MLPLUS

MLPLUS-CM represents the consolidation phase of a space mission for the in-orbit demonstration of a microsatellite equipped with advanced technologies for scientific observation, quantum communication, control and electric propulsion.

The MARTINLARA mission

The In-Orbit-Demonstration (IOD) mission MARTINLARA (ML) was born from the need to address some of the main challenges facing our society — from climate action to sustainable economic development, both goals set by the United Nations and priorities for the European Union. Its feasibility study and preliminary definition were successfully achieved in the precursor project MARTINLARA-CM, which also proved the ability to take novel technologies from concept to flight preparation and to transfer that knowledge to other university space missions in Madrid.

The mission develops a nano/micro-satellite platform carrying payloads for radioastronomy, Earth observation, space photonics and plasma micro-propulsion. These technologies have a direct impact on social problems such as climate change and on sustainable access to space — enabling nano/micro-satellite observation constellations that meet present and future debris rules. The project interweaves aerospace engineering, telecommunications, astronomy, geodesy and geophysics. In the short term ML builds new capabilities and a collaborative space-technology hub in the Community of Madrid; in the medium and long term it aims to enable participation in international projects on radioastronomy, Earth Science and propulsion, and ultimately to launch ML.

From MARTINLARA-CM to MLPLUS

The precursor project MARTINLARA-CM leveraged the knowledge and experience available in the Community of Madrid to tackle these challenges through innovation in space technology and science. Among its results:

• Collaboration between 6 groups to develop an advanced radiometer from concept phase to its integration into UPMSat-3, the third satellite of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, ready for launch in 2024/2025.
• Collaboration between 3 groups for the development, integration and verification tests of MARTINLARA's FlatSat.
• Collaboration between 4 groups to evaluate and define the engineering requirements to integrate a method of acquiring and processing scientific data from the radiometers for observation of Earth's atmosphere.
• Collaboration between 3 groups for the mission and platform of MARTINLARA. This work was transferred beyond the project, benefiting UPMSat-3 and the first student CubeSat at UC3M, ST3LLARsat1 "Boira" — a transfer that was key for UC3M to become the first university in the Comunidad de Madrid chosen by ESA for its Fly-Your-Satellite! Design Booster programme.

MLPLUS-CM consolidates the short-term objective of MARTINLARA-CM by continuing the established collaborative hub, and supports its medium and long-term goals by maturing ML's developments towards launch-readiness. Specifically, it evolves the mission design from a 'preliminary' to a 'detailed definition' level — from phase B to phase C in the European Space Agency's terminology.