Space-based applications, including communication, navigation, and Earth observation, are essential to the European economy and daily life. Recognizing their importance, the EU has made space sustainability a strategic research focus, ensuring the continued availability of these critical services.
The ATLAS project aims to position the Czech Republic as a leader in this effort, advancing innovative laser technologies to support sustainable practices both on Earth and in space. By focusing on Earth observation, space environment management, and a circular space economy, ATLAS is set to shape the future of space sustainability and its impact on society.
Main goals:
ATLAS is focused on developing advanced and innovative laser-based solutions to strengthen all three pillars of Space sustainability:
Sustainability from space – This includes all Earth Observation (EO) technologies and services to monitor the climate and sustainable development. It also includes green energy technologies from space.
Sustainability in space – the sustainable use of the space environment, which includes managing space traffic, all Space Situational Awareness and related technologies, plus active debris removal.
Sustainability of the space sector – the goal is to achieve a circular space economy in which in situ resources are used rather than continuously transferring mass from Earth into space and then dispersing it either in the atmosphere or in space. This includes all in situ manufacturing, recycling, regenerative, and resource utilization technologies.
The main goal of this ERA Chair project is to develop new capacities in the field of Space-borne Laser Research and Applications in the region of Central and Eastern Europe, namely at the Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences (FZU) – HiLASE Centre, Czech Republic, by establishing an excellent international scientist, Professor of Space Systems Engineering Massimiliano Vasile (University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK), as an ERA Chair and a leader of a new research programme on Advanced Technologies for Laser Applications in Space.
Project number: 101186678
Project name: Advanced Technologies for Laser Applications in Space
Project acronym: ATLAS
Call: HORIZON-WIDERA-2023-TALENTS-01
Topic: HORIZON-WIDERA-2023-TALENTS-01-01
Type of action: HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions
Granting authority: European Research Executive Agency
Project coordinator: FYZIKALNI USTAV AV CR V.V.I (FZU) – HiLASE Centre
Project starting date: 1 February 2025
Project end date: 31 July 2029
The ATLAS project is expected to deliver significant impact on the research performance and innovation potential of the HiLASE Centre in the field of space-borne laser development and space applications.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
