Draft:Lusospace

=Lusospace=

Lusospace is a Portuguese start-up operating in the space sector, focusing on the design and manufactur of satellite hardware. Founded in 2002 by Ivo Yves Vieira, Miguel Martins, and Maximilien Coelho, Lusospace is headquartered in Lisbon, with Ivo Yves Vieira serving as the current CEO. The company collaborates with various firms in space exploration and provides services to clients in the aerospace industry. Lusospace designs and produces all its products in-house and aims to contribute to the development of the space industry in Portugal and improve satellite components.

2002-2006
In 2002, after returning from a mission with a non-governmental organization in Mozambique, Ivo Yves Vieira and his two partners decided to establish a company to enhance existing technologies in Portugal. Ivo Yves Vieira, who holds a degree in Engineering Physics and had previously contributed to PoSAT-1, Portugal's first satellite, recognized a significant opportunity with Portugal's recent membership in the European Space Agency (ESA).

Despite the relatively underdeveloped state of Portugal's aerospace industry compared to other EU countries, Ivo Yves Vieira identified an oportunity to manufactur satellite hardware. To finance the company, they entered participated in an ESA competition that gave winners financial support to realize their innovative ideas.

Lusospace submitted a financial market analysis for a new type of magnetometer, distinct from the existing Fluxgate model. After securing the financial incentive, the company promptly began developing this new magnetometer.

By 2006, Lusospace had produced its first magnetometer, which was subsequently adopted by various companies for use in their satellites.

2008-2024
In 2008, Lusospace, in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA), developed an augmented reality glasses. These glasses were a prototype for EyeSpeak, a visualization tool currently utilized by astronauts.

In 2009, Lusospace participated in the Proba-2 mission by supplying the magnetometer onboard the satellite. With this endeavor, Lusospace achieving the TRL9.

In 2013, Lusospace established a new division, LusoVu, which specializes in augmented reality technology. This initiative followed a study with ESA aimed at developing a system for projecting information through a display. Due to his father's illness, Ivo Yves Vieira sought to create augmented reality glasses to assist patients with muscular dystrophy.

In 2019, Lusospace supplied a magnetorquer to the European Space Agency (ESA) for research focused on reducing space debris left in orbit.

As of 2024, Lusospace is producting 11 U3 satellites and 1 U8 satellite. These satellites will be equipped with the VDES (VHF Data Exchange System), which enables faster information exchange between Earth and the satellites. The primary objective of this satellite constellation is to enhance naval communications via satellite. The project is funded by the PRR (Plan for Recovery and Resilience), and the satellites are scheduled to be in orbit by the last quarter of 2024.

Magnotorquer
A magnetorquer, is a device used to control a satellite's attitude. It generates its own magnetic field, which interacts with the Earth's magnetic field to align the satellite in the correct position. This precise alignment allows the satellite to effectively collect relevant data from our planet.

Unlike reaction wheels, magnetorquers are often used in lightweight satellites due to their lower cost and ease of production. However, these devices have limitations. They are suitable only for small satellites because their torque, the rotational force to turn an object—is relatively low. As a result, they cannot maintain the orientation of antennas on heavier satellites towards the Earth.

Lusospace's product, was utilized by the European Space Agency (ESA) in a 2019 test. The aim of this test was to collect data on reducing space junk, which poses an increasing threat to satellites in orbit.

Magnotometer
The magnetometer is an essential component of a satellite, responsible for measuring the direction and intensity of the Earth's magnetic field. Once the satellite is in orbit, the magnetometer collects crucial data used to orient the satellite's solar panels towards the Sun and to align the communication antennas with the Earth.

Lusospace designs and produces these devices, having sold over a hundred units to date. The first magnetometer was manufactured in 2006 and was subsequently used on board Proba-2 in 2009. This new magnetometer, which differs from NASA's Fluxgate model, made possible for Lusospace hardware to be utilized in several future ESA missions, including BepiColombo, Star Tracker, and the Clean Space initiative.

Pulsed laser terminal
Satellite communications resemble those used on Earth but with notable distinctions. Historically, space communications have relied on radio waves, the same technology employed in home Wi-Fi and radio broadcasting. This choice is primarily due to the immense distances involved in space communications, making radio waves the preferred medium for reliable transmission over long distances.

Recently, optical communication technology has emerged prominently, utilizing optical fibers, similar to those that connect the globe through submarine cables and enable rapid film downloads over the internet in under an hour. In space, this fiber optic technology has been refined, enabling the same film to be downloaded in less than a minute.

Laser communications are favored over traditional radio waves because they can transmit significantly more information in the same timeframe. This shift towards optical communications in space holds the potential to greatly enhance data transmission capabilities between Earth and satellites, offering improved efficiency and speed in space communications.

In response to these advancements, Lusospace has developed a "Pulse Laser Terminal" designed specifically for microsatellites. The terminal is integral to the optical communication system of Optel-µ, a project led by Thales under Alenia Space.

Sun simulator
Lusospace has developed a star simulator named SUSI, designed for testing digital cameras used in telescopes. Unlike conventional projectors, star simulators allows for projecting star patterns with significantly higher precision. It simulates space-like conditions during testing to verify the equipment's functionality. These tests are crucial for detecting and rectifying potential errors in projects before their deployment into space.

Team
The company operates with a compact team of fewer than 30 employees. Lusospace's workforce includes multiples engineers covering diverse fields such as optics and electronics. The administrative side comprises three personnel, while the engineering team consists of four optics specialists, a physics engineer, two mechanical engineers, two electronics engineers, and two technicians.

At the helm of Lusospace are CEO Ivo Yves Vieira, COO David Mesquita, and Head of Division Inês Cadilla, they oversee operations and strategic initiatives.

LusoMusic
LusoMusic, an affiliate of Lusospace, was established in 2013 with an initial software designed to enable users to learn piano using their phone's keyboard. Over time, the company has transformed to include a music school. LusoMusic's software allows students to work independently with minimal teacher oversight. This enables a single teacher to supervise up to four students concurrently.

LusoVu
The company wants to make augmented reality for everyday consumers through specialized glasses. Its inception followed a collaborative project with the European Space Agency (ESA), aimed at developing a display system for astronauts to use during missions outside the International Space Station (ISS). This system provided real-time spacecraft information to enhance operational effectiveness in space.