Adriatic Aerospace Association (A3) is a non-governmental, non-profit and independent association recently established in Croatia with the aims to foster research and development in aerospace sector; catalyse projects development as regional point-of-contact; encourage and support capacity development and knowledge transfer through academic and professional education and counselling; and regional cooperation.
The challenge for the future is to develop, or participate in development of, aircraft-spacecraft system for launching satellites, with the vision to be used for human access to Space.
The founding members are research institutes, university departments, technology companies and individual specialists in related fields of science and technology. The Association’s main objectives comprise facilitation of research and development of aerospace technologies, passenger and cargo transport, pilot training, aerospace facilities (airports and spaceports), capacity development, knowledge transfer, and business development in the field of aerospace technologies.
The Adriatic Aerospace Association’s current activities are primarily focused on launch of a Perun, the first Croatian satellite to reach the orbit. The launch and operation of Perun will allow the development of expertise in the field of space technology and science, but also the growth of capacities across the levels of education. In later phases of the programme, the CroCubeSat developments aim to go commercial thus fulfilling the country’s and regional needs for surveillance from space with applications in defence and security, ecology, land and maritime agriculture and forestry, traffic and transport, tourism and science.
The challenge for the future is to develop, or participate in development of, aircraft-spacecraft system for launching satellites, with the vision to be used for human access to Space. The system offers much cheaper, and safer, way to reach Space without the need of expensive and very demanding on location of rocket launching sites, any airport would be enough. The project requires considerable expertise and funds, and an international partnership is essential for making it possible.
The Adriatic Aerospace Association extends a considerable capacity in related fields of technology and science, through expertise of its members, among them a company provider of complex tailor-made software solutions and all-around software support for the satellite industry. So far it delivered over 100 projects to the international market, the customers that include international space and global humanitarian agencies. Individual and corporate members of the Association have developed capacity in artificial intelligence, control systems, satellite navigation, space weather, data science for location intelligence. In research and development, the A3 members operate centres exploring and developing advanced graphene based materials, advanced energy storage elements, advanced materials for solar cell applications, and advanced materials for various types of sensors. The A3 technology experts work on satellite and rocket engine designs and manufacturing. Several A3 members are associated with NASA, Airbus and DLR thus providing the A3’s strong link with the leading organisations in the field of aerospace technologies. The segments of aerial traffic control systems, UAV development for targeted scenarios of utilisation, airport planning and aircraft structure simulation are covered by the A3’s aviation related experts. We have a good base of experts to workout our plans and moderate numbers of firms that could realize them, which is an invitation for partnership on those projects.
Airports are also in focus of our attention because A3 is not only space program. Our plan in aviation is to revive small airports that are scattered in tourist regions of Croatia and so far had been neglected. Combining pilot training with tourism and handling small aircraft traffic would be the goal for these airports. Reviving those airports would be beneficial for local people, bring business to construction firms and services. Problem along the Croatian part of the Adriatic coast is transport of passengers and goods among numerous islands and small airports would solve it.
Slobodan Danko Bosanac
President
Adriatic Aerospace Association
