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In March 2010, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Val Space Consortium (VSC) signed an agreement to move the European High Power Radio Frequency Laboratory to Valencia, specifically to the Polytechnic City of Innovation – the UPV science park. This laboratory is specialized in high-power radio frequency breakdown effects (Multipactor, Corona and power handling) and the study of Passive Intermodulation (PIM). These phenomena can affect communications and the correct operation of satellites.

After almost 14 years, this laboratory and the European Space High Power Materials Laboratory (ESA-VSC) located at the Escola Tècnica Superior d’Enginyeria of Universitat de València are world references in the sector. This was stated this Monday by the manager of the ESA-VSC laboratories, and staff of the European Space Agency, David Raboso, in the framework of the governing board of Val Space Consortium, held at the UPV.

“The collaboration with this city is incredible. Fourteen years ago, we bet to come to Valencia and cooperate with the two public universities, and the reality has exceeded expectations. The ESA-VSC laboratories are the best of their kind in the world, and most of the space projects in Europe, and many even from abroad, pass through here”, explained Raboso.

The manager of the ESA-VSC laboratories pointed out that, in 2010, “when we started this collaboration, the Valencian Community was well below average in the space sector. “It is incredible how it has shot up lately with the contribution of many small companies in the sector and has brought together a critical mass of space issues that is paying off. Today, few Spanish regions have so much weight at the national level, which also impacts attracting and retaining talent,” said Raboso.

In the same vein, the rector of the UPV, José E. Capilla, also highlighted the significant role of the Valencian Community in many space research projects, such as Galileo, or its contribution to several exploration missions, “and in them, the role of these laboratories, to test equipment, has been fundamental. Undoubtedly, the collaboration that began almost 15 years ago with ESA is giving spectacular results at all levels,” said the rector.

More than 450 test campaigns for the global space industry

The Val Space Consortium was created in March 2010 to bring together all the efforts that the entities of the Valencian Community carry out in the space sector. Formed by the Generalitat Valenciana, the City Council of Valencia, the Universitat Politècnica de València, and the Universitat de València-Estudi General, the VSC carries out scientific research activities and technological development services in any field of activity related to the space sector, including increasing the safety and production quality of space systems.

“The Valencian laboratories integrated into the ESA network carry out important research and development work in collaboration with other research groups from Valencian, Spanish, and European universities and generate opportunities for the training of researchers and the introduction of university students in the space field,” highlights Vicente Boria, president of the VSC Executive Committee.

Since the beginning of the joint activity between the VSC and ESA, more than 450 test campaigns have been carried out for the global space industry, “exceeding the initial forecasts,” says David Argilés, managing director of the VSC.

Currently, the ESA-VSC laboratories are participating in missions such as Galileo, the European satellite navigation system; Sentinel, the European family of Earth observation satellites; MEtOp, Europe's meteorological satellites for daily weather forecasting; and ROSE-L, which will provide continuous monitoring of the Earth's entire climate, oceans and ice, among others.