Argotec

Last updated

Argotec S.r.l
Company typeSocietà a responsabilità limitata
IndustrySpace, Electronics, Energy
Founded2008
Headquarters
Turin, Italy
Website www.argotecgroup.com

Argotec is an aerospace engineering company based in Turin whose research, innovation and product development activities use engineering and computing for space applications and renewable energy systems. Particular attention is also given to the field of Human Space Flight and Operations as well as the development of space exploration systems. Argotec is also concerned with the production of nano-satellites and engineering services on the International Space Station (ISS), and can have applications on Earth. [1]

Contents

History

After having worked with several foreign aerospace and defense companies, David Avino returned to work in Italy and on March the 12th 2008 he founded Argotec, an aerospace engineering company that from the beginning selected his collaborators among Italian and foreign graduates; the average age of employees is about 29. In 2009 Argotec started its training activities at the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne. NASA certified Argotec instructors train European astronauts, flight controllers and the ground crew who provide support during space operations. [2]

Headquarters of via Polonghera in Turin In 2010, in this laboratory the research and development activities focused on heat pipes started. The heat pipes are devices that take advantage of the fluid change of phase to transfer heat in a passive way. It is a well-known technology in a scientific field, but at the moment there are not many producers in Europe and Italy limits itself to buying European products.

From the know-how developed through the activities for Space, Argotec has diversified its work and it started research activities and the production of the space food for astronauts. In 2010 the company developed independently a new research area for the study of nutritional food dedicated to the astronauts, the Space Food Lab. Argotec Chef, food technologists and nutritionists have studied and produced the bonus food for some European astronauts such as Luca Parmitano, Samantha Cristoforetti, Alexander Gerst and Paolo Nespoli. [3] [4]

Headquarters of via Cervino in Turin (current headquarters) In January 2014 the new headquarters on via Cervino was inaugurated with increased spaces that contain different laboratories for specific activities:

These are equipped with specific tools for the integration and the testing of models for development, qualification or flight. There are also climatic rooms and a thermal vacuum chamber in order to recreate the extreme conditions of temperature and to validate the projects. Argotec has also a Clean Room (ISO 5, Class 100) for the integration and the test of flight parts, included optics sensible to contaminated environments.

Argotec has its own Mission Control Centre directly connected with NASA control centres where Argotec engineers can control and support the operations done onboard the International Space Station in real-time.

Research and development

The research and development activity in the heat pipe field allowed the company to develop an internal numerical model that, coupled with an optimization model, permits the design of heat pipes maximizing efficiency with the correct selection of macroscopic geometry (tube diameter and length) and microscopic (groove).

Particular attention was paid to the choice of fluids. The analysis and tests were focused on low toxicity fluids that can allow, but is not limited to, use of these devices in inhabited space modules. In fact the systems studied could also be adopted to heat the home environment increasing the efficiency of the heat transfer systems (from the source – boiler, solar concentrator, etc. – to the room to warm up).

The use of the phase change of a fluid with its simple heating are able to allow, in similar conditions, such as the type of fluid used and the dimensions of the domestic heating system, the transport of a greater quantity of heat and also energy savings. Among the projects born after the research and development activities in thermal the field we can include: RAH (Renewable passive heat system), HEAT (Heat Exchanging pAssive Technology), ARTE (Advanced Research for passive Thermal Exchange) and INWIP (Innovative Wickless Heat Pipe Systems for Ground and space applications).

The Argotec know-how is also extended to the design of electronic power system, the development of on board computers and on board software, the choice and integration of COTS components and finally to customization following the specific characteristics imposed by the project.

In addition to these skills Argotec also has knowledge of ESA and NASA (ECSS and SSP) standards, and familiarity with safety and integration processes with the ISS required by NASA for all experiments and systems that fly onboard the ISS.

