Space Debris Group at the 28th AIDAA and 10th CEAS International Congress

From the 1st to the 4th of December, the Space Debris Group (SDG) attended the 28th AIDAA – Italian Association of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the 10th CEAS – Council of European Aerospace Societies International Congress, hosted in the beautiful Lingotto Congress Centre in Turin.

Leading research in the field of space debris requires constant dedication and a continuous effort to stay aligned with the global state of the art. This event represents an important annual milestone, offering a valuable opportunity to engage with both national and international aerospace communities and to share the group’s most recent achievements.

Space debris research today extends well beyond Earth’s orbital environment. With the increasing interest in Lunar exploration, the focus is gradually shifting toward the cislunar domain. In this context, Nicolò Trabacchin presented his latest work, “Simulating the potential for an in-space fragmentation of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter”, highlighting the importance of expanding Space Situational Awareness (SSA) capabilities beyond Earth orbit. His paper received the Best Paper Award in Flight Mechanics, a recognition to his work and to the relevance and impact of research in this emerging area.

Remaining in the lunar environment, Lorenzo Olivieri presented the recent advances of the GLAMS project, developed for the Italian Space Agency (ASI), at the Moon Village Association Symposium.

The group also contributed to the broader space exploration domain with additional presentations:
– Lorenzo Olivieri showcased “GeoScout: architecture for piggyback interplanetary CubeSat”, illustrating innovative mission concepts for small spacecraft.
– Stefano Lopresti discussed the latest results of the AlbaCubeSat UNIPD testing campaign conducted in ESA’s facilities, through the paper “Environmental Qualification Testing of AlbaCubeSat STM Model”.

The group was also present at the CISAS stand within the Veneto Space Cluster during the 10th Aerospace & Defence Meeting, held from the 2nd to the 4th of December in the nearby Oval Lingotto Centre. This event served as an important opportunity to connect with Italian and international industries, strengthening collaboration networks and showcasing ongoing research activities.