PROGRAMME 2024

Over the last ten years the Netherlands Space Office has been developing the Satellite Data Portal to make high resolution satellite data available and usable for the Dutch citizens. With the data portal users access satellite data mapped to the Netherlands and make comparisons between different types of observations and the changes over time.

In the last year NSO has released the Caribbean Satellite Data Portal (BES). With the data now available for the Caribbean, the next challenge is getting the people and the communities in the Caribbean to start using the data portal. Having the data available is one thing, translating this in useful insights and knowledge requires a next step by the users or intermediaries.

You will work in a team of business, law, science and engineering students to build on the Summer School 2023 results that identified the possible uses for the Caribbean. Based on these use cases (and perhaps new ideas from your team) you are asked to identify the stakeholders for these use cases and determine a strategy/roadmap to stimulate the use of the data portal.

How can the increasing possibilities in Earth Observation be used for covering the data gaps in the sustainability reporting of corporations?

Climate change is one of the major problems that humanity is currently facing. With global average temperature expected to increase at least twice as much in the next 100 years as it has during the last 100 years1, intensifying environmental measures in the coming years is essential for reducing global warming. Many governments have formed legislation regarding ESG factors to stimulate sustainability actions at large corporations. To ensure that progress is being made, it is essential to report on and audit the status and steps taken.

You will work in a team of business, law, science and engineering students to dissect these CSR legislations and investigate how EO applications can help with the reporting on progress made.

Securing access to appropriately skilled people to ensure competitiveness and innovation of the EU space sector.

Space technologies are evolving fast, and new skills must follow accordingly to adapt to this changing environment. New programmes and innovative platforms with the aim to disclose skills to the industry and develop spot on curricula to achieve the goals of the EU in the aerospace and defense ecosystem are required. Access to appropriately skilled people is essential to ensure competitiveness and innovation of the EU space sector which currently employs over 230.000 professionals and will grow rapidly in the next few years.

You will work in a team of business, law, science and engineering students to identify a business case, for developing and exploiting an Open Space Academy. This on line academy collects the needs of the industry, is well embedded in the educational system and offers courses and trainings for all levels (from secondary vocational to academic level (phd/ post doc). The academy has the ambition to use immersive learning techniques to secure a spot in the ivy league of e learning platforms.

What innovative methods can be developed to integrate space-based remote sensing technology with existing drone data to enhance the detection and management of plant diseases in floriculture?

Over the past decade, the field of remote sensing has seen significant advancements, particularly in agriculture and horticulture. Last year, our project successfully utilized drone data and artificial neural networks to detect diseases in tulips and hyacinths. This approach demonstrated the potential of aerial imagery and machine learning in improving plant health management. Now, we aim to extend this innovative work by incorporating space-based remote sensing technology. Given the expertise of students in space and astronomy, this project challenges you to explore how satellite data can complement drone imagery to enhance disease detection in floriculture. You will work in interdisciplinary teams, combining skills in engineering, data science, and horticulture to develop novel solutions and assess their feasibility.

In a state of emergency, what actionable solutions are there available for the global community, based on the state of engineering, business and legal developments of today?

It is July 2024. A non-functioning Dutch satellite is headed for imminent collision with another immovable object of undefined origin. However, their collision has been scientifically modelled and proven that upon impact they will inevitably trigger the Kessler Syndrome. The object must therefore be removed from that orbit in the next six to 24 months, before this collision occurs. This is a world-wide emergency. However, some States do not believe it is their responsibility to facilitate the venture and refuse to provide funding, while some private actors accuse UNOOSA of perpetuating a false narrative. The general public does not believe this is a true risk and are focusing their attention on climate change.

Your task is to work as a team of engineering, business, law and science students to convince the UN, the private actors as well as the general population that you have an actionable cross-discipline proposal to remedy the situation, taking into consideration the current engineering developments, business considerations and space laws to run this mission before it’s too late.

Define your own new space business!

Since about 10 years space has entered a new era which many dub the commercial space era. Commercial space is no longer limited to the domain of launchers and communication satellites. New companies are now creating commercial business or government service programmes in cargo flight and Earth observation, telecommunication and other services or products. With a new increased interest in lunar exploration and even Mars, companies are looking into opportunities for providing services to government programmes and even run run full commercial programmes like commercial space stations. The challenge is that a business case for a space (related) business is not always as straight forward.

You will work in a team of business, law, science and engineering students to identify new potential business cases and create your own company, determine if they depend on governmental programmes or can be commercial self-standing and what legal aspects should be considered.