Projects

In order to study some physical phenomenon about the fluid dynamics of liquids in high temperatures and pressures in microgravity condition, the ISSpresso was born, the first espresso capsule coffee machine for Space. It was developed by Argotec and Lavazza, in a public-private partnership with the Italian Space Agency. On 3 May 2015 this experiment was successfully conducted by Samantha Cristoforetti and it will be utilized again in microgravity conditions by the Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli during his next space mission. [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]

During the research activity on heat pipes, looking to the Space, in 2014 ARTE (Advanced Research for passive Thermal Exchange) was born in order to verify the behaviour of some heat pipes containing low toxicity fluids in microgravity conditions. This payload, coordinated by the Italian Space Agency (ASI), was successfully conducted in on 4 April 2016 on board the International Space Station by the American astronaut Timothy Kopra and it will be utilized again by Paolo Nespoli during his VITA mission scheduled for July 2017. [11] [12]

In September 2015 NASA published an announcement for the participation of 13 small satellites (6U, CubeSat standard) in the Artemis 1 mission. One among the evaluated proposals by the Italian Space Agency, by the European Space Agency and finally selected by NASA was ArgoMoon, a project designed by Argotec. ArgoMoon will be the only European satellite to participate in the EM-1 mission. Developed in collaboration with the Italian Space Agency, the objective of the ArgoMoon mission is to provide NASA information about proper launch vehicle operations through photography. Moreover, it will be able to test nano-technologies in the adverse conditions of translunar trajectory. A unique opportunity for the research of new solutions in order to expand the use of nanosatellites to future exploration and to support the low cost observation of the Earth. [13] [14] [15]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">STS-69</span> 1995 American crewed spaceflight

STS-69 was a Space Shuttle Endeavour mission, and the second flight of the Wake Shield Facility (WSF). The mission launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida on 7 September 1995. It was the 100th successful crewed NASA spaceflight, not including X-15 flights.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">STS-77</span> 1996 American crewed spaceflight

STS-77 was the 77th Space Shuttle mission and the 11th mission of the Space Shuttle Endeavour. The mission began from launch pad 39B from Kennedy Space Center, Florida on 19 May 1996 lasting 10 days and 40 minutes and completing 161 revolutions before landing on runway 33. The defense and aerospace technology company L'Garde was responsible for the design and manufacture of the Antenna in the Inflatable Antenna Experiment, a key component of the STS-77 mission.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">STS-87</span> 1997 American crewed spaceflight

STS-87 was a Space Shuttle mission launched from Launch Complex 39B of the Kennedy Space Center on 19 November 1997. It was the 88th flight of the Space Shuttle and the 24th flight of Columbia. The mission goals were to conduct experiments using the United States Microgravity Payload (USMP-4), conduct two EVAs, and deploy the SPARTAN-201 experiment. This mission marked the first time an EVA was performed from Columbia. An EVA from Columbia was originally planned for STS-5 in 1982 but was canceled due to spacesuit problems. It also marked the first EVA conducted by a Japanese astronaut, Takao Doi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leroy Chiao</span>

Leroy Chiao is an American chemical engineer, retired NASA astronaut, entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and engineering consultant. Chiao flew on three Space Shuttle flights, and was the commander of Expedition 10, where he lived on board the International Space Station from October 13, 2004 to April 24, 2005. He is also a co-author and researcher for the Advanced Diagnostic Ultrasound in Microgravity project.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael L. Gernhardt</span> NASA astronaut and manager of Environmental Physiology Laboratory

Michael Landon Gernhardt is a NASA astronaut and manager of the Environmental Physiology Laboratory, and principal investigator of the Prebreathe Reduction Program (PRP) at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard M. Linnehan</span>

Richard Michael Linnehan is a United States Army veterinarian and a NASA astronaut.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fluid Science Laboratory</span> Multi-user facility for fluid physics experiment in the Columbus module of ISS

The Fluid Science Laboratory is a European (ESA's) science payload designed for use in Columbus built by Alenia Spazio, OHB-System and Verhaert Design and Development. It is a multi-user facility for conducting fluid physics research in microgravity conditions. It can be operated in fully or in semi-automatic mode and can be controlled on board by the ISS astronauts, or from the ground in the so-called telescience mode.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paolo Nespoli</span> Italian Astronaut and Engineer of the European Space Agency (ESA)

