Aether

🚀 What an eventful week we’ve had at Aether! 🌟

🛰️ Tuesday Travels: Our master’s thesis students had the opportunity to visit Redwire Space in Kruibeke. A huge thank you to Marc Dielissen and Jens Jochems for enlightening us about the upcoming Proba-3 satellites’ tandem mission to study the Sun’s corona. The insights into Redwire Space’s diverse projects were nothing short of stellar! 🌞

🔬 Wednesday Wisdom: Aether’s founder, Roemer Spreij, took us on a trip to the von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics. We kicked off with an in-depth presentation and discussion about our re-entry CubeSat design. The VKI researchers, with their experience from the QARMAN CubeSat mission, provided invaluable insights. Afterwards, we toured their facilities, including the impressive 1200 kW Induction Plasmatron that can be used to simulate certain conditions we will encounter during the re-entry of our CubeSat, and various hypersonic and supersonic wind tunnels. ☄️🌪️

🎓 Transformative Thursday: The KICK Finals at the University Hall in Leuven were the perfect finale to our week. Witnessing the innovative spirit of KU Leuven students presenting their unique projects was truly inspiring. We’re honored to be part of this vibrant community of changemakers!

Thank you to everyone who made this week so special! ✨

🌟 Last week was nothing short of astronomical for the Aether team! We had the incredible opportunity to explore ESTEC, the beating heart of ESA - European Space Agency in Noordwijk, NL.

From marveling at re-entry capsules to witnessing cutting-edge 3D-printing techniques for space, our minds were blown! And yes, we even got up close with a piece of history - a recovered solar panel from the Hubble Space Telescope. 🌞🛰️

The adventure continued at the NL Space Campus Network & Drinks event, where our Team Leader Ariël Verschueren pitched our innovative re-entry CubeSat project. 🛰️🌍 The evening buzzed with conversations, as we got to connect with fellow space enthusiasts from the industry, including our friends over at HDES.

A massive thank you to Robert Willemsen from SPACETOURS Noordwijk for the incredibly enlightening tour of ESTEC, and heartfelt gratitude to ESA - European Space Agency and NL Space Campus for welcoming us with open arms.

🚨 Attention All Space Enthusiasts! 🚀

Still undecided about your plans for next year? Have a burning passion for space technology and entrepreneurship? 🛰️💼

Join us for the Aether Open Office Evening! Engage in inspiring conversations with our team members and dive deep into the cosmos of our exciting Re-Entry CubeSat Project, free drinks and snacks on us. 🥤🍿

🗓️ Mark your calendars! Date: May 8th, 19h – 22h
📍 Location: Group T, Andreas Vesaliusstraat 13, 3000 Leuven – Office 01.4.06/3 (first floor)
🔗 Register Now: https://forms.office.com/e/uBUmqvjVCN

Don’t miss out! 🌠

🏆 We Won! 🏆

We are excited to announce that last Sunday at the Flanders Technology & Innovation Slotfestival in the Lotto Arena, Aether was honored with the 2024 FTI Award for Mobility Tech! 🎉

A massive thank you to everyone who has been part of the team over the past 4 years and to all our supporters who believe in our mission. 🙌

We want to make Mobility to space AND back more accessible for everyone, from students to researchers and companies. 🛰️ This award is a testament to our commitment to this goal, and we are just getting started! 💫

Stay tuned as we continue to reach for the stars! ✨

Last week, we launched our first Astronaut Training Workshop of the year! 🧑‍🚀👩‍🚀

We visited the bright young minds at Gemeentelijke Basisschool Pierenbos, where two fifth-grade classes, totaling 33 stellar students, embarked on a journey of discovery. 🚀💫

From hands-on science experiments to challenging mental stress puzzles, the kids showed immense enthusiasm and curiosity to dive into the world of space exploration.

It was an absolute success, and we couldn't be happier to inspire the next generation of aerospace and engineering enthusiasts! 🛰️✨

🛰️ Ready to explore the aerospace industry and research in Flanders? 🚀

Join us at the Space in Flanders event hosted by our friends at EUROAVIA-Leuven and the KU Leuven Mecha-tro-nic Systems Dynamics LMSD research group! 🌌

Hear from industry experts like arcsec, Redwire Space, Prof. Dirk Vandepitte, LMSD – STAR Research Group, and us, Aether!

