Home - Blue Marble Space Systems

Space electronics consultants

To succeed in the highly complex and rapidly evolving space industry, choosing partners providing specialized knowledge is crucial to ensure a timely and fruitful mission development and execution.

Blue Marble Space Systems offer a wide range of avionics and C&DH consultancy and design services. We are based in the Harwell Campus, a hub for the UK and Europe space industry.

Expertise in avionics you can trust

Blue Marble can provide you with consultancy and design services for your avionics needs at various levels and stages:

Component evaluation and selection
Schematic design and/ or review
Failure analysis and risk optimization
PCB layout/ review according to Space industry standards
Manufacture of EM and FM boards
Test plan elaboration/ review
Test EGSE review, design and manufacture
Software architecture and implementation
FPGA firmware development
ASIC architecture consulting and development

The dawn of space high performance computing

The increasing need for in-orbit computing is fulfilled with the use of FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Arrays) that are becoming essential components in satellite technology due to their flexibility, performance, and adaptability to harsh space environments.

FPGA, being closer to hardware than software run by a CPU, allows HPC (high-performance computing) in orbit, thus reducing the amount of data downlinked and optimising the mission performance.
FPGA are easily reprogrammable, allowing not only updates during the mission lifetime but also complete different configurations to be deployed.
FPGA are radiation resistant and firmware can be fault-tolerant using, for example, TMR techniques.

AI in space

AI is an indispensable tool, working alongside human experts to push the boundaries of space exploration and research. AI/ ML offers significant advantages in space by enabling autonomy in deep-space missions, rapidly processing vast amounts of data, and enhancing overall mission efficiency and safety

Autonomous GNC

AI allows satellites to compute and correct orbits, avoid collisions, and make real-time decisions without human intervention, which is crucial due to communication delays with Ground. This autonomy also extends to tasks like docking, servicing, and self-monitoring systems.

Enhanced Earth Observation

By on-board processing of satellite data, AI helps in rapid disaster response (wildfires, volcanoes, hurricanes), offering a greater speed and accuracy than traditional methods. AI also selects useful data to download and helps using bandwidth optimally.

Increased Safety

AI systems predict potential hazards, such as equipment failures, space weather events (like solar flares), and potential collisions with space debris. This allows for proactive measures to mitigate risks, protecting valuable assets and human lives

Mission Efficiency

Automating routine and complex tasks reduces the dependency on large ground teams, streamlines operations, and optimizes resource use (such as fuel and power). This leads to more efficient missions and lower operational costs

Operations Support

AI provides support to astronauts in various ways, including monitoring their physical and mental health, managing life support systems, and providing interactive assistants for tasks and problem-solving, especially during long-duration missions.

Advanced Robotics

AI-powered robots are essential for tasks in harsh environments that are too risky for humans, such as sample collection, infrastructure assembly, and satellite maintenance, extending the reach of human exploration

AI in space

Autonomous GNC

A more efficient and autonomous Guidance, Navigation and Control and collision avoidance.

Earth Observation

Intelligent in-orbit processing and selection of data optimizes downlink.

Increased Safety

Better and automated risk detection and faster action to keep the system safe.

Mission Efficiency

Automated operations reduce ground team workload and expand mission

Operations Support

Smarter satellite monitoring that increase ground operations efficiency

Advanced Robotics

More agile, precise and sophisticated operations are possible with smarter control.