Workshops ECSSMET 2026
|
Workshop Registration
|
Information on Workshops ECSSMET 2026
Load Derivation: Safety Factors and Margin Policies
Moderators: Gerben Sinnema, (ESA Structures Technical Authority) and Benoit Laine (Lead Technical Authority in Mechanical Engineering)
Load-derivation methodologies are applied across ESA programmes, industry and partner agencies, but their practical implementation, including the use of safety factors and margin policies, can differ considerably. These differences may influence load predictions, structural sizing, verification approaches and the interpretation of analysis results.
This workshop will compare current practices and clarify how load-derivation methodologies are implemented across the European space community. Drawing on the technical issues and experience reported in ECSSMET contributions, participants will examine recurring pain points, differences in interpretation and areas in which existing approaches may lead to inconsistent outcomes.
The discussion will focus on a small number of well-defined practical issues, with particular attention to safety factors, model and load uncertainties, margin definition and application, and the treatment and communication of derived loads.
The workshop aims to identify where practices are already aligned, where legitimate differences need to be better understood, and where further harmonisation, methodological guidance or clarification may be beneficial.
Direct Field Acoustic Noise Testing for Full Spacecraft
Moderator: Ivan Ngan (ESA Structures Engineer)
Direct Field Acoustic Noise (DFAN) testing is increasingly considered as an alternative approach for spacecraft acoustic qualification and acceptance testing. Its application at full-spacecraft level nevertheless requires a clear understanding of the technical conditions, supporting evidence and verification methodology needed to demonstrate adequate test representativeness and confidence.
This workshop will focus on a central question: what is still required for DFAN testing to become an accepted approach for full-spacecraft acoustic testing?
Using existing guidelines, lessons learned from agency and industry experience, and the technical contributions presented at ECSSMET, participants will discuss topics including test-field representativeness, control strategy, instrumentation, correlation and validation, acceptance criteria, risk management and applicability limitations.
The workshop aims to identify the remaining issues that need to be further demonstrated, standardised or agreed, and to establish priorities for the current development and future enhancement of ESA guidance on DFAN testing.
Thermo-Elastic Verification: New Guidelines and Future Perspectives
Moderator: Simon Appel (ESA Structures Engineer)
This year’s Thermo-Elastic Workshop will focus on the release of the second issue of the European Guidelines for Thermo-Elastic Verification, developed by the ESA community through the dedicated working group.
The workshop will present the principal advances introduced since the previous issue and provide an opportunity for participants to discuss their practical application. Three important new topics included in the guidelines will be explored through contributions from the community:
- STOP analysis procedure: a thermo-elastic example — José María Arroyo Urbina, Sener
- Uncertainty assessment in thermo-elastic verification — Alejandro Gómez, ESA
- Temperature-mapping experience using pySinas for the Aeolus-2 PLH instrument — Miriam Zazza, Leonardo
Participants will also discuss the proposed way forward for applying the guidelines and gathering experience from future projects.
Looking beyond the present scope, the workshop will introduce ESA’s initial considerations on extending the thermo-elastic verification framework towards a broader Structural, Thermal and Optical Performance (STOP) approach, encompassing additional mechanical and thermo-mechanical sources of performance disturbance.
Digitalisation in Structures Development, Manufacturing and Testing
Moderators: Sofia Sinopoli (ESA Structures Engineer) and Daniel Krause (DLR Digital Transformation Facilitator)
Digitalisation has the potential to improve continuity, efficiency and traceability throughout the structural lifecycle. However, terminology, maturity levels and expectations—particularly concerning Structural Digital Twins—are not yet consistently understood across the community.
This workshop will establish a common understanding of digitalisation across structural design and analysis, manufacturing and associated processes, and structural testing. It will clarify what constitutes a Structural Digital Twin, examine how digital information can be connected across the different lifecycle phases, and explore where digitalisation can provide genuine added value.
Drawing on contributions and experience from industry, agencies and research organisations, participants will identify current needs, recurring pain points, implementation barriers and priority areas for future development. The workshop outcomes will provide input to the definition of ESA’s roadmap for digitalisation in the structures domain.
Scope: The workshop focuses specifically on digitalisation and Digital Twins applied to structures, manufacturing and processes, and structural testing. It does not aim to address the broader range of spacecraft-level Digital Twin applications.
Pre-Registration Process
The pre-registration process has now been completed and is closed. Information on the pre-registration procedure can be found in the PDF below.