🗓️ When? March 25th, 19h-21h 📍 Where? Auditorium Erik Duval, Celestijnenlaan 200A

The event is free with a reception to follow. Network, learn, and be inspired. ✨

🔗 Register Now: https://forms.gle/312txKTGhbae9TpU8

See you there!

🌟 Great news! 🚀

We're excited to announce that Aether has been nominated as a finalist for the Flanders Technology & Innovation FTI Awards in the Mobility Tech category! 🏆

🛰️ On the 12th of March, we will present our innovative re-entry CubeSat project to a jury at Technopolis in Mechelen.

The anticipation builds as we look forward to the winner's announcement at the FTI Slotfestival, a two-day event that celebrates the future of technology and innovation. 🤖📱

📅 The FTI Slotfestival will take place at the Antwerps Sportpaleis and Lotto Arena in Antwerp on March 23rd and 24th. You can find more information and tickets at fti.events/slotfestival. Hope to see you there!

Throughout the first semester, we had the pleasure of teaming up with Creative Media Management students from Hogeschool UCLL to redefine our corporate identity. 🌐

From the initial briefing to extensive research, strategy development, mood boards, a professional photoshoot, and many iterations, Talle, Brent, Stijn, Bent, and Victor poured their creativity into every step of the process. 🎨

A massive thank you to this talented team for their incredible work! 🙌 Check out some highlights of their results! 📸✨

🚀 Incredible visit alert!
❗ Re-uploaded with some beautiful new pictures, courtesy of Redwire Space! 📸

Last week, our team had the opportunity to visit Space at their state-of-the-art facilities in Kruibeke. Mathijs Keunen, Noah Ooms, and Yannick Van Camp received a warm welcome from the amazing Marc Dielissen, who guided us through their groundbreaking projects. ✨

We had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to step inside the cleanroom and witness the Proba-3 satellites up close — these marvels are set to study the Sun’s corona this summer in a unique tandem mission! It's not every day you see one satellite shield another to capture such breathtaking cosmic phenomena. 🌞

Our journey didn't end there; we also got an up-close look at Redwire Space's International Berthing and Docking Mechanism (IBDM), which showcases the art of spacecraft docking. Plus, we were awestruck by their mobile laminar flow chamber and even a T-shirt that has been to space and back, worn by astronaut Frank De Winne aboard the International Space Station! 🛰️

🙌 A big thank you to Marc Dielissen and the entire Redwire Space team for this unforgettable experience. This visit has only fueled our passion for space innovation and solidified our excitement for future collaborations. Let's continue to push the boundaries of space technology together! 🛰️🤝

🎄Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the entire Aether family! 🚀

As the first semester comes to a close, we also want to wish the best of luck to all students immersed in studying for the exams. You've got this! 💪📚

Wishing joy and warmth to each of you during this festive season! 🌟

[picture generated with DALL·E AI]

🌍 Last Thursday, Aether’s own Benjamin Deceuninck went on an enriching journey to ESA ESTEC, the largest site and technical heart of ESA - European Space Agency, as part of his postgraduate course on Spacecraft Technology and Space Environment. 🚀

📍 Located in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, ESA ESTEC is known as The Incubator of the European Space Effort. From the electrical propulsion lab to the clean room in the environmental studies labs, he got an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the future of space technology. Afterwards, he explored the Space Expo of Noordwijk. Swipe left to see some snapshots of his exciting visit! 📸

👏 A big thank you to ESA ESTEC and KU Leuven for making this trip possible. And a special shoutout to Professor Johan Steelant for providing additional insights and support!

