DART Lab - Deep-space Astrodynamics Research & Technology Laboratory

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ONGOING ACTIVITIES

The core research activities of the DART group are in the context of deep-space exploration using small spacecraft. Activities spans from engineering to planetary science domains, and are grouped into four main research areas:

Astrodynamics & Mission Design

  • Keywords: mission analysis, trajectory optimization, nonlinear astrodynamics.

Asteroid Science

  • Keywords: origin and evolution, surface & particle dynamics, payload design.

Autonomous GNC

  • Keywords: autonomous guidance, autonomous navigation, verification & validation.

Digital and Physical Twins

  • Keywords: HIL simulations, digital twins, science operations.

FUTURE PLANS

The research planned for the future aims to consolidate the leadership of the group in small body science and exploration, mission design and analysis in cislunar environment, and GNC autonomy in a number of scenarios. The group will put effort in 1) payload design for small body surface operations, 2) development and/or consolidation of experimental facilities for HIL simulation, 3) fundamental research in autonomous guidance and navigation algorithms. Worth to mention is the possible participation of the group to the RAMSES mission: a mission that will operate in close proximity to the asteroid Apophis during its close encounter to Earth in April 2029, which will bel launched in early 2028.

ONGOING PROJECTS

In the years 2022-2024, the DART group has secured 10M€ by managing 28 research projects:

  1. EXTREMA, EC ERC-CoG
  2. TRACES, EC ERC-StG
  3. SENSE, EC ERC-PoC (ended Sep 2023)
  4. GUIDO, EC ERC-PoC (ended Nov 2024)
  5. AXESS, EC ERC-PoC
  6. FAAST, EC MSCA-IF
  7. CASTOR, EC MSCA-IF
  8. Stardust-R, EC MSCA-DN (ended Jun 2023)
  9. LUMIO, ESA (Phase 0, Phase A, Phase B, Delta Phase B)
  10. LUMIO-Science, ASI
  11. Hera/Milani, ESA (Phase A-E1)
  12. PRESS, ESA (ended Oct 2023)
  13. STAR Nav, ESA (ended Jul 2024)
  14. RAMSES, ESA (ended Mar 2024)
  15. SATIS, ESA
  16. Space It Up!, ASI
  17. DeepNav, ASI (ended Jul 2023)
  18. CubeNav, ASI (ended Aug 2023)
  19. FUTURE, ASI (ended Nov 2023)
  20. OPERATIVE, ASI
  21. SOCRATE, ASI
  22. ISAAC, ASI
  23. AEGIS, ASI
  24. COSMICA, MUR
  25. IMPRESA, MUR (ended Dec 2024)
  26. ATLAS, TTO
  27. LD, CNES
  28. OSIP PhD MB & AM, ESA

Journal Publications 2022-2024

In the years 2022-2024 the DART group produced 111 journal publications.

Progetti di ricerca

  • ESA | MILANI: Support to CNES for Mission Analysis and GNC Performance Assesment​

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  • HORIZON EUROPE | FAAST - Perfecting autonomous control for self-driving spacecraft

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  • ERC | EXTREMA - Engineering Extremely Rare Events in Astrodynamics for Deep-Space Missions in Autonomy

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  • ERC | TRACES - Transitions in Rubble-pile Asteroid Chaotic Environment and granular Structures

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  • ESA | STAR-Nav - Autonomous Relative Navigation Using Star Tracker Images

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  • ESA | LUMIO - Lunar Meteoroid Impacts Observer - Delta Phase B​

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  • ASI | OPERATIVE - Soft-GPU per processamento dati intelligente e applicazioni avanzate a bordo​

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  • ERC | AXESS - Accelerated X-in-the-loop Environment for Spacecraft Systems Testing

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  • ERC | SENSE - A Sensor for Autonomous Navigation in Deep Space

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  • H2020 | STARDUST-R - Stardust Reloaded

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  • ERC | GUIDO - A Computing Unit for Autonomous Spacecraft Guidance in Deep Space

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  • ESA | Mars-PASS - Pre-Phase A Study of a Low-Cost Mars Mission Platform

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  • PNRR | Space It Up! - Spoke 1

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