Aidan Cowley

• Ph.D, M.Eng., B.Sc.
• Consultant at European Space Agency

We present a low-cost fabrication procedure for the production of nanoscale periodic GaAs nanopillar arrays, using the nanosphere lithography technique as a templating mechanism and the electrochemical metal assisted etch process (MacEtch). The room-temperature photoluminescence (PL) and Raman spectroscopic properties of the fabricated pillars are...

Next generation “More than Moore” integrated circuit (IC) technology will rely increasingly on the benefits attributable to advanced packaging (www.itrs.net [1]). In these increasingly heterogeneous systems, the individual semiconductor die is becoming much thinner (25 to 50 μm, typically) and multiple dies can be stacked upon each other. It is dif...

In this work we demonstrate simple techniques to form well crystallised CuAlO2 powders and thick films from CuO and boehmite or alumina, using a novel molten salt painting process. We examine the formation mechanism using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and in situ high temperature X-ray diffrac...

Considerable research is being carried out in the area of wide band gap semiconductor materials for light emission in the 300–400 nm spectral range. Current materials being used for such devices are typically based on II–VI and III-nitride compounds and variants thereof. However, one of the major obstacles to the successful fabrication of III-N dev...

This study introduces a novel composite construction material composed of lunar regolith combined with PEEK in dry powder form. The work demonstrates significant advantages over alternative methods, primarily by reducing production power consumption and simplifying the manufacturing process. Building on previous research that explored binder optimi...

The Luna Analog Facility, a joint ESA-DLR endeavour, consists of three components and spans an area of 1000 m 2 , providing testbeds of simulated lunar environments. The main sections within the facility are a large area filled with lunar mare regolith simulant resembling mare regions and a smaller, individual "Dust Chamber". The latter replicates...

This paper presents a novel method for mapping spectral features of the Moon using machine learning-based clustering of hyperspectral data from the Moon Mineral Mapper (M3) imaging spectrometer. The method uses a convolutional variational autoencoder to reduce the dimensionality of the spectral data and extract features of the spectra. Then, a k-me...

Human exploration of the moon is expected to resume in the next decade, following the last such activities in the Apollo programme time. One of the major objectives of returning to the Moon is to continue retrieving geological samples, with a focus on collecting high-quality specimens to maximize scientific return. Tools that assist astronauts in m...

The development of devices for the in situ resource utilization (ISRU) of lunar surface powder (regolith) by means of microwaves needs regolith simulants with electromagnetic properties similar to the lunar regolith. This document deals with the measurement of complex permittivity and dielectric loss tangent of the aforementioned simulants at ambie...

The development of devices for In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) of the lunar surface powder (regolith) by means of microwaves needs regolith simulants with electromagnetic properties similar to the lunar regolith. This document deals with the measurement of complex permittivity and dielectric loss tangent of the aforementioned simulants at ambie...

Future crewed missions to the Moon will face significant environmental and operational challenges, posing risks to the safety and performance of astronauts navigating its inhospitable surface. Whilst head-up displays (HUDs) have proven effective in providing intuitive navigational support on Earth, the design of novel human spaceflight solutions ty...

This chapter explores the practice of conducting user research studies and design assessments in virtual reality (VR). An overview of key VR hardware and software tools is provided, including game engines, such as Unity and Unreal Engine. Qualitative and quantitative research methods, along with their various synergies with VR, are likewise discuss...

Sustainable human exploration of the Moon will largely rely on in-situ resource utilisation, such as using regolith in habitat construction. This paper investigates the relative effectiveness of a polymer-enriched regolith brick versus a multilayer configuration of bare regolith and successive polyethylene layers as a passive shielding solution, wh...

Space agencies are in the process of drawing up carefully thought-out Concepts of Operations (ConOps) for future human missions on the Moon. These are typically assessed and validated through costly and logistically demanding analogue field studies. While interactive simulations in Virtual Reality (VR) offer a comparatively cost-effective alternati...

This work proposes a composite construction material made by a blend of lunar regolith and thermoplastic binders in dry powder form. This solution offers advantages over regolith sintering or melting by requiring lower power consumption and simplifying the manufacturing process. However, its sustainability depends on minimizing the content of the b...

