ESA Technical Officer for the project Benoit Bonvoisin comments “The idea of nano-enabling gives us the opportunity to tailor composite materials. This sounds promising for other applications as well, such as enhancing the safe ‘demisability’ of CFRP – ensuring that they will burn up during atmospheric reentry to prevent any hazard to people or property on the ground.”

“Collaborating with ESA on this project has had numerous benefits,” adds Mr. Blasakis. “In terms of market knowledge, ESA missions represent potential end customers for these developments, so we’ve been gaining useful perspective. And, along with the support of our ESA Technical Officer and their fellow engineers, we also obtain access to some specialist equipment for materials testing, as needed.

“ESA’s guidance means we could get connected with the appropriate person to answer our questions, to find out how the processes we are establishing are aligned with industry requirements, which has proved very useful throughout the evolution of a young company like ours.”