Rocket launches, a €1bn research initiative, and the future of 3D printing
Looking to the stars: how the Graphene Flagship is using space experiments to develop new technologies
Looking to the stars: how the Graphene Flagship is using space experiments to develop new technologies
New rocket and lunar experiments involving graphene are informing space exploration. Applying graphene to the wheels of the Rashid moon rover will reveal whether this material is also ‘Moon-proof’. Meanwhile, testing graphene-inks in a sounding rocket will test their potential for enabling 3D printing in space – which could allow astronauts to create tools they need even when far from Earth.
The Graphene Flagship will highlight its latest innovations in this field at ILA Berlin, a think tank of the aerospace industry. Between 22 and 26 June 2022, leading stakeholders from industry, science and government will meet to discuss today’s challenges, as well as tomorrow’s opportunities. Our project has produced lighter leading edge parts for aircraft and taken 2D materials to space!
The Graphene Flagship participates in a sounding-rocket launch in collaboration with the European Space Agency to test the printing of graphene devices in space. The experiment went onboard the MASER 14 rocket, launched earlier today from the European space base in Esrange, Sweden.
Bringing together 118 academic and industrial partners in 12 research and innovation projects and 1 coordination and support project, the Graphene Flagship initiative will continue to advance Europe’s strategic autonomy in technologies that rely on graphene and other 2D materials. The initiative, which builds on the previous 10-years of the Graphene Flagship, is funded by the European Commission’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme. The 2D-Experimental Pilot Line, addressing the challenges of upscaling 2D material production processes for the semiconductor industry, is another key component of the Graphene Flagship ecosystem.