We explored the potential of plasma-based In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) for Mars through the conversion of Martian atmosphere (~96% CO 2 , 2% N 2 , and 2% Ar) into life-sustaining chemicals. As the Martian surface pressure is about 1% of the Earth's surface pressure, it is an ideal environment for plasma-based gas conversion using microwave r...

The space proven fuel cell technology will likely play a crucial role in the upcoming expansion of human presence into the solar system. In particular, polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells excel due to their high power-density, low weight and their ability to operate on in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) based fuels. Hydrogen fuel and oxy...

It has long been recognised that the Moon has the potential to play a pivotal role in the development of a future space-faring civilisation. Here, we present a geological and geographical inventory of potential lunar resources, together with a discussion of future work that will be required to improve our knowledge of this inventory, with emphasis...

Lunar regolith consists of varying grain sizes, including the very fine lunar dust that negatively impacts exploration hardware by jamming mechanisms and increasing friction. To address this issue, we propose the use of compliant mechanisms that rely on elastic deformation to achieve motion without the use of inter-element gaps. Such mechanisms are...

During the Apollo missions, astronauts observed negative impact of Lunar dust on the surface hardware. The characteristics of Lunar environment and the regolith properties accelerate the contamination and promote the abrasion and clogging of different components in the equipment. To protect the hardware from damages in the future Lunar missions, se...

A feasibility study is presented exploring the possibility of using thermoelectric devices for the thermal control of CubeSat on-board electronics. A simple thermoelectric architecture is devised and an empirical model for how such a system would perform is constructed, using the performance data of a commercially available thermoelectric module. T...

On a future lunar habitat, acquiring needed resources in situ will inevitably come from the Lunar regolith. Biomining-the use of microorganisms to extract metals from the regolith-is sustainable and energy-efficient, making it highly promising for space exploration applications. Given the extensive use of filamentous fungi in industrial biotechnolo...

Revived interest in lunar exploration is heralding a new generation of design solutions in support of human operations on the Moon. While space system design has traditionally been guided by prototype deployments in analogue studies, the resource-intensive nature of this approach has largely precluded application of proficient user-centered design...

Revived interest in lunar exploration is heralding a new generation of design solutions in support of human operations on the Moon. While space system design has traditionally been guided by prototype deployments in analogue studies, the resource-intensive nature of this approach has largely precluded application of proficient user-centered design...

We will illustrate some experiences and projects presented at the VITE I conference in the field of extended reality technologies for public engagement and skill development. Extended technologies have many benefits when applied to educational contexts, providing immersive and engaging learning spaces, enhancing the sense of perception and grasp to...

To achieve a sustainable human presence on the Moon, it is critical to develop technologies utilising the local resources (a.k.a. in-situ resource utilisation or ISRU) for construction and resource extraction. In this study, we investigate the viability of microwave heating of two lunar soil simulants (JSC-1A and OPRH3N) under vacuum conditions, to...

The European Space Agency (ESA) has a clear mission to go forward to the Moon in preparation of human presence on Mars. One of the technologies looked at to increase safety and efficiency of astronauts in this context is Augmented Reality (AR). This technology allows digital visual information to be overlaid onto the user's environment through some...

The macroscopic response of granular solids is determined by the microscopic fabric of force chains, which, in turn, is intimately linked to the history of the solid. To query the influence of gravity on powder flow behavior, a granular material is subjected to compression by a piston in a closed container, on-ground and in microgravity (on parabol...

The finest fraction of the lunar regolith, namely the lunar dust, poses a challenge for hardware design and lunar operations. The Apollo missions experienced equipment malfunctions and failures due to dust interactions with hardware. In this work we focus on the problems related to the clogging of rigid body mechanisms. We explain the causes of the...

The ongoing push to send humans back to the Moon and to Mars is giving rise to a wide range of novel technical solutions in support of prospective astronaut expeditions. Against this backdrop, the European Space Agency (ESA) has recently launched an investigation into unobtrusive interface technologies as a potential answer to such challenges. Thre...

Europe is actively preparing for human missions beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO) towards Gateway and the lunar surface, contributing to and collaborating with partners such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) with the Artemis programme. In this framework, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) are...

The ongoing push to send humans back to the Moon is giving rise to a wide range of novel technical solutions in support of prospective astronaut expeditions. Crew capsules for long-duration travel, prospective lunar surface habitats, and extravehicular activity (EVA) suits are a few of the advanced systems set to underpin future human lunar explora...