Major Paolo Angelo Nespoli is an Italian astronaut and engineer of the European Space Agency (ESA). In 2007, he first traveled into space aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery as a mission specialist of STS-120. In December 2010 he again traveled into space aboard the Soyuz TMA-20 spacecraft as an Expedition 26/27 flight engineer. Nespoli's third spaceflight was on board Soyuz MS-05, which launched in July 2017 for Expedition 52/53. He was also the European Space Agency's oldest active astronaut prior to his retirement in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Space food</span> Food consumed by astronauts in outer space

Space food is a type of food product created and processed for consumption by astronauts during missions to outer space. Such food has specific requirements to provide a balanced diet and adequate nutrition for individuals working in space while being easy and safe to store, prepare and consume in the machinery-filled weightless environments of crewed spacecraft. Space food is commonly freeze-dried to minimize weight and ensure long shelf life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samantha Cristoforetti</span> Italian ESA astronaut (born 1977)

Samantha Cristoforetti is an Italian European Space Agency astronaut, former Italian Air Force pilot and engineer. She holds the record for the longest uninterrupted spaceflight by a European astronaut, and she held the record for the longest single space flight by a woman until this was broken by Peggy Whitson in June 2017, and later by Christina Koch. She is also the first Italian woman in space. She took command of ISS Expedition 68 on 28 September 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scientific research on the International Space Station</span> Overview article

The International Space Station is a platform for scientific research that requires one or more of the unusual conditions present in low Earth orbit. The primary fields of research include human research, space medicine, life sciences, physical sciences, astronomy and meteorology. The 2005 NASA Authorization Act designated the American segment of the International Space Station as a national laboratory with the goal of increasing the use of the ISS by other federal agencies and the private sector.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ISSpresso</span> Espresso coffee machine for use in space

ISSpresso was the first espresso coffee machine designed for use in space, produced for the International Space Station by Argotec and Lavazza in a public-private partnership with the Italian Space Agency (ASI). ISSpresso was one of nine experiments selected by the Italian Space Agency for the Futura mission. It was installed on the space station between 2015 and 2017, when it was returned to Earth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Expedition 52</span> 52nd Long-duration mission to the International Space Station

Expedition 52 was the 52nd expedition to the International Space Station. It officially began on June 2, 2017 10:47 UTC, with the undocking of Soyuz MS-03. Transfer of command from Expedition 51 was done on June 1, 2017.

Advanced Research Thermal Passive Exchange (ARTE) is a project intended to create "Thermal Exchange", an experiment for the International Space Station (ISS). It is a heat pipe technology demonstrator in which the heat pipes contain low toxicity fluid. Thermal Exchange has been designed by Argotec in collaboration the Italian Space Agency (ASI). Polytechnic University of Turin participated in the project with the development of a prototype of the electronics and software. On April 4, 2016, the experiment was conducted nominally on board the International Space Station by the American astronaut Timothy Kopra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Expedition 53</span> 53rd long duration stay in the International Space Station

Expedition 53 was the 53rd expedition to the International Space Station, which began upon the departure of Soyuz MS-04 on September 2, 2017, and concluded upon the departure of Soyuz MS-05 on December 14, 2017. Randolph Bresnik, Paolo Nespoli and Sergey Ryazansky were transferred from Expedition 52, with Randolph Bresnik taking the commander role. Transfer of Command from Expedition 53 to Expedition 54 was done on December 13, 2017. Expedition 53 officially ended on December 14, 2017 5:14 UTC, with the undocking of Soyuz MS-05.

<i>ArgoMoon</i> Nanosatellite

ArgoMoon is a CubeSat that was launched into a heliocentric orbit on Artemis 1, the maiden flight of the Space Launch System, on 16 November 2022 at 06:47:44 UTC. The objective of the ArgoMoon spacecraft is to take detailed images of the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage following Orion separation, an operation that will demonstrate the ability of a cubesat to conduct precise proximity maneuvers in deep space. ASI has not confirmed nor denied whether this took place, but several images of the Earth and the Moon were taken.

