ASCEND Consortium

The ASCEND consortium is composed of 11 complementary partners from 5 European countries, well balanced between 2 research organisations, 2 SMEs and 7 large industrial companies (7 large enterprises and 2 SME). The following table gives an overview of the different partners’ expertise and scientific and technical contribution to the project. This table shows that S&T contributions are clearly defined, and that the consortium covers every necessary and complementary competence as required for the work plan activities implementation. Considering both the scientific excellence and industrial capacity needed, the development of the study proposed in ASCEND requires a solid expertise in a wide panel of technological domains which no single European country could provide at suitable same level of expertise and efforts.

Besides being composed of expert companies in their fields, the ASCEND consortium is also highly complementary. It combines all the engineering expertise necessary to carry out a feasibility study, and life cycle, around the sending of a space data centre, involving experts in: Hardware modules (HPE), Software implementation (CF), Space domain integration (Thales Alenia Space in France and in Spain, Airbus Defense and Space in Germany and in France), launch in Orbit (AG), assembly in space by robotics (DLR), Cloud Service Provider and Integration Solution (ORANGE). In a transversal way, the study will also focus on an expertise of the life cycle of such a solution and of its environmental profitability (CA4, VITO). Every key technical aspect is addressed as presented on the figure below:

About Thales Alenia Space

Drawing on over 40 years of experience and a unique combination of skills, expertise and cultures, Thales Alenia Space delivers cost effective solutions for telecommunications, navigation, Earth observation, environmental management, exploration, science and orbital infrastructures.

Governments and private industry alike count on Thales Alenia Space to design satellite-based systems that provide anytime, anywhere connections and positioning, monitor our planet, enhance management of its resources, and explore our Solar System and beyond. Thales Alenia Space sees space as a new horizon, helping to build a better, more sustainable life on Earth. A joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), Thales Alenia Space also teams up with Telespazio to form the parent companies’ Space Alliance, which offers a complete range of services.

 Thales Alenia Space posted consolidated revenues of approximately 2.2 billion euros in 2023 and has around 8,600 employees in 17 sites in 10 countries across Europe and a plant in the USA.

Both France and Spain entities participate to this challenging project : Thales Alenia Space in France is the coordinator of the Project, and Thales Alenia Space in Spain is in charge of end-to-end validation.

About Airbus Defence and Space

Airbus Defence and Space is a reliable partner to commercial and governmental customers worldwide, whose products and services ensure mission success across Air, Land, Sea, Space and Cyber domains.

Space Systems covers a broad range of civil and military space offerings. Its satellite solutions for telecommunications, Earth observation, navigation and science include spacecraft, ground segments and payloads for institutional and commercial customers. It also manufactures orbital and space exploration systems. Space transportation capabilities (comprising launchers and services) are offered via ArianeGroup, a 50/50 Airbus-Safran joint venture;

As one of Europe’s space leaders, Airbus Defence and Space will continue to create more competitive products, working with European governments and institutions to ensure the long-term health of the entire European space industrial base. The company will evolve its product portfolio (i.e. equipment, satellites and infrastructure) and take a targeted approach to international expansion, with key successes already achieved in the US and a growing local footprint. In parallel, Airbus Defence and Space is developing end-to-end solutions and accelerating new products and services to strengthen its position across the space value chain. It is also actively working on sustainability solutions, such as climate change monitoring and the removal of debris from the space environment. For the increasing focus on defence in Space, the company is aiming to provide nations with technologies for information superiority and in-space operations.

Both French and German Airbus teams participate to this challenging project being in charge of communications architecture and in-orbit assembly concepts as well as supporting on the end-to-end system design and evaluation.

About ArianeGroup

ArianeGroup is a world leader in access to space, working for its institutional and commercial customers and Europe’s strategic independence.

ArianeGroup is a world leader in access to space, serving institutional and commercial customers and supporting Europe’s strategic independence.

ArianeGroup designs and creates innovative and competitive launch systems, offering civil and military space solutions for its institutional, commercial and industrial customers. We are expert in the most cutting-edge technologies, from all aspects of complete propulsion systems right down to the items of equipment and materials. We leverage all of this expertise, the unique knowledge of our teams, into benefiting the space, defense, energy, and other industrial sectors, with high value-added products, equipment and services.

About Carbone 4

Founded in 2007 by two experts of the energy-climate issue, Jean-Marc Jancovici and Alain Grandjean – joined in 2017 by Laurent Morel – Carbone 4 is the reference consultancy regarding energy and climate challenges. Its name refers to the objective in France to divide GHG emissions by a « factor of 4 » by 2050 in comparison to 1990.

Our vision :

• Climate change and the rarefaction of resources are major factors that shake the solidity of societies. This context generates collective responsibilities and obligations, and it is also a potential source of dynamism.
• Future scenarios vary greatly depending on the trajectories we take in the coming years.
• The companies that will exist and succeed tomorrow are those that integrate the issues of energy and the climate at the heart of their business model as from today, make enlightened decisions based on economic and physical indicators, and place on the table resources and skills that match the stakes in play.
• This new context entails going beyond short-term management, leaving the horizon of business as usual, and developing a strategic vision aimed at increasing resilience and adaptation, while contributing to the collective effort to reduce emissions.