The European Space Agency (ESA) has a clear mission to go forward to the Moon in preparation of human presence on Mars. One of the technologies looked at to increase safety and efficiency of astronauts in this context is Augmented Reality (AR). This technology allows digital visual information to be overlaid onto the user's environment through some...

We explore the potential of microwave (MW)-plasma-based in situ utilization of the Martian atmosphere with a focus on the novel possibility of fixing N2 for fertilizer production. Conversion in a simulant plasma (i.e., ∼96% CO2, ∼2% N2, and ∼2% Ar), performed under energy conditions similar to those of the Mars Oxygen In Situ Resource Utilization E...

Humans are embarking on a new era of space exploration with the plan of sending crewed spacecraft to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Extravehicular activities (EVAs) will be an essential part of the scientific activities to be carried out in these missions, and they will involve extensive geological fieldwork. EVAs entail many challenges as real-time s...

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), in partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA) and faculty in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), has developed a design for a permanently inhabited Moon Village at the south polar region of the Moon. In-situ resource utilization (ISRU) is consider...

Humans are embarking on a new era of space exploration with the plan of sending crewed spacecraft to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Extravehicular activities (EVAs) will be an essential part of the scientific activities to be carried out in these missions, and they will involve extensive geological fieldwork. EVAs entail many challenges as real-time s...

Oxygen extraction from lunar regolith is one of the key in-situ resource utilization methods required for a permanent human presence on the moon. In this work an electrolysis-based extraction method was investigated, which works with innocuous chemicals and at moderate temperatures. EAC-1 was utilized as lunar regolith simulant and the ionic liquid...

The European Large Logistics Lander (EL3) is being designed to carry out cargo delivery missions in support of future lunar ground crews. The capacity of virtual reality (VR) to visualize and interactively simulate the unique lunar environment makes it a potentially powerful design tool during the early development stages of EL3, as well as other r...

The European Large Logistics Lander (EL3) is being designed to carry out cargo delivery missions in support of future lunar ground crews. The capacity of virtual reality (VR) to visualize and interactively simulate the unique lunar environment makes it a potentially powerful design tool during the early development stages of such solutions. Based o...

The macroscopic response of granular solids is determined by the microscopic fabric of force chains, which, in turn, is intimately linked to the history of the solid. To query the influence of gravity on powder flow-behavior, a granular material is subjected to compression by a piston in a closed container, on-ground and in microgravity. Results sh...

Redundancy and parallelism make decentralized multi-robot systems appealing solutions for the exploration of extreme environments. However, effective cooperation can require team-wide connectivity and a carefully designed communication. Several recently proposed decentralized connectivity maintenance approaches exploit elegant algebraic results dra...

Established synthesis–composition–property relationship proving a narrow homogeneity range while revealing that MgAgSb functional properties are governed by secondary phases.

The European Space Agency (ESA) and the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) are actively preparing for human missions beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO). In particular, the agencies are developing together the LUNA analogue facility to provide the space exploration community with a testbed to prepare for sustainable human presence on the Moon. In recent years,...

The European Space Agency (ESA), and its European Astronaut Centre (EAC), located in Cologne, are currently preparing for human exploration of the Moon and, ultimately, Mars. EAC is the centre of excellence for astronaut training, operations and space medicine with more than 30 years of experience. The centre currently supports International Space...

The experience from the Apollo missions showed that Lunar regolith particles are exceptionally sharp, electrostatically charged, adhesive, and pose a significant risk to mission hardware by entering gaps between the elements of mechanisms and can cause damage especially where rigid body relative displacements occur. The present work presents an alt...

This work explores the use of a lunar regolith simulant as feedstock for the direct ink writing additive manufacturing process as an option to enable future lunar in-situ resource utilisation. The feasibility of this approach is demonstrated in a laboratory setting by manufacturing objects with different geometries, using methyl cellulose or sodium...

Multiple studies have been performed assessing the possibility to use lunar regolith, processed in diverse methods, to store heat within it and re-use it at a proper time either for heating purposes or heat-to-electricity conversion. These studies focused on the overall system concept and its general performances assessment. The project MESG Moon E...

