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The Institute is involved in the ecological transition of the aerospace ecosystem

Publication Date

02 October 2020

Category

Institute

Tag

Meeting

Sustainability

By being invited to the virtual seminar organised by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) “CO2 Emissions Reductions in the Aviation Sector” and to the third edition of the Space Forum La Tribune, the Institute was able to debate and present its research and programmes in energy transition and Earth observation for climate to decision-makers in the aeronautics and space sectors.
An ICAO international seminar aimed at finding solutions for the use of sustainable fuel, where industry, institutions and research bodies specialising in the environment took part to debate and present their work to implement innovative solutions.

For its new edition, “What are the challenges for the next decade in the space sector in France and Europe?”, the Space Forum La Tribune aims to debate the issues of space at the service of the Earth and the study of the impact of COVID-19 on the sector. Marie-Hélène Barroux also took part in the round table discussion on the climate and its challenges, alongside Corinne Mailles, Deputy Managing Director of Telespazio, a provider of satellite services and applications, and Marc Pontaud, Scientific Director at Météo France.
She outlined the Institute’s expertise in optical sensors for climate observation satellites and the fight against global warming.

The LARGO7M sensor onboard the Korean KOMPAT2 satellite for ocean observation was developed under a CRISTAL agreement with AIRBUS, and is a concrete example of this.
As part of this partnership, the Institute is developing chairs covering a number of scientific research areas. These chairs resonate with the themes of the ICAO forum, “Stimulating and implementing innovation to reduce CO2 emissions in the aviation sector”.

ISAE-SUPAERO SUSTAINABLY

One example is the CEDAR chair, developed with AIRBUS, which aims to implement air transport solutions that reduce its ecological footprint. In this way, it is helping to raise awareness and train future aeronautical engineers in the sustainable development of air transport by integrating a more global approach to environmental engineering. The DAHER chair, signed in 2019, is developing research into the design and certification of light aircraft with hybrid-electric propulsion. In the field of propulsion, the AEGIS Chair aims to consolidate the innovative concepts of propulsion architectures that will equip the next generations of aircraft.
The creation of these chairs has also been made possible by the Fondation ISAE-SUPAERO, whose “raison d’être” is to accelerate the realisation of innovative projects contributing to a sustainable world.

ENGINEERING STUDENTS "OUT OF THE BOX

Sustainable development is a subject that is increasingly relevant to the Institute’s students in a complex context. For deputy president Marie-Hélène Barroux, “they have a key role to play, and the institute provides them with the skills and creative space to play it. The school is also adapting to meet these challenges and new demands, and is making changes to its training courses.

Programmes are being developed in this area, such as the environmental engineering certificate offered in the third year, which takes a lifecycle approach to aircraft design and covers eco-mobility, eco-design and the economics of air transport.

“We want our students to be agents of change! The movement is very powerful and far-reaching, and our students are getting involved by taking part in low-tech competitions, creating student associations such as Supaero4Earth, and developing projects such as Solarboost (a concept for a mobile tricycle with an electric motor powered by solar panels)… Our alumni are also involved with the SUPAERO DECARBO association, in the climate fresk, in which all first-year engineering students take part, and by supporting the ISAE-SUPAERO Foundation,” explains the Sustainable Development Manager at these forums.
The aim this year is to train 100% of students in climate issues.

” Having invented and developed air transport, the aeronautical sector now needs to decarbonise it. It’s a new challenge, just as ambitious as the previous ones. To meet it, we’re going to have to invent new aircraft, drawing on all the technological and creative strengths of our engineers. “

Olivier Lesbre – President of ISAE-SUPAERO

THE SKY AT THE SERVICE OF THE EARTH

More and more students are going into the space sector, with a clear focus on sustainable development in space. One third of the R&D budget is devoted to space-related research, including the development of nanosatellites and new multispectral sensors.
The research groups in the Department of Electronics, Optronics and Systems (DEOS) are working to develop sensors that are increasingly accurate, resistant to radiation and efficient in terms of data collection. This research is carried out in collaboration with manufacturers in the sector. Chairs have also been created in this field, such as SAC lab, Nuclétudes, etc.

The stakes in this sector are high if we are to recover ever more data and steer the space industry towards a data economy. Sensors are the eyes of the world, monitoring the Earth and anticipating changes. More precision for more modelling to anticipate climate change due to human activities.

Students are also involved in programmes to test new technologies in space through scientific missions from design to launch of nanostallelites, such as Entrysat and Eyesat, experimental cubsats, to be put into orbit in collaboration with CNES (Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales) in 2019.
ISAE SUPAERO is home to the CSUT (Centre Spatial Universitaire de Toulouse) control centre.

PRESENTATION OF THE OBSERVATION PRIZE FOR THE EARTH PRIZE

Marie-Hélène Baroux was therefore entirely justified in presenting the Earth Observation prize to KERMAP, a company specialising in observation for regional planning, the environment and agriculture. KERMAP has also launched a website open to the general public, where key figures on urban vegetation in French municipalities are just a click away. An example of the complex management and analysis of satellite data.
The prize was awarded by a panel of scientific experts from research and industry in the space sector, including Laurent JOLY, Deputy Director of Research at ISAE-SUPAERO.