Exclusive Large Science Projects 2025
Tueday 10th June 2025
Room:
Time: 11:00-11:25
The speaker is Dr Hélène Mainaud Durand, head of the Geodetic Metrology group at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, in Geneva
Large scale Metrology challenges at CERN
The European Organization for Nuclear Research, known as CERN, builds the largest tools on Earth – colliders and detectors – to study the smallest constituents of matter. Its flagship is the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), a 27 km long collider, consisting of more than 1600 supra-conducting magnets operating at 2 K and accelerating cavities to enable particle beams circulate and collide in four large detectors. The geodetic metrology group at CERN provides metrology and alignment for components installed in the accelerators, their beam transfer lines and the physics experiments throughout the CERN complex. It also performs R&D related to these tasks for upgrades of existing machines and for future accelerator and experimental projects. In this presentation, I will first briefly review the instrumentation and methods developed for the LHC. I will then present the new alignment systems under preparation for the LHC upgrade, based on Frequency Scanning Interferometry, before concluding on the R&D performed on the Future Circular Collider study, to prepare the post LHC era.
Hélène Mainaud Durand is head of the Geodetic Metrology group at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, in Geneva, Switzerland. Her group provides metrology and alignment for components installed in the accelerators, their beam transfer lines and the physics experiments throughout the CERN complex. It also performs research and development related to all these tasks for upgrades to existing machines and for future accelerator and experimental projects. She is immediate past president of the European Society of Precision Engineering and Nanotechnology and fellow of the International Academy of Engineering and Technology.
Tuesday 10th June 2025
Room:
Time: 11:25-11:50
The speaker is Davina Di Cara, Senior Electric Propulsion Engineer (TEC-MPE)
ESA R&D and missions with Electric and CubeSat propulsion
The presentation outlines the European Space Agency’s (ESA) advancements in Electric Propulsion technology, aimed at enhancing space competitiveness and enabling new applications. ESA’s ongoing developments support various missions, including telecommunication in GEO/LEO/MEO, science, remote sensing, navigation, space awareness, space logistics, and space exploration. ESA collaborates with the European Commission, National Space Agencies, industry, research centres, and academia to mature this technology through ground qualification and in-orbit demonstration. The goal is to increase reliability, competitiveness, industrialization, mass production, and European independence. Additionally, ESA is pursuing innovative Electric Propulsion technologies to enable new missions or applications and to respond to future space exploration and transportation needs.
The presentation summarizes ESA’s ongoing activities, achievements, readiness status, technology gaps, market perspectives, trends, and opportunities.
Davina graduated in Aerospace Engineering from Politecnico di Torino (IT) in 2003 and joined the propulsion team of the European Space Agency in 2004. She is a senior Electric Propulsion Engineer with over 20 years of experience in ESA projects support and R&D management. She is responsible for the ESA Roadmap on Electric Propulsion and CubeSat Propulsion and serves as the Deputy Manager of the ESA Propulsion Laboratory.
Tuesday 10th June 2025
Room:
Time: 11:50-12:15
The speaker is Paul Shore, Loxham Precision LTD, Chief Executive Officer
Some “New” Aspects of a Large High Precision CNC Diamond Turning Machine
Interest in large scale aluminium mirrors for space based applications has re-emerged. This increased interest, after a period of favouring ceramic and glass based mirrors, is due to emergence of earth observation (EO) applications in the infrared region.
This presentation will provide a technical update of the 1.5 metre CUPE large diamond turning machine (LDTM) that is operated by Loxham Precision and located at Cranfield. LDTM is the largest capacity diamond turning machine in the UK. It was first reported in “Some aspects of a large high precision CNC diamond turning machine” by Pat McKeown at the 1982 CIRP conference held in Brugge, Belgium.
During the last 12 months LDTM has been renovated and enhanced through a number of repairs and upgrades. LDTM is presently producing segmented IR mirrors for commercial Earth Observer satellite systems. These EO space systems demand mirrors of light-weight, low cost and present no significant risk during end of life re-entry.
