ESA Open Invitation to Tender: 1-10595
Open Date: 11/01/2022 09:26 CEST
Closing Date: 22/02/2022 13:00 CEST

This activity aims at investigating and developing concepts for in-situ recycling of hardware brought for an exploration mission, to serve other purposes at the mission destinationTask 1: analyse what has been done already with URBAN and other RDs. Complement as required. Trade-offTask 2: propose 2-3 demonstrators and analyse the means to obtain themTask 3: realise the demonstrators and analyse resultsTask 4: propose a system aspect Future human exploration missions will be longer in duration and go to farther destinations. In order to ensure the viability and sustainability of such missions, the dependence on cargo re-supply missions needs to be minimized. In-situ resource utilization (ISRU will be an enabling element.A key aspect of ISRU is to harness the potential of hardware and materials brought for the mission and no longer used at destination, e.g. Lander parts, electronic components or packaging. Scavenged materials or hardware parts could be processed or recombined to produce hardware needed at destination. This may include maintenance tools, utensils, habitat elements or research instrumentation. Developing adequate concepts for hardware recycling is fundamental for sustainable long term human exploration missions.Recycling concepts will cover three levels:a. Re-cycling of basic materials, where individual materials can be extracted from the original hardware or where components can be transformed into small particles. The materials can then be processed into new hardware by techniques such as additive manufacturing.B. Partial re-utilisation of parts: parts of the original hardware can be re-combined with other parts e.g. To convert them into a different shape for reuse.C. Complete re-utilisation of hardware parts (e.g. Module structure) in their specific form and function, for a new application.

Directorate: Directorate of Tech, Eng. Quality
Estabilishment: ESTEC
ECOS Required: No
Classified: No
Price Range: 200-500 KEURO
Authorised Contact Person: Anna Reinsoo
Initiating Service: TEC-MSP
IP Measure: N/A
Prog. Reference: E/0901-01 – Technology Developme
Tender Type: Open Competition
Open To Tenderers From: AT+BE+CH+CZ+DE+DK+EE+EL+ES+FI+FR+GB+HU+IE+IT+LU+NL+NO+PL+PT+RO+SE
Technology Keywords: 24-B-III-Characterisation and Feedback / 24-B-IV-Advanced Materials Manufacture
Products Keywords: 3-C-1-d-Other