The Emerging Technologies Webinar Series

What is the Emerging Technologies Webinar series?

The Emerging Technologies webinar series offer unparalleled insights into cutting-edge advancements across the space sector, fostering a deeper understanding of the rapidly evolving space ecosystem, and empowering professionals to stay at the forefront of innovation in this pivotal industry. Co-ordinated by the Satellite Applications Catapult and the University of Glasgow, each webinar explores a unique thematic area with respect to the sectors emerging technologies.

Our upcoming webinar will be on 11 April 2025 and will focus on In-space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM), – find out more and sign up here.

The last webinar focused on Developing a Sustainable Lunar Economy. Lunar exploration has witnessed remarkable advancements in recent years, driven by groundbreaking missions and innovative initiatives aimed at establishing a sustainable human presence on the Moon. From private space missions to international collaborations, these efforts reflect a shift towards more cost-effective, resilient, and technologically advanced exploration. This blog delves into the latest developments in lunar exploration, highlighting the integration of human-centric approaches, cutting-edge technologies, and the importance of collaborative frameworks to pave the way for a sustainable lunar future. The recording can be accessed here.

Lunar Exploration: Recent Advances and Future Vision

Richard Lowe, CTO for Satellite Applications Catapult, opened the webinar by discussing the resurgence in lunar exploration over the past year, marked by significant milestones. Japan became the fifth nation to successfully soft-land a robotic probe on the Moon with its highly precise SLIM mission, while the US Odysseus Lander highlighted the rise of privately funded space missions. Both landers overcame minor technical challenges on the lunar surface, showcasing the progress made in lunar exploration. China advanced further with the first-ever sample return from the Moon’s far side through Chang’e 6. Looking ahead to 2025, initiatives like the Artemis programme are paving the way for a sustainable human return to the Moon, complemented by the Starship HLS variant, capable of delivering substantial payloads. These developments reflect a shift towards cost-effective, sustainable exploration, laying the groundwork for a lasting lunar presence.

Spaceship Initiatives – Building a Sustainable Lunar Future

Romain Charles, Spaceship ECSAT Coordinator at ESA, followed with insights on the Mars 500 mission—a 520-day simulation of a Mars journey—to foster innovation in space exploration. As part of ESA’s network of “Spaceships” in Cologne, Toulouse, and Harwell, these hubs address crucial technology gaps needed for life support and sustainable operations on celestial bodies. Harwell’s Spaceship ECSAT focuses on fostering connections between telecommunications, academia, and industry to pioneer advancements such as the Moonlight Programme, which aims to create a satellite constellation for lunar navigation and telecommunications. These efforts inspire future technologists through initiatives like a Hackathon Challenge, where participants design and test algorithms for constructing lunar habitats with simulated bricks. Supported by the Vulcan Analog Sample Facility, ECSAT explores robotics, energy management, and crew health. Their work is dedicated to sustainable exploration, leveraging UK expertise to inspire and train the next generation of space explorers.

The Great Lunar Bake Off: cakes as a way into the lunar economy in Ian McDonald’s Wolf Moon

Ian McDonald, a renowned science fiction writer from Belfast, has been publishing since 1988 and has been widely recognised with awards such as the Hugo Award, Locus Award, and Philip K. Dick Award. His work often explores the boundaries of humanity, technology, and societal development in futuristic settings. During his talk, Ian delved into his lunar series, which explores life on an industrialised moon where humans have established their own distinct society. He discussed how a lunar economy affects personal and societal values, highlighting the technological and cultural challenges of living beyond Earth. Ian also introduced the idea of using cake as a way to illustrate these complexities, emphasising how seemingly simple tasks—like baking—reveal deep insights into the practical realities of surviving and thriving in a new, off-Earth environment. Through this exploration, Ian sparked thought-provoking reflections on how living on the moon could reshape human identity, values, and the very essence of community.

Enabling a Resilient Lunar Economy

David Cullen, Professor of Astrobiology and Space Biotechnology at Cranfield University, discussed the need for a systems-level framework to support a sustainable human presence on the lunar surface beyond the Artemis programme. Cullen emphasised the integration of societal, geopolitical, and economic factors alongside technological development to ensure effective and adaptable lunar exploration. Current R&D efforts often focus narrowly on individual technologies, leading to inefficient resource use and outdated solutions. To address this, Cullen proposed a top-down, integrated approach that considers the broader system of systems. This framework guides R&D efforts toward a more holistic and forward-thinking approach, ensuring technologies are aligned with long-term human and scientific objectives while remaining adaptable to advancements in autonomy, sustainability, and life support systems. Cullen invited community feedback to refine this framework, underscoring the importance of collaboration across disciplines for creating a resilient lunar infrastructure.

Supporting Sustainable Lunar Operations with Human-Centric Technology

Silviu Pirvu, CTO, and Cezar Rujan, CEO of Optimal Cities, discussed the role of space planning, architecture, and technology in developing both Earth-based and space habitats. They highlighted the importance of integrating human-centric approaches into technological solutions to enhance decision-making and complex planning. Through leveraging AI and satellite sensors, Optimal Cities has developed tools capable of analysing vast datasets in real-time to support city planning and space habitats. Designing habitats with human needs at the forefront is crucial for fostering healthy, sustainable communities. Silviu emphasised the need for a user-friendly approach to exploration and habitat creation, particularly in the lunar context, where the adaptability and motivation of the human brain play a vital role. Cezar Rujan added that the development of lunar infrastructure will require smart, flexible planning, addressing challenges such as resource scarcity, extreme environments, and integrating sustainable technologies like space-based solar power and phased array antennas for effective communication and energy management.

The critical role of satellites to reach Sustainable Development Goals for the Global South

Our next speaker, Samira Barzin, Senior Researcher in Geospatial Economic Analytics, works extensively in policy advisory for organisations such as FCDO and the World Bank, focusing on measuring and understanding the world through space technology. By leveraging satellite data, Barzin highlights how improved data enables better decision-making, particularly in regions where information is historically limited. She demonstrates various applications, including economic insights, environmental monitoring, and urban planning, using tools such as remote sensing and machine learning. Barzin’s research emphasises the critical role of space-based technologies in fostering transparent, real-time data to support sustainable development, not only on Earth but also in future activities beyond our planet, such as lunar exploration.

The Critical Role of Stakeholder Engagement in Building a Sustainable Lunar Economy

Ryan Laird, Director at Green Orbit Digital, as our final speaker concluded with a focus on fostering a green and sustainable approach to marketing and communications. His organisation supports space-enabled companies and technologies through responsible, eco-friendly communication strategies. Laird highlighted the significance of engaging diverse stakeholders, including government space agencies, private companies, research institutions, and the general public, to tailor messages effectively. Collaboration is essential in the context of the lunar economy, where building a sustainable, resource-efficient infrastructure demands international cooperation. Drawing from examples like the International Space Station and the Artemis Accords, Laird emphasised the importance of moving beyond traditional boundaries of the space industry to incorporate diverse expertise, ethical frameworks, and sustainable practices for future lunar exploration and beyond.

This blog is written by Dr. Reza Akhavan, KE Manager at Satellite Applications Catapult. If you are interested in contributing to upcoming Emerging Technology webinars or have any questions, please contact ke@sa.catapult.org.uk.