Scientific analysis and exploitation of space data

Expected Outcome

Project results are expected to contribute to the following expected outcomes:

• European space science breakthroughs fostered by data analysis and exploitation of European missions (incl. low-cost/small satellite) and instruments, in conjunction, when relevant, with international missions. This data may also originate from European in-orbit validation experiments with a focus on space science and exploration.
• A higher number of European scientific publications based on space data, high-level data products made available through appropriate archives, and tools and methods developed for the advanced processing of data.
• Increased collaboration of scientific teams both within and outside Europe across different domains, adding value to existing activities on European and international levels and enhancing and broadening research partnerships.
• European scientific excellence and development of leading-edge scientific research in Europe.

Scope

The aim of this topic is the analysis (including validation) and exploitation of acquired and available data provided by scientific and exploration instruments and missions in their pre-operative, operative, post-operative or data exploitation phase, focusing on astronomy and astrophysics, cosmology, heliophysics, deep space and solar system exploration, ensuring complementarity with activities already supported by agencies during development phases. Such data may also originate from CubeSat and small satellite missions for advancing space science and exploration.

More specifically, data to be analysed are expected to result from science and exploration missions (including cubesat to small satellite missions) from ESA, national space agencies, research organisations and universities missions. Earth observing missions are not considered in the scope of this topic. This analysis may require innovative and advanced data processing techniques, the use of advanced artificial intelligence techniques, novel statistical approaches, multidimensional data fusion while optimizing the use of advanced computing hardware architectures, as well as novel data (re)presentation and visualization techniques.

Projects may rely on data available through ESA Space Science Archives when possible or other means (e.g. instrumentation teams). Combination and correlation of this data with international scientific mission data, as well as with relevant data produced by ground-based infrastructures all over the world, is encouraged to further increase the scientific return and to enable new research activities using existing data sets. These activities shall add scientific value through analysis of the data, leading to scientific publications and higher-level data products, tools and methods. When possible, enhanced data products should be suitable for feeding back into the ESA Space Science archives. Resulting analyses should help preparing future European and international missions.

International cooperation is encouraged in particular with countries active in space exploration and space science.

In this topic, the integration of the gender dimension (sex and gender analysis) in research and innovation content should be addressed only if relevant in relation to the objectives of the research effort.

Technology Readiness Level - Technology readiness level expected from completed projects

Activities are expected to achieve TRL 4 by the end of the project. The reference TRL definition is the ISO 16290:2013 applicable to the space sector.