Orbit as a Laboratory: Suborbital Missions, AI & OPC UA

The TEXUS Program (Technological EXperiments Under Space Conditions), initiated in 1976 by the predecessor organization of the German Space Agency, remains a vital platform at the forefront of microgravity research. Despite its long heritage, TEXUS is continuously adapting to the evolving demands of its scientific customers. To maintain cutting-edge operability and reliability, outdated technologies are routinely replaced with newer, more efficient solutions. 

Furthermore, as experiment facilities grow in complexity, the program has implemented innovative methods for experiment control. We will present a recent example of these developments, focusing specifically on the critical interface between the ground operator and the space-bound experiment.

What happens when two liquids react without the pull of gravity? Our international science team investigates how chemical reaction fronts behave under weightless conditions, similar to those found in space. The studied reactions play a key role in technologies such as soil restoration, CO₂ storage, and the creation of fine particles for advanced materials.

In microgravity, where buoyancy and sedimentation disappear, the researchers can observe effects that are otherwise hidden on Earth. The results not only offer insight for novel synthesis routes and future reactors in space. They also help develop simpler, faster computer models for improving sustainable technologies back on our planet.

How is artificial intelligence changing the way we conduct space exploration? Our project shows that AI is more than just a trend – it solves real challenges in mission preparation and experiment control. We report on how we combined OPC UA and LLMs (Large Language Models) to enable secure, traceable, and flexible interaction with complex scientific payloads.

The focus is on the scientists: their workflows, questions, and expectations have shaped every aspect of the solution. Join us live and gain insights into the architecture, prototypes, and experiences at the interface between payload design and AI development.

We report on how we used a collection of specialized ChatGPT Assistants and OPC UA to enable the scientists to remotely control the experiment module via natural language, and the integration of AI features in our Payload Portal for human-friendly web-based OPC UA access.

Moderation: Anja Van Bocxlaer, Think WIoT & Stefan Hoppe, OPC Foundation