Digital Twin & Indian Space Economy

Digital Twin offers versatile applications for the booming space sector, ranging from satellite manufacturing, and in-orbit servicing, to mission simulation.

The satellite business is going through a rapid digital change as new companies focused on space technology enter the market, notably in the commercial low-Earth orbit sector.

With the launch of almost 6,000 satellites into orbit over the last six decades, space is now seen as a crucial component of the nation’s infrastructure, much like utilities for power or water.

State of Indian Space

India has experienced noteworthy progress, particularly subsequent to the reforms declared by the central government in 2020 aimed at augmenting the involvement of the private industry in the sector.

Currently, there are over 150 start-ups operating in various domains, including the development of launch vehicles or rockets, the design of advanced satellites, the creation of Space Situational Awareness (SSA) solutions, and the construction of applications based on space technology.

Propelled by the increasing allocation of funds by nations towards the sector, augmented private participation, and the emergence of novel satellite technologies, services, and applications, prominent investment banks and financial services providers such as Morgan Stanley, Citi, and UBS have projected that the global space industry market will expand to $1 trillion by 2040 from its present value of $386 billion in 2021.

Furthermore, considering the annual growth observed in India, it is anticipated that the country’s space economy will reach $40 billion by 2040.

The current value of India’s space market is approximately $8 billion, with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4% in recent years, compared to the global rate of 2%.

Digital Twin and Space

Digital Twin is being touted as the next big thing for the space sector due to the rising demand for digital engineering tools to construct intricate satellite networks.

On the lines of NASA and other private players, Digital Twin offers a lot of potential for the Indian space sector as well in various application areas.

The rapidly expanding space industry can benefit greatly from the use of digital twin technologies, especially in fields like satellite construction, space exploration, and space infrastructure.

Digital Twin can improve productivity, lower risks, and spur innovation in the space sector by building virtual replicas of satellites, asteroids, and other space-related assets.

Satellite Development and Operations

Design Optimization: Engineers can simulate and test satellite designs using Digital Twin, which can then be used to optimise the configuration, weight, and balance of individual components before they are manufactured. This may result in lower development costs and better performance from satellites.

Mission Planning: Utilising Digital Twin can help mission planners optimise launch windows, ground station coverage, and other mission characteristics by simulating satellite orbits, communication links, and payload performance.

Predictive Maintenance: Digital Twin can assist in discovering possible problems before they become severe and enable prompt maintenance or adjustments to extend satellite lifespan by tracking the health and performance of satellites in orbit.

Space Exploration

Planetary Science: Digital Twin have the capability to generate virtual representations of celestial entities, including but not limited to the Earth, planets, moons, and asteroids. Such models can facilitate scientific inquiry into their geology, climate, and potential for sustaining life, while also enabling the formulation of future missions.

Spacecraft Design and Testing: Digital Twin have the capability to replicate the operational behaviour of spacecraft in diverse circumstances, including radiation exposure, extreme temperatures, and microgravity. This can facilitate engineers in enhancing the precision of designs, mitigating risks, and augmenting the likelihood of accomplishing mission objectives.

Astronaut Training and Mission Simulation: Digital Twin can be utilized to replicate authentic mission scenarios, providing astronauts with a secure and virtual environment to train and execute their duties.

Space Infrastructure

On-orbit servicing and manufacturing: Digital Twin have the capability to simulate intricate interactions among servicing vehicles, space stations, and satellites, thereby facilitating the optimization of robotic operations and mitigating risks during on-orbit servicing and manufacturing activities.

Space Traffic Management: The utilization of digital replicas of space assets and their corresponding orbital trajectories can facilitate the simulation and anticipation of prospective collisions, thereby enhancing the efficacy of space traffic management and mitigating the probability of orbital accidents.

Space-based Communication Networks: Digital Twin can be utilized to enhance the optimization of the design, deployment, and operation of space-based communication networks, specifically satellite constellations, to guarantee optimal coverage and bandwidth efficiency.

NASA’s Next Space Plan

Sierra Space Corporation, a US Space engineering company is dedicated to constructing space platforms that enhance the quality of life on Earth.

The company’s Dream Chaser vehicle, the first-ever winged commercial space plane will facilitate human habitation and work in space, thereby catalysing a transformative shift in human civilization. It is presently undergoing development to facilitate the transportation of supplies to and from the International Space Station.

This reusable space plane is approximately one-quarter the size of the Space Shuttle and will be capable of landing at any compatible commercial runway worldwide, with turnaround times comparable to those of an airline.

The Sierra Space team has leveraged tools from the Siemens Xcelerator platform’s portfolio of solutions to simulate the conditions that the Dream Chaser will encounter during its missions, including thermal and mechanical loads.

The digital twin is utilized for the purpose of simulating and analysing various scenarios, such as the time required to replace a tile or an oxygen tank.

The utilization of Siemens Teamcenter as a sole repository of accurate information has facilitated Sierra Space to unleash a remarkable amount of innovation.

This is due to the fact that engineers are able to concentrate on the design and functionality of the Dream Chaser, rather than the bureaucratic aspects of transferring data from one system to another.

The acceleration of design cycles has been significant, as has the acceleration of production cycles. Sierra Space has observed a reduction in assembly time ranging from one-half to two-thirds. The assembly of parts has become more efficient and teams are encountering fewer obstacles.

By the year 2030, a considerable number of individuals will reside or engage in occupational activities within the low-Earth orbit. It will be feasible for individuals to travel to the Sierra Space’s space port in Florida, board a Dream Chaser spacecraft, and spend a duration of one to two weeks in low-Earth orbit before returning and landing at any airport.

The low-Earth orbit setting will facilitate numerous technological advancements, including the production of 3D organs in space and other innovations aimed at eradicating diseases that have afflicted humanity for centuries.