Expert voices in the field of Aerospace meet at ETSi to address the situation of research in the city of Seville 

 

The Technical School of Engineering of the University of Seville (ETSi) is hosting today, November 6, a conference on space research, which in the format of a round table has brought together various experts in the sector to answer the most basic questions about the research being carried out at the ETSi in the aerospace field. 

This conference is being held in the context of the informal ministerial meeting on Space Competitiveness, which will bring together tomorrow, November 7, in Seville, the ministers responsible for this area in the European Union, to discuss what measures should be taken to ensure the continuity and strengthening of space-based infrastructures and services. This meeting is part of the activities to mark Spain's Presidency of the Council of the EU.  

Maria Cruz Arcos Vargas, Director of the European Documentation Center of the University of Seville and of Europedirect Seville, was in charge of opening the event and, answering the question "Why Space Research?". She explained the need for a European Space policy and its current framework in the EU. 

In this sense, Maria Cruz Arcos compared the world of space to that of the seabed, "until we had the capacity to access them, we did not see the need to legislate about it. Now we can access the Space and it is urgent that the legislation is developed", he declared. 

Arcos Vargas currently chairs the Andalusian Council of the European Movement and is a professor of International Law and International Relations of the US. 

The research activity of four research groups from the School of Engineering of the University of Seville was then presented.  

The first of these was led by Federico Paris Carballo, professor of Continuum Mechanics and Theory of Structures at the University of Seville since 1982. In his speech, Professor Paris detailed the problems presented by certain materials used in the space sector, with special emphasis on Carbon Fiber Composite Materials, as well as the requirements that must be met in aerospace structures. 

From his experience as co-founder of TEAMS, he has also explained what it means to make technology transfer in this sector through a spin-off of the US. 

Paris Carballo said that "Space can benefit from our contributions by making use of the materials we test to lighten loads and ensure that they have sufficient strength." 

"On the other hand, researchers have a pedagogical function, opening the world of Space to children who will be the future professionals of the sector. Here we also have a great responsibility and a capacity to contribute," he said. 

José Manuel Quero Reboul, professor of Electronic Engineering at the University of Seville, then spoke about his experience of more than 30 years as a researcher, participating in several space missions and the development of several scientific payloads. Among other works, he highlighted the CEPHEUS mission in which he led the consortium where the first nanosatellite developed in Andalusia was built, or the VECTORSOL project, where a solar sensor made with Microsystems (MEMS) technology was designed, built and put into orbit. This last milestone served as a starting point to found in 2009 the Technology Based Company (EBT), SOLARMEMS TECHNOLOGIES, a leading company in the manufacture of solar sensors for space applications.  

Quero Reboul also explained NewSpace, the revolution that is currently taking place in the space sector and the technological opportunities that are emerging. "Access to Space has been liberalized, we can say that democratization has come to the sector, all thanks to the reduction of weight and costs compared to the past that involves launching a satellite into Space today. This step has allowed our centers to work in this field and to see our technology in Earth orbit," he said.  

For his part, Rafael Vázquez Valenzuela, professor of Aerospace Engineering at the US, and professor of Orbital Mechanics and Dynamics of Space Vehicles for the last 16 years at ETSi, spoke to describe the evolution of the teaching and research of the Aerospace Engineering group at ETSi, as well as the current lines of research and collaborations with companies, agencies and other key universities in the sector. 

Vázquez Valenzuela has asserted that "the forecasts of the volume of what is going to be launched into Space gives me goosebumps, so having technology that avoids the collision of satellites, is fundamental, as well as an international regulation. Here at ETSi we are contributing to this technology". 

Finally, Rogelio Palomo Pinto, professor of Electronic Systems for Aerospace Applications for the last 8 years at ETSI, has been in charge of closing the presentation on the multidisciplinary research in the aerospace field developed at ETSi, exposing the research activities in electronics for space environment of the Electronic Engineering group and the collaborations with companies, agencies and other key universities in the sector. 

Palomo Pinto has once again emphasized the need to provide legal coverage to the sector that includes all countries and professionals, assuring that "the war in Space is already taking place, so it is urgent that institutions such as the UN establish common regulations for not only military but also civilian use. Space is an economic resource and the superpowers have been disputing it for some time now." 

For her part, Esperanza Caro Gómez, Managing Director of the Corporación Empresas Municipales de Sevilla, explained how the city of Seville was positioned as a reference in space matters and what was the strategy followed as a city to get the Spanish Space Agency to locate in Seville. "It is the story of a collective success story, to which everyone has contributed, the ETSi, the University of Seville, the Andalusian Regional Government, the State, etc. In addition, it is necessary to highlight, among all, the figure of someone from this School who has been fundamental for Seville to be the headquarters of the Spanish Space Agency today, and it is none other than the Professor of Energy Engineering, Carlos Gómez Camacho".