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maltatoday | SUNDAY • 27 APRIL 2025 THIS IS A PAID COLLABORATION MCAST's ASTROBEAT Space Mission returns to Earth: A seamless journey beyond the boundaries of science and art THE ASTROBEAT project, an innova- tive fusion of aerospace engineering and space art, is now coming to an end after successfully completing its ground- breaking mission aboard the Interna- tional Space Station (ISS) and returning to Malta at MCAST. Between Novem- ber 5th and December 16th, 2024, the experiment not only advanced critical spaceflight technology but also became a landmark in cultural outreach, demon- strating that science and art can thrive beyond Earth's atmosphere. The launch opportunity was made possible through collaboration with Voyager Space (for- merly known as Nanoracks) and is par- tially funded by Xjenza Malta. One of the mission's core objectives was the valida- tion of a test rig for cold-welding as a po- tential solution for spacecraft hull repair. Led by Dr Leonardo Barilaro - aerospace engineer, pianist, and Senior Lecturer in Aerospace Engineering for the Institute of Engineering and Transport at MCAST - ASTROBEAT sought to explore how met- als behave in the unique microgravity environment of space. Cold-welding, where metal surfaces fuse together in a vacuum without re- quiring heat, has long been observed as a challenge in space operations. His- torically, unintended cold-welding has led to mechanical failures in spacecraft. ASTROBEAT's experiment aimed to har- ness this phenomenon as an advantage, investigating whether it could be applied for emergency hull repair following mi- crometeoroid or space debris impacts. The experiment's successful execution aboard the ISS marks a major step to- ward future space safety solutions. The insights gained from ASTROBEAT will inform the next generation of spacecraft maintenance technologies, reducing the risks associated with space debris, a growing concern for both government agencies and private space exploration initiatives. Following its six-week mission, AS- TROBEAT successfully returned to Earth, completing a smooth re-entry and re- trieval process at Kennedy Space Center, before being sent to MCAST in Malta. Now in its final phase, the project has seen the experiment samples dispatched to South East Technological University (SETU) in Ireland, where Dr Mark Wylie's team will conduct post-flight analysis. These tests will assess the structural in- tegrity of the bonded metals and eval- uate the efficiency of the cold-welding process in an orbital environment. This data will be instrumental in refining space-grade materials and developing practical repair techniques for future spacecraft. The MCAST core team comprises Dr Leonardo Barilaro, Mark Spiteri, Steve Bu- hagiar and Ing. Luke Falzon with the sup- port of Deputy Director Roberto Tiscio. Beyond its technological advancements, ASTROBEAT also delivered an unprece- dented cultural milestone. As part of its artistic vision, the mission featured an ex- traordinary music broadcast from Space. On November 25th and 27th, 2024, music compositions created specifically for the mission were streamed directly from the ISS to Earth, reaching an audi- ence spanning multiple continents. In particular, Moon Seeds - created by Dr Leonardo Barilaro, known also as 'The Space Pianist,' in collaboration with Grammy-nominated cellist Tina Guo and producer Steve Mazzaro (both from Hans Zimmer's team) - stood out as a highlight of the two events from Space. This artis- tic venture solidified ASTROBEAT's role as a beacon of artistic exploration, prov- ing that human creativity can extend far beyond terrestrial borders. Speaking about this achievement, Dr Barilaro stat- ed: "In Space, there is space for everyone. Science and art do not exist in isolation, they fuel one another, expanding the limits of human imagination." ASTROBEAT's mission was not only sci- entifically and artistically ambitious but also received high-profile recognition. The ISS National Lab, in collaboration with NASA, selected and featured AS- TROBEAT as one of the five most interest- ing experiments of 2024, highlighting its multidisciplinary impact. This acknowl- edgment places ASTROBEAT alongside some of the most advanced research conducted aboard the ISS, reinforcing the significance of international collab- orations in pushing the frontiers of both space science and culture. To celebrate the mission's conclusion, Dr Barilaro released his latest musical work, the Seamless EP. This collection of compositions embodies the spirit of ASTROBEAT, blending sonic textures in- spired by Moon Seeds and Black Sun, the very tracks that resonated from Space. The Seamless EP represents a metaphor- ical journey through the cycles of space exploration, from uncertainty to discov- ery, from silence to resonance. Just as ASTROBEAT has united science and art, the EP offers listeners an immersive ex- perience into the dual nature of precision and emotion, technology and intuition. With ASTROBEAT's first mission complet- ed, the next phase is already underway. The preliminary development of AS- TROBEAT 2 has begun in collaboration with New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), with a focus on expanding the scientific scope of cold-welding research and further integrating space art ele- ments. Dr Barilaro will visit NYUAD at the end of May 2025, engaging with faculty and students in both aerospace and the arts. This visit will strengthen ASTROBE- AT's growing partnership with academic institutions, ensuring that future mis- sions continue to merge scientific rigor with creative expression. Additionally, ASTROBEAT 2 will incorporate an inno- vative space debris sensor (Uborrow), developed as part of a joint venture be- tween MCAST and the University of Pad- ua (Italy), in collaboration with Dr Loren- zo Olivieri and his team. This new addition will allow for re- al-time monitoring of micrometeoroid activity, providing crucial data for im- proving spacecraft shielding strategies. The involvement of Professor Andrea Macciò, Director of NYUAD's Center for Astrophysics and Space Science, further solidifies the project's place within global space research efforts. The collaboration between MCAST, SETU, NYUAD, Voyager Space, Skyup Academy, the University of Padua, alongside support from NA- SA and the ISS National Lab, has set the foundation for continued breakthroughs in space exploration and cultural out- reach. As preparations for ASTROBEAT 2 continue, one thing is clear: the bound- aries between Earth and space, between science and art, are becoming increas- ingly seamless. For more information on ASTROBE- AT and to follow the project's updates, please visit: • ASTROBEAT website - mcast.edu. mt/astrobeat • The Space Pianist website - www. thespacepianist.com ASTROBEAT (SUP-2023-09) is a project fi- nanced by Xjenza Malta through the Space Upstream Programme. The International Space Station pay- load opportunity is being made available by Voyager Space, formerly Nanoracks, through its Space Act Agreement with NA- SA's U.S. National Lab. Leonardo the Space Pianist and Tina Guo for Moon Seeds Dr Leonardo Barilaro with Prof Andrea Maccio Leonardo Barilaro with Dr Mark Wylie