🔬 For us at Aether, every opportunity to learn and explore is a step closer to our dream of innovation in space technology. We can't wait to see where this journey takes us next! 🌌

**Dutch below**
🔬 November 26th was an unforgettable day filled with discoveries and adventure at Hogeschool VIVES Campus Kortrijk during the Dag van de Wetenschap (Day of Science)! Aether was proudly present to spark the curious minds of children and take them on an exciting journey through the world of space science and technology. 🌍

🔍 With interactive experiments, fascinating demonstrations, and engaging activities, we encouraged young explorers to delve into the mysteries of the universe. From exploring space to understanding our own planet Earth, together we discovered the magic of science and technology! 🪄
In addition to these exciting discoveries, participants also put their minds to work during our Astronaut Training Workshop where they had to crack a code by solving various puzzles. 🧩 🧠

Thanks to all the enthusiastic participants and curious minds who were part of this day full of wonder at Hogeschool VIVES Campus Kortrijk. Stay curious, keep exploring! 🌟🔭

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🔬 26 november was een onvergetelijke dag vol ontdekkingen en avontuur op Hogeschool VIVES Campus Kortrijk tijdens de Dag van de Wetenschap! Aether was trots aanwezig om de nieuwsgierige geesten van kinderen te prikkelen en hen mee te nemen op een spannende reis door de wereld van ruimtewetenschap en -technologie. 🌍

🔍 Met interactieve experimenten, fascinerende demonstraties en boeiende activiteiten moedigden we jonge verkenners aan om zich te verdiepen in de mysteries van het universum. Van het verkennen van de ruimte tot het begrijpen van onze eigen planeet Aarde, samen ontdekten we de magie van wetenschap en technologie! 🪄
Naast deze spannende ontdekkingen hebben de deelnemers ook hun hersenen aan het werk gezet tijdens onze Astronaut Training Workshop waar ze een code moesten kraken door verschillende puzzels op te lossen. 🧩 🧠

Bedankt aan alle enthousiaste deelnemers en nieuwsgierige geesten die deel uitmaakten van deze dag vol verwondering op Hogeschool VIVES Campus Kortrijk. Blijf nieuwsgierig, blijf ontdekken! 🌟🔭

🚀 Last Thursday, Aether had the pleasure to be part of the Igniting Tomorrows Ideas Event hosted by Technovation Hub & teams at KU Leuven - Campus Groep T. 💡

🤩 It was the perfect opportunity to meet the members of all the teams and learn more about their projects. The evening was filled with innovation, networking, and engaging discussions on technology and entrepreneurship.

Our booth was very popular. Our CubeSat project attracted a lot of interest, and we loved discussing it with people passionate about space technology. 🛰️

🎤 The 4 keynotes delivered by Technovation Hub Alumni added a captivating touch to the evening.

🙌 A big thank you to Technovation Hub and their dedicated staff for orchestrating this impactful event! ✨ Kudos to the teams that made the event as interesting and inspiring as it was - CORE, EMERGENT Leuven, Formula Electric Belgium, High Tech Lab maakleerplek, KU Leuven iGEM, Innoptus Solar Team, NeuroTech Leuven, and our own Aether! 👏 And of course, a huge shoutout to everyone who came by, making the event an absolute success! 🚀

🚀 Last week, the Aether team had an out-of-this-world experience at Space Tech Expo Europe in Bremen, Germany! 🌍

This event, the largest B2B event for the space industry in Europe, was a knowledge-packed journey for us, covering networking, business insights, and the latest advancements in space technology. It was truly inspiring to engage with industry leaders, including our partners arcsec and Ansys, and we're excited about the new opportunities these connections will bring to our project! 🤝✨

The event was a resounding success, and we're already counting down the days to come back next year! 🌐 Until then, we'll be applying the knowledge we gained to push the boundaries of our nanosatellite technology. 👩‍🔬🛰️👨‍🔬

🚀 Aether has just registered to attend Space Tech Expo Europe 2023 on 14 and 15 November, Bremen, Germany. Europe’s largest B2B event for the space industry is completely free-to-attend and welcomes thousands of space professionals through its doors every year. Join us for a day of unparalleled networking, plus the chance to experience all the exciting technology and innovation the industry has to offer! Keep an eye on our socials to stay up to date with our experiences at the event! 🌟