Multiple studies have been performed assessing the possibility to use lunar regolith, processed in diverse methods, to store heat within it and re-use it at a proper time either for heating purposes or heat-to-electricity conversion. These studies focused on the overall system concept and its general performances assessment. The project MESG Moon E...

Innovative technologies for human-machine interaction, such as Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) are enabling a wide range of application opportunities, including astronaut and ground segment personnel training. In view of the National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA) Artemis program, whose aim is to land astronauts on the Moon...

As we see the renaissance of lunar exploration, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) { co-located in Cologne, Germany { are currently creating a novel lunar analogue facility: LUNA. This unique open-hub for innovation aims at replicating high-fidelity Moon surface conditions on Earth. It will provide access to the f...

Innovative technologies for human-machine interaction, such as Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) are enabling a wide range of application opportunities, including astronaut and ground segment personnel training. In view of the National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA) Artemis program, whose aim is to land astronauts on the Moon...

Recent studies have shown that insect wings have evolved to have micro- and nanoscale structures on the wing surface, and biomimetic research aims to transfer such structures to application-specific materials. Herein, we describe a simple and cost-effective method of replica molding the wing topographies of four cicada species using UV-curable poly...

For a sustainable human presence on the Moon, it is critical to develop technologies that could utilise the locally available resources (a.k.a. in situ resource utilisation or ISRU) for habitat construction. As the surface soil is one of the most widely available resources at the Moon, we have investigated the viability of microwave heating of a lu...

α-MgAgSb has been identified as promising thermoelectric material, with peak performance around 300ºC, filling the gap between low- and high-temperature thermoelectric materials. The complexity of the Mg-Ag-Sb phase diagram and the sensitivity of the MgAgSb synthesis process often leads to impurities appearing in the final samples, which reduce the...

In situ resource utilisation (ISRU) is seen as a mean to enable sustainable space exploration by providing some of the required products not by resupplies from the surface of the earth but by using the resources present on other celestial bodies. On the moon, oxygen can be extracted from the lunar soil, the so-called regolith, either by thermochemi...

We present two concepts for building structures on the moon. The first involves an all-purpose robot with exchangeable tools, able to excavate regolith, produce slurry and print a structure. The second involves a team of robots: one excavator, one sintering using sunlight, and another gathering the sintered bricks and building a structure. ESA's Sp...

In view of the future missions to the Moon and in the framework of the Moon Village vision, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) are increasingly focused on activities leading from LEO human spaceflight to planetary exploration. A new era of coordinated human and robotic exploration is expected to begin with the con...

The logistical supply of terrestrial materials to space is costly and puts limitations on exploration mission scenarios. In-situ resource utilization (ISRU) can alleviate logistical requirements and thus enables sustainable exploration of space. In this paper, a novel approach to ISRU, utilizing microorganisms to extract iron from Lunar or Martian...

The European Astronaut Centre (EAC) is currently constructing the European Lunar Exploration Laboratory (LUNA), a large training and operations facility to be located adjacent to EAC at the DLR (German Aerospace Centre) campus in Cologne, Germany. With an estimated representative lunar testbed area of approximately 660 m2, a large volume of lunar r...

Transporting materials from Earth to Mars is a significant logistical constraint on mission design. Thus, a sustained settlement will be enhanced if it can perform elemental extraction and utilization in situ. In this study, all requirements to test a novel, biological approach for in situ resource utilization (ISRU) are conceptualized. We present...

The logistical supply of terrestrial materials to space is costly and puts limitations on exploration mission scenarios. In-situ resource utilization (ISRU) can alleviate logistical requirements and thus enables sustainable exploration of space. In this paper, a novel approach to ISRU, utilizing microorganisms to extract iron from Lunar or Martian...

Human, tele-operated rovers, and surface infrastructures are now being actively considered for lunar polar exploration. Current approaches to energy provision consider, among others, hybrid direct energy/chemical technologies, such as solar photovoltaic arrays, batteries, and regenerative fuel cells. Due to the long period of darkness on the Moon a...

In view of the future missions to the Moon and in the framework of the Moon Village vision, the European Space Agency (ESA) and German Aerospace Centre (DLR) are increasingly focused on activities leading from LEO human spaceflight to planetary exploration. A new era of coordinated human and robotic exploration is expected to begin with the constru...

