Exploring aerospace advancements and global collaborations: a comprehensive analysis of MCAST's aerospace program in Malta

This paper provides an overview of the Aerospace Program at the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST). The program comprises of four main projects that aim to address different challenges in the aerospace industry, in particular in the field of protection of aerospace structures and systems from space debris impacts. The first project focuses on the development of 3D printed Kevlar shields for aerospace applications. The outcome of this project is the development of repair strategies for inflatable manned modules in space and efficient small satellite shields. The second project describes the use of cold-welding phenomenon for spacecraft repair, in collaboration with South East Technological University (SETU), Ireland. The project aims to develop an experimental test rig to apply custom repair patches of different materials to pre-damaged metallic structures and monitor the performance of the adhered joint in low orbit and during re-entry. The third project presents a collaboration between MCAST and the University of Padova to develop a single stage Light-Gas Gun (LGG) impact facility in Malta. Finally, the paper discusses MCAST's participation in Malta's third space bioscience experiment launched to the International Space Station led by the University of Malta. The experiment aims to investigate how microgravity affects the behaviour of foot ulcer microbiomes in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus patients. The project marks a significant milestone for both MCAST and the University of Malta. The projects presented in this paper reflect MCAST's commitment to contribute to the advancement of the aerospace industry and offer new opportunities for research, development, and commercialization.