About DLR

The German Aerospace Centre, DLR, is the national aeronautics and space research Centre of Germany, as well as its space agency, and has approximately 10000 employees at 30 locations. DLR’s extensive research and development work in aeronautics, space, energy, transport and security is integrated into national and international cooperative ventures.

The Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics (RM) is located in Oberpfaffenhofen and currently employs about 200 engineers and scientists. RM develops a wide array of robots to enable humans to interact more safely and efficiently with their surrounding environments. The robots are designed to act in surroundings inaccessible or dangerous to humans as well as to support humans in everyday life and work.

The robots mimic and extend upon the manipulation and locomotion capabilities of humans on a functional level. In a more general sense, they perform any tasks of locomotion and interaction with the environment with a wide range of autonomy to suit different tasks.

Based on more than 30 years experiences in space robotics, DLR defines the robotic concepts for robot manipulators, interfaces and tools, for in-space assembly, maintenance, and repairing.

About Orange Business

Orange Business, is a prominent player in the global IT and communications services market. The company offers a large range of services from connectivity to IT including security and Professional Services. As a global network-native digital services company, we connect, protect and innovate for the sustainable growth of businesses. Our network operator reliability coupled with our agility as an integrator of digital solutions accelerate customers’ business and innovation.

Orange Business offers a range of cloud solutions, including public and private cloud services, hybrid cloud environments, and multi-cloud management. We specialize in Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), providing virtualized computing resources over the internet. We support enterprises full cloud transformation, securely, anywhere in the world. Our expertise extends to Platform as a Service (PaaS), which allows customers to develop, run, and manage applications without the complexity of infrastructure maintenance. Additionally, our skills in cloud analytics and artificial intelligence provide businesses with insights to optimize operations and drive innovation.

About VITO

VITO is a leading independent research organization that provides knowledge and technological innovations to facilitate the transition to a more sustainable society. VITO performs applied research in the fields of energy, chemistry, materials, health and land use, providing innovative and high-tech solutions, whereby large and small companies gain a competitive advantage, and advises industry and governments on determining their policies related to the transition to a more sustainable society.

VITO is well-known in Europe in the field of Circular Economy and Sustainability Assessments, having solid experience with practical LCA (also in the specific space context), product environmental footprinting (PEF) studies, integrating environmental issues into the design phase, information processing on data from space missions and ecodesign projects. Important in this context is to understand the dynamics of complete systems, with regard to multiple trade-offs between, for example, economic efficiency, environmental impacts and resource conservation.

VITO will be responsible for bringing the environmental impact in the study, by quantifying the environmental impacts of terrestrial data centres (now and future) and estimating the environmental impacts to support the decision-making process of the space data centre definition and proposed solution.

About CloudFerro

CloudFerro, an innovative company at the forefront of cloud computing, has carved a niche in the rapidly evolving field of satellite and geospatial data processing. This firm stands out for its unique approach to handling massive datasets generated by Earth observation satellites. This domain has become increasingly vital in the age of big data and advanced analytics.

At the heart of CloudFerro’s mission is the facilitation of efficient, scalable, and accessible cloud-based solutions for managing and analyzing large volumes of complex satellite data. This specialization is particularly significant in an era where the volume, velocity, and variety of geospatial data have escalated dramatically, presenting both challenges and opportunities for industries and scientific communities alike.

CloudFerro’s infrastructure is robust and intricately designed to handle the demands of satellite data, which include high-resolution images and time-sensitive information. Their platform is not only a repository for vast data stores but also a sophisticated environment for data processing and analysis. It integrates state-of-the-art tools and technologies, enabling users to extract valuable insights from raw data, pivotal for informed decision-making in various sectors.

One of the key features of CloudFerro’s services is the provision of near real-time data access. This capability is critical for applications that rely on timely data, such as environmental monitoring, meteorological forecasting, disaster management, and humanitarian aid. In these fields, the speed at which data is processed and made available can be a determining factor in the effectiveness of response strategies.

Furthermore, CloudFerro’s collaborative endeavors with space agencies and academic institutions are a testament to its commitment to advancing Earth observation technologies. By integrating the latest advancements in satellite technology and data science, CloudFerro not only enhances its service offerings but also contributes significantly to the research and development in Earth sciences. These collaborations foster a synergy between technological innovation and scientific inquiry, leading to a deeper understanding of environmental and climatic phenomena.

In conclusion, CloudFerro represents a paradigm shift in the way geospatial data is managed and utilized. Its cutting-edge cloud solutions underscore the transformative potential of cloud computing in satellite data processing, opening new frontiers for research, development, and application in a multitude of disciplines. Through its innovative platform, CloudFerro is not only changing the landscape of data analysis but also empowering a more informed and responsive approach to global environmental challenges.

About Hewlett Packard Entreprise

Hewlett Packard Enterprise, is the global edge-to-cloud company that helps organizations accelerate outcomes by unlocking value from all of their data, everywhere. Built on decades of reimagining the future and innovating to advance the way people live and work, HPE delivers unique, open and intelligent technology solutions as a service. With offerings spanning Cloud Services, Compute, High Performance Computing & AI, Intelligent Edge, Software, and Storage, HPE provides a consistent experience across all clouds and edges, helping customers develop new business models, engage in new ways, and increase operational performance.