SPARTACUS Project: MCAST And SETU Join Forces To Advance Aerospace Safety
Dr Leonardo Barilaro, Senior Lecturer at the Malta College of Arts, Science, and Technology (MCAST), visited the South East Technological University (SETU) in Ireland for a game-changing collaboration on the SPARTACUS project.
The project aims to develop innovative repair techniques for aerospace structures damaged by high-velocity impacts.
Dr Barilaro is collaborating with Dr Mark Wylie, Lecturer from the Aerospace, Mechanical, and Electronic Department at SETU, and presented a seminar titled “The growing threat of Space Debris and innovative mitigation strategies” to master and PhD students.
He also met with stakeholders to further research efforts on the MCAST SBORAEK project and the ongoing ASTROBEAT project.
Dr Leonardo Barilaro’s seminar for master and PhD students at SETU
These projects focus on developing 3D-printed shields for ballistic protection and investigating cold-welding techniques for spacecraft hull repair.
Mark Spiteri, an MSc Aerospace Engineering student at MCAST, is also actively involved in the SPARTACUS project. Spiteri previously visited SETU in April as part of his contribution to the research, where he collaborated with SETU’s team and engaged in hands-on experiments. Spiteri’s research, alongside the collaboration with Ms Theeba Shafeeg, an MSc student at SETU under the supervision of Dr Wylie, is helping to bridge academic knowledge with practical applications, advancing the objectives of the project.
SPARTACUS is a step towards advancing aerospace repair technologies. By developing new repair techniques, the project aims to improve the safety and reliability of aircraft and spacecraft.
The collaboration between MCAST and SETU brings together expertise from both institutions to address this critical challenge.
SPARTACUS (Space and Aviation Repair Techniques Against Catastrophic Impacts) is a project financed by Xjenza Malta through the IPAS+ scheme.
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Cover image: Dr Leonardo Barilaro, SPARTACUS project leader, with Dr Mark Wylie at SETU (Ireland)