Space environment interaction engineering research at aerospace systems laboratory (LSA)

The study of the interaction between Space Environment and Space components is one of the most important topics of the Aerospace Engineering. To have a full test chain thus represents a great advantage in basic research, design and realization of Space Systems and Structures. The Aerospace Systems Laboratory (LSA) of Department of Astronautic, Electrical and Energy Engineering at Sapienza University of Rome can perform all the Space Environmental tests, such as Outgassing, Atomic Oxygen-UV synergistic degradation effects on space materials and Thermal Cycling. Moreover the materials and systems characterization is completed by the evaluation of the Thermal Expansion Coefficient, the Mechanical Properties and the Electromagnetic behaviour of such materials. An important part of the research activity is the study of the interaction between structures and Space Systems with the Mars Environment, both on orbit and on the Red Planet Surface, by mean of the Chemical, Pressure and Temperature Characteristics of the Mars Operative Environment. Over the years many subsystems and space systems operative in Space have been successfully tested at LSA, such as ESA Exomars Parachute, ESA Galileo FOC Navant, 1-KUNS PF, University of Nairobi Nanosatellite supported by ASI, JAXA and KSA, and many joined research projects have been carried out, such as ASA Phase B2 of ASI, ESA-LIST project on Advanced Coating and ASI project on Advanced Thermal and Environmental Protection System. To achieve these goals important collaborations have been also carried out with relevant Research Centers, such as the Department of Chemistry and the Section of Human Anatomy of the Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopaedic Sciences both of Sapienza University of Rome.