Resources intrinsic to the lunar environment, the abundant and oxide rich surface regolith and local water ice reserves, can be processed in order to liberate O2 and H2 gases for downstream applications in life support or as propellant. The range of extraction processes continues to evolve and the technology readiness level (TRL) develops, with a p...

Redundancy and parallelism make decentralized multi-robot systems appealing solutions for the exploration of extreme environments. However, effective cooperation often requires team-wide connectivity and a carefully designed communication strategy. Several recently proposed decentralized connectivity maintenance approaches exploit elegant algebraic...

The capability to manufacture items in space is an exploration enabling advancement, and will be crucial for sustainable human exploration as we progress beyond Earth orbit. The extrusion based Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) method using thermoplastics represents a robust and simple methodology applicable to printing parts for both current and fu...

The capability to manufacture items in space is an exploration enabling advancement, and will be crucial for sustainable human exploration as we progress beyond Earth orbit. The extrusion based Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) method using thermoplastics represents a robust and simple methodology applicable to printing parts for both current and fu...

α-MgAgSb is a very promising thermoelectric material with excellent thermoelectric properties between room temperature and 300 °C, a range where few other thermoelectric materials show good performance. Previous reports rely on a two-step ball-milling process and/or time-consuming annealing. Aiming for a faster and scalable fabrication route, herei...

In situ resource utilization (ISRU) increasingly features as an element of human long-term exploration and settlement missions to the lunar surface. In this study, all requirements to test a novel, biological approach for ISRU are validated, and an end-to-end mission architecture is proposed. The general mission consists of a lander with a fully au...

In this paper, the thermal characterization of lunar regolith simulant, sintered using a conventional oven under ambient and vacuum conditions is presented. Additionally, thermal characterization of samples is performed for the parts manufactured using solar, laser, and microwave processing. Samples for oven sintering are prepared using regolith bu...

Microwave heating has emerged as a feasible sintering and melting method for lunar regolith simulant. Unlike conventional heating methods, microwaves operating at 2.45 GHz penetrate the material and drive a dielectric heating process within the material volume itself. This property makes microwave sintering a viable and ideal candidate for localize...

Future planetary surface missions to the Moon or Mars, for example, can be augmented by the use of local materials, in order to reduce launch mass and expand mission capability. Using lunar regolith simulant and heating it within a susceptor-assisted microwave oven, it was possible to manufacture a variety of basaltic glasses. Furthermore, it was p...

Robotic assistants will play an important role in future space exploration activities. In order to provide an optimal human-robot cooperation and interaction, the interface between user and machine requires an intuitive design. In this paper an interface evaluation methodology is presented as the synthesis of existing approaches in space projects a...

Life support systems are a crucial factor in any type of Moon village or Mars outpost. To achieve a sustainable setup , a growth medium, as well as several essential nutrients, are necessary. The typical approach in current mission architectures is to resupply these nutrients and growth medium from Earth, which is costly and has a high degree of de...

The Moon, largely considered as the next stepping stone on the path of extending mankind’s reach beyond the ISS, is the focus of many national and international campaigns for manned exploration of the solar system. To enable and safeguard the survival of habitation and technological assets on the surface (facing nights lasting up to 14 Earth days a...

Assess the potential of thermal energy storage systems to store heat and re-use it for in-situ electricity production as means of supporting future lunar exploration scenarios.

Analogues and simulations play an important role in preparation for space exploration. They allow us to test experiments before sending them into space, develop countermeasures for the special conditions, or study human behaviour in similar environments. The so called FLEXhab, Future Lunar Exploration Habitat, will serve as a lunar base analogue in...

All biological systems, including bioreactors, humans, plants, and algae, require a basic amount of nutrients primarily based on carbon and nitrogen in the form of sugars and amino acids. To establish an self-sufficient colony on another celestial body, a critical mass of these nutrients will have to be supplied, and efficient recycling systems mus...

Sustained automatic and human exploration of the Solar System is the main and most challenging objective for mankind's next steps in space. Organic strategies based on increasing international cooperation foresee human crewed outposts on the Moon and on Mars by 2030 [1-4]. This challenging goal requires a significant effort in identifying key enabl...

The project MESG: Moon Energy Storage and Generation, under development for ESA, targets the thermally challenging missions on the surface of the Moon, investigating the possibility to use in situ resources, i.e. processed lunar regolith using available source of radiation and energy to "build" an efficient thermal mass to be used to store within h...