🚀 Last week, Benjamin Deceuninck embarked on the creation of our 1/1 CubeSat Display Model, and it's taking shape beautifully! He has crafted a delicate yet sturdy skeleton from a glass-fiber composite to hold the Torus securely in place without pressure. 🖌️

Our appreciation goes out to KU Leuven - Brugge for their generous hospitality, opening their laboratory doors to us and providing an environment where our ideas can truly take flight. 🔬✨

Swipe left to see some behind-the-scenes photos of Benjamin’s progress! 📸

🎉🏆 Congratulations to our fellow postgraduate students of Innoptus Solar Team for their triumphant win at the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge! 🌞

From all of us at Aether, we salute your achievement and are incredibly proud to share the same passion for technology and innovation. You've set a stellar example of what young engineers can accomplish when they work together. Keep reaching for the stars! 🌟

🚀🌞 The race is on at the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge in Australia and our fellow postgraduate team Innoptus Solar Team is leading the pack! They're defending their world championship title with their tenth solar car, aptly named "Infinite". Competing against student teams globally, they're pushing the boundaries of innovation and efficiency in solar-powered vehicles.

As space enthusiasts, we at Aether understand the importance of harnessing the power of the Sun, not just for our CubeSat but also for sustainable transportation here on Earth. Let's all cheer for Innoptus Solar Team on their quest to retain the title! 🌏🏆

Greetings, Space Enthusiasts! 🚀 We are excited to announce that Aether and CORE will be attending the Igniting Tomorrow's Ideas event hosted by Technovation Hub & Teams on Thursday, 23 November 2023. This innovation & networking evening will be held at Group T Leuven Campus, starting from 18.30 h.

This is a golden opportunity for all students, professors, companies, and entrepreneurs with interests in innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship to come together and share ideas. We are looking forward to meeting you all there and discussing the latest innovations in space technology! 🛰️

Join us and let's ignite tomorrow's ideas together! 💡
More information and register here:
👉 https://technovationhub.be/events/igniting-tomorrows-ideas.html

🚀 Last Wednesday, Aether took flight with EUROAVIA-Leuven to collaborate for their exciting Take Off Quiz. With over 65 aerospace enthusiasts divided into 16 teams, it was a resounding success! 🧠🎉

Our hypersonic Aether round was an absolute blast to organize, and EUROAVIA-Leuven spiced things up with some unique question rounds, including a challenge to create paper airplanes and make them soar! 📝✈️

Shoutout to one of the Aether teams for securing a stellar 3rd place! 🥉👏 And congratulations to the “Orbit Kings” for taking the crown! 👑🎊 Well done!

A big thank you to EUROAVIA-Leuven for their exceptional organization and for inviting us to be part of this amazing event. We're looking forward to more collaborations in the future! 💫

🚀 Big news from the final frontier! 🌠

Sunday night marked a momentous occasion as the KU Leuven RADIOX mission took flight from French Guiana. The Arianespace Vega-C rocket carried the experiment into an orbit around Earth at an altitude of 610 km. After a two-hour journey, the CubeSats separated from the launch vehicle, finding their place in a stable orbit. 🛰️

These CubeSats also house two groundbreaking experiments from our esteemed partner, arcsec! Not only are they demonstrating a compact, fully autonomous CubeSat ADCS 🛰️, but they are also putting the performance of their innovative Sagitta star tracker on display. ⭐

The RADIOX mission (“RADiation effects during In Orbit Flight eXperiments”), developed at the ADVISE research group in collaboration with the European Center for Particle Physics (CERN) in Switzerland and Isispace Group in the Netherlands, is pioneering a new radiation sensor in space. 🌍 The sensor is based on a small silicon memory chip that can count errors in the logic cells. Throughout the mission, the experiment will map radiation levels around Earth, providing crucial data for researchers to evaluate the sensor's quality. Radiation measurements on board spacecrafts are important to identify faulty operations and protect the electronics from electromagnetic interference. 🌐🔍

This mission signifies a major milestone for the ADVISE group as it is their first chip to journey into space, marking a significant step toward developing aerospace hardware and software which can be further exploited, for instance in our Aether Re-Entry CubeSat Project! 🛰️✨

Fun fact: the chips were developed during a master's thesis! This just goes to show that the sky should not really be the limit for students! 🌌

Watch the launch video here and witness this historic moment for yourself!
👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXc5I4_fUfI&ab_channel=SciNews

🚀 What an inspiring day at the Industrial Innovation User Event hosted by 4itego last Thursday!