The ISS U.S. National Lab, commonly known as the ISS National Lab, is a U.S. government-funded national laboratory established on 30 December 2005 by the 2005 NASA Authorization Act. With principal research facilities located in the United States Orbital Segment (USOS) of the International Space Station (ISS), the Laboratory conducts research in life sciences, physical sciences, technology development and remote sensing for a broad range of academic, government and commercial users. Of the 270 payloads that the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) has sent to the ISS, 176 have been for commercial companies including Merck & Co., Novartis, Eli Lilly and Company, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Honeywell, and Procter & Gamble.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SpaceX CRS-21</span> 2020 American resupply spaceflight to the ISS

SpaceX CRS-21, also known as SpX-21, was a Commercial Resupply Service mission to the International Space Station which launched on 6 December 2020. The mission was contracted by NASA and was flown by SpaceX using a Cargo Dragon 2. This was the first flight for SpaceX under NASA's CRS Phase 2 contract awarded in January 2016. This was also the first Cargo Dragon of the new Dragon 2 variant, as well as the first Cargo Dragon flight that was docked at the same time as a Crew Dragon spacecraft. This mission used Booster B1058.4, becoming the first NASA mission to reuse a booster previously used on a non-NASA mission. This was also first time SpaceX launched a NASA payload on a booster with more than one previous flight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Axiom Orbital Segment</span> Planned ISS component

Axiom Orbital Segment or Axiom Segment are the planned modular components of the International Space Station (ISS) designed by Axiom Space for commercial space activities. Axiom Space gained initial NASA approval for the venture in January 2020. Axiom Space was later awarded the contract by NASA on February 28, 2020. This orbital station will be separated from the ISS to become a modular space station, Axiom Station, after the ISS is decommissioned.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cygnus NG-16</span> 2021 American resupply spaceflight to the ISS

Cygnus NG-16, previously known as Cygnus OA-16, was the sixteenth flight of the Northrop Grumman robotic resupply spacecraft Cygnus and its fifteenth flight to the International Space Station (ISS) under the Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-2) contract with NASA. The mission was launched on 10 August 2021 at 22:01:05 UTC, for a (planned) 90-day mission at the ISS. This was the fifth launch of Cygnus under the CRS-2 contract.

References

  1. ↑ ASI: "Argotec, our boost to your future". Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  2. ↑ Antonio Lo Campo (5 March 2014). "Siamo baby ingegneri con la testa tra le stelle". Archived 21 September 2019 at the Wayback Machine La Stampa. Tuttoscienze. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  3. ↑ ANSA: "Pronto il menu di bordo della prima astronauta italiana" - 19 May 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  4. ↑ John Hooper (23 December 2014). "Space cuisine: the final frontier". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  5. ↑ NASA: "ISSpresso" - 22 November 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  6. ↑ Associated Press, The Guardian: "Capsule coffee machine: astronauts' espresso desire is answered" - 27 June 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  7. ↑ Elisabetta Poledo (6 May 2015). "Quest for knowledge, and coffee, is fulfilled". The New York Times. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  8. ↑ Stephan Faris (9 June 2016). "NASA Cracked the Zero-G Espresso Problem". Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  9. ↑ Di Tana Valerio, Hall Joshua (June 2015). "Isspresso development and operations".Journal of Space Safety and Engineering. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  10. ↑ Ashley May (5 July 2016), "Five times we wished we worked at NASA". Usa Today. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  11. ↑ NASA: "Advanced Research Thermal Passive Exchange (ARTE)" - 22 November 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  12. ↑ ASI: "Esperimento a regola d'ARTE" - 5 April 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  13. ↑ NASA: "International Partners Provide Science Satellites for America's Space Launch System Maiden Flight" - 26 May 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  14. ↑ ANSA: "Italiano il 'drone dello spazio' selezionato dalla Nasa" - 2 February 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  15. ↑ Italian Good News, "ArgoMoon, the Italian nanosatellite chosen by NASA" - 1 March 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
    This page is based on this Wikipedia article
    Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
    Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.