Episode 84 of The Space Industry podcast by satsearch is a conversation with Laura Crabtree, CEO of Epsilon3, on how the company is approaching the adoption of AI to support process & resource management for complex space missions.

Epsilon3's software platform manages complex operational procedures, saving operators time and reducing errors. The platform supports a majority of a project's life cycle, from integration and testing through live operations.

In the episode, Laura speaks with satsearch COO Narayan Prasad Nagendra about a range of topics including:

• AI readiness and timing: the readiness of AI to handle process and resource management of complex space missions and whether this is the right time for AI adoption, despite the space industry's traditionally complex and conservative nature.
• Safety and anomaly detection: making AI-driven anomaly detection for mission-critical systems simultaneously sensitive enough to catch real problems and robust enough to avoid excessive false alarms.
• Procedure correctness and vetting: ensuring that AI-generated or imported procedures meet the extremely high requirements for correctness, detail, and adherence to regulatory standards for spaceflight operations.
• Data security and customer trust: the specific architectural and security measures Epsilon3 is implementing to guarantee that sensitive, often classified, customer data is never exposed to external AI services, thus building trust with cautious space engineers.
• Immediate practical applications: the possibility of immediate and practical applications like dynamic AI scheduling or a recommender system, that could significantly reduce manual workload or human error for operations engineers in the next 12-18 months.

You can find out more about Epsilon3 here on their satsearch supplier hub. And if you would like to learn more about the space industry and our work at satsearch building the global space supply chain, please take a look at our blog.

[Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/when-we-get-there License code: Y4KZEAESHXDHNYRA

Episode 83 of The Space Industry podcast by satsearch is a conversation with Adrian Helwig, Analog Field Application Engineer, and Michael Seidl, Systems Engineer from Texas Instruments (TI), about designing space systems with integrated Fault Detection, Isolation, and Recovery (FDIR) strategies.

TI is a global electronics manufacturer with a wide portfolio of space-grade components to support space missions across the spectrum.

In the episode, Adrian, Michael and satsearch COO Narayan Prasad Nagendra discuss:

• FDIR as a complex, critical sequence in space system design: Since equipment in space cannot be manually repaired, systems must quickly and reliably detect faults, isolate the damaged unit (e.g., by switching it off), and recover mission operations, often by engaging a redundant unit.
• Trade-off between reliability, performance, and cost: Engineers face this trade-off particularly when selecting components that must withstand extreme environments (radiation, temperature cycles) and long missions (LEO vs. GEO/Deep Space). Using non-space-grade parts introduces significant risk and defeats the purpose of FDIR.
• Effective fault containment based on integrated, smart strategies: Strategies that avoid complexity, using methods like galvanic isolation, fast load switches, and highly-integrated space-grade components that incorporate diagnostics and can execute complex decision-making based on multiple sensor inputs (voltage, current, temperature) prevent fault propagation.

You can find out more about TI on their satsearch supplier hub. And if you would like to learn more about the space industry and our work at satsearch building the global space supply chain, please take a look at our blog.

[Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/when-we-get-there License code: Y4KZEAESHXDHNYRA]

Episode 82 of The Space Industry podcast by satsearch is a conversation with Dr. Tamas Rev, Materials and Mechanical Lead at Acktar, about the world of coatings for space missions, canvassing state-of-the-art stray light mitigation and thermal management.

Acktar is a specialist provider of optical coatings and protective solutions, including space-rated ultra-black coatings and foils that improve the efficiency and performance of mission equipment.

In this episode, Tamas and satsearch COO Narayan Prasad Nagendra discuss:

• Deep space stray light mitigation: Acktar's Fractal Black™ coating is critical for stray light mitigation in high-profile, deep space observatories, such as the James Webb Space Telescope and Europa Clipper, which ensures optimal performance by minimizing unwanted light for clear data acquisition.
• Extreme environment thermal and stray light management: The BepiColombo mission uses a complementary pair of coatings: Acktar White™ for thermal management and Magic Black™ for stray light control, demonstrating a tailored approach to handle the combined challenges of intense heat and light in harsh environments.
• Lunar thermal regulation: The Chandrayaan-2 mission utilized the Nano Black™ coating to provide essential temperature regulation on the lunar surface, addressing a key thermal management concern for the mission's success.
• Small satellite optical contamination control: Spectral Black™ coatings are applied to smaller satellite platforms, like the CanX series and other LEO satellites, to reduce optical contamination and light pollution, which is increasingly important as the number of LEO satellites grows.

You can find out more about Acktar here on their satsearch supplier hub. And if you would like to learn more about the space industry and our work at satsearch, please take a look at our blog.

[Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/when-we-get-there License code: Y4KZEAESHXDHNYRA]