Star Helix has had an exciting first year! Since our conception as a UK LTD company one year ago, we took part in many groundbreaking activities that have propelled our organisation to the forefront of space technology and research. Take a look back with us at our accomplishments over the past year:
RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
Pressurised Spacesuits & Suit Manuals
Our team has been diligently working on the development of commercial pressurised spacesuits. These efforts included three analogue astronaut missions at HI-SEAS in Hawaii. Each mission provided invaluable data and insights that have contributed to the refinement of suit designs and the creation of comprehensive suit manuals!
Pressure Seal Tests
Working with the University of Arizona, we conducted pressure seal tests at the Biosphere 2 SAM pressurised habitat. These tests are crucial in ensuring the reliability of data gathered from the simulated environment, helping us move closer to creating protocols for living in the harsh conditions of space and understanding the physiological and psychological strain this can put on the inhabitants.
Mars Yard Infrastructure Expansion
We assisted with the design and construction of the Mars Yard and Operations Centre at SAM (Space Analogue for the Moon and Mars), retrofitting a 300m3 greenhouse into an open test-bed for EVAs and rovers at the Biosphere 2 facility.
BioTechnology for Earth and Space
Our founding directors have been in discussions with academia and industry, creating plans to explore new hardware and microbial populations for life support systems and in-situ resource utilisation. These biotechnology solutions would consume fewer resources to purify water and access important minerals from waste in terrestrial applications.
KNOWLEDGE SHARING
Knowledge Exchange
Sharing Knowledge is an important part of building relationships, and we highly value our network of contacts who facilitate our work. Finding and connecting the movers and shakers of R&D, understanding the landscapes of different countries and sectors, and forging lasting friendships with leaders in innovation are how we stay relevant and impactful. To that end, we’ve been growing our contacts in:
Europe: Scotland, England, Italy, France, Greece, Czech Republic, Poland, and Spain.
North America: Arizona, California, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Ohio, Texas and Canada.
MENA: UAE, Jordan
Database Creation
We created a comprehensive database and summary of papers published from the three largest analogue astronaut habitats: MDRS, HI-SEAS, and LunAres. This database serves as a valuable resource for the analogue astronaut community, as well as researchers and engineers, providing easy access to critical information needed for further exploration advancements.
OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY
Science Festivals and Academic Outreach
Our outreach efforts spanned multiple events and institutions, here is just a few:
- Los Alamos Science Fest (New Mexico)
- Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum
- Arizona State University
- The University of Arizona’s Biosphere 2 – SAM
- SIMOC via The National Geographic (online)
- Starshot Academy (Utah)
- MilSatCom (UK)
- Global STEM Initiative (online)
These events and more allowed us to share our work and expertise with the public and scientific community and we look forward to many more in 2024!
BUSINESS EXPANSION
American LLC
In our pursuit of growth and international presence, we successfully established an American LLC. This strategic move enables us to engage more effectively with partners and clients in the USA, bringing new opportunities for collaboration!
FUNDING & GRANTS
Grant Applications
Our team has been actively involved in writing NSF, DoD, ISS and NASA grant applications for aerospace companies. While the outcomes are still TBD, our participation in these showcases our commitment to securing funds for groundbreaking space research and technology development.
Grant Review Panels
We also participated in UKRI grant application review panels, contributing our expertise to evaluate and support innovative projects in the sector.
CONSULTANCY GROWTH
The Star Helix Team
Recognizing the need for diverse expertise, Star Helix welcomed seven new consultants to our books, each a specialist in their respective fields. This expansion has significantly enhanced our capabilities, enabling us to tackle more ambitious projects and drive innovation.
LOOKING AHEAD
As we reflect on the past year, we are proud of the strides we have made and the foundation we have built. Star Helix is committed to continuing our journey, we are excited for the future and are looking forward to sharing more milestones with you in the coming year.
Watch out for our activities in the Arctic and the UAE!
Ad sidera tarrae causa!
(To space for Earth’s sake!)
By: Rebekah Russwurm