It was a stimulating day filled with insights from industry leaders and experts, shedding light on the latest advancements in digital transformation, simulation, and engineering. 🌐🛠️

But what truly made the event remarkable was the diverse range of individuals we had the pleasure to meet and engage with. A standout moment was our interaction with Adrian Baiets and Marc Lambriks, whose friendliness and expertise left a lasting impression. 🤝✨

Thank you to 4itego, Infinite, and Innoptus for extending the invitation and orchestrating such an impactful event! 🙌 The knowledge we gained will undoubtedly fuel our future collaborations. We're excited about the opportunities to work together in fostering digital innovation! 🌟

🛰️ We are proud to announce that Aether is teaming up with EUROAVIA-Leuven! ✈️

Ready to put your aerospace knowledge to the test? Join us at the EUROAVIA-Leuven Take Off Quiz, in collaboration with Aether! As tradition, EUROAVIA-Leuven provides a free pizza per team and drinks at a democratic price. And this year, Aether will host a hypersonic round of questions!

At this take-off event, EUROAVIA-Leuven will unveil their 2023 calendar, and both EUROAVIA-Leuven and Aether will give insight into their association.

📅 Save the Date:
📍 Where: Alma Quadrivium, Campus Arenberg, Leuven
🗓️ When: Wednesday, 11 October
🚪 Doors 20:00, start 20:30

Gather a team of 3, 4, or 5 people and register here: https://forms.gle/d29Sx7e1xVhxaWbEA

**Please note: The quiz will be in Dutch.**

Don't miss out on this aerospace adventure! 🚀✈️

📸 The Gadget that Solved Blurry Images from the International Space Station 🛰️

“During Expedition 6 in 2003, orbital motion created a challenge to take sharp nighttime images, typically requiring 1-4 second exposures. So I assembled a barn-door tracker from spare parts (a barn door tracker is an amateur astronomy term for a simple homemade tracker to counter Earth motion for long exposures of space; I used this in space to counter orbital motion to take photos of Earth), and attached it to the lab module window. The main (black) platform is the old IMAX movie camera mount. The blue drill driver turns a long threaded bolt that moves the platform in one direction of gimbal to track orbital motion. Looking through a camera with a telephoto lens while using the drill driver can make a stationary image then using the cable release fixed to a second camera for the actual photo. I used this for making the first sharp focused cities at night photography from space.” – Don Pettit, NASA Astronaut

🌌

🚀 Introducing the Aether Team of 2023! 🌌

As we embark on another exciting year of space exploration, we're excited to introduce the new talented individuals behind Aether. ✨ Say hello to the faces driving innovation and pushing the boundaries of CubeSat technology!

From Engineering Wizards to Cosmic Business Managers, this diverse group is united by a shared passion for space and a commitment to our mission of creating a CubeSat that survives re-entering Earth's atmosphere. 🛰️🌠

Stay tuned for more updates on our upcoming events, and join us in welcoming this exceptional team to the Aether family! 🌟

🌌✨ New image of Herbig-Haro posted by ! ✨🌌

You're looking at Herbig-Haro 211, the outflows of a young, still-forming star nestled approximately 1,000 light-years away in the constellation Perseus. 🌟🔭

Meet the young star itself, HH 211-mm, a luminary among the cluster of around 300 stars known as IC 348. HH 211-mm has captured the attention of various telescopes, from Spitzer and UH88 to Calar Alto and VLT, and now, the incredible James Webb Space Telescope . 🔍🛰️

🔭 Join us in celebrating the wonders of our universe! 🌠

Credits: u/ResponsibilityNo2097 & u/JwstFeedOfficial