring innovative expertise, capabilities, and practices. Notably, within EO, advancements primarily stem from companies specializing in data analytics and the IT sector, shaping a transition of EO into a data industry.
While space agencies continue to play a pioneering role in reference missions and technology development, adapting to the New Space paradigm involves considering new user bases. This shift, from solely institutional to commercial users, demands exploration of new needs, use cases, and application domains. However, developing space infrastructures based on institutional needs only may not guarantee to effectively target commercial domains.
Thus far, my research centered on investigating private users needs and innovative solutions targeting them. Many private users are in the testing phase, emphasizing the importance of cost-effective, easily accessible solutions. Innovative technologies, like AI for on-board data processing, offer solutions enabling novel services supported by real-time data analysis and decision-making.
Space agencies, like ESA, are tasked with shaping the New Space paradigm, fostering innovation, promoting competition, and catalyzing market creation. My research aims at supporting ESA evolution towards unconventional program and project management practices to leverage the potential of New Space companies effectively.
ESTEC represents an ideal environment for my PhD path, particularly the Data System Division, where advancements in on-board data processing enable the customization of EO data for both institutional and commercial missions. Additionally, ESA's HQ offers opportunity to study the transition towards a New Space approach, reinforcing ESA pioneering role in establishing a New Space ecosystem and commercializing space solutions.
