ESA Open Invitation to Tender AO9470
Open Date: 03/09/2018
Closing Date: 26/10/2018 13:00:00

Status: ISSUED
Reference Nr.: 18.133.06
Prog. Ref.: Technology Developme
Budget Ref.: E/0901-01 – Technology Developme
Special Prov.: BE+DK+FR+DE+IT+NL+ES+SE+CH+GB+IE+AT+NO+FI+PT+GR+LU+CZ+RO+PL+EE+HU
Tender Type: C
Price Range: 200-500 KEURO
Products: Satellites & Probes / Parts / Mechanical, Optical and Magnetic parts / Optical Parts (lenses, beam-splitters, …) / Satellites & Probes / Structures / Optical bench structures / Cases, supporting rings, … / Satellites & Probes / Structures / Space structures with changing geometries / Deployable Structures, Adaptive Trusses, … / Satellites & Probes / Structures / Satellite Bus / Satellites & Probes / Structures / Primary Structures
Techology Domains: Structures / Inflatable and Deployable Structures / Joining Technologies / Structures / High Stability and High-Precision S/C Structures / Joining and Mounting Technologies
Establishment: ESTEC
Directorate: Directorate of Tech, Eng. & Quality
Department: Mechanical Engineering Department
Division: Structure and Mechanisms Division
Contract Officer: van Hilten, Linda
Industrial Policy Measure: C2 – Activities in open competition, significant partecipat…
Last Update Date: 10/09/2018
Update Reason: Loaded a new Clarification(English version)

Complex shaped structural fittings and inserts require demanding and cost intensive machining. A possible way of reducing this effort could be the use of such parts made in additive manufacturing (AM) technology. This also allows for a mass optimised design not limited by the machining of the inserts. AM technology has been evolving over the recent years and is currently expanded to allow forthe processing of different materials and manufacturing of parts for space applications. A major advantage of this technology is thepossibility to manufacture parts in low to medium quantities with mass optimised designs at reasonable cost. Whereas AM to be applied for structural parts and brackets is under investigation, the use of this technology for fittings and block inserts embedded in earth deck and side walls of telecom spacecraft has not been addressed so far. Within this activity the target is to develop structural elements (sandwich panels) for Platform applications with embedded cost effective, mass optimised and complex shaped fittings andinserts based on AM technology. The following tasks shall be covered: – Identification and review of the state-of-the-art, – Identification of applications and establishment of enveloping requirements, – Trade-off, selection and preliminary design of suitable concept(s), – Screening on sample level to determine the load capability considering the repeatability of the AM process, the homogeneity and orthotropic behaviour – Manufacturing and characterization of the concept in a test campaign at breadboard level for static loading, stiffness and dynamic response.Procurement Policy: C(2) = A relevant participation (in terms of quality and quantity) of non-primes (incl. SMEs) is required. For additional information please go to EMITS news „Industrial Policy measures for non-primes, SMEs and RD entities in ESA programmes”.

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