Centers of Expertise - Observatoire de Paris - PSL - Centre de recherche en astronomie et astrophysique

Over the course of 2022, the Observatoire de Paris set up its Pôles d’Expertise. Their mission is to develop, maintain and perpetuate shared scientific expertise and technical know-how of strategic interest to the establishment. They are formed on the basis of a dominant scientific mission, the scope of which may extend beyond the establishment’s own scientific community, and which requires the use of a shared technical infrastructure for its implementation. The purpose of the Pôles d’Expertise is to pool the material and human resources made available by the establishment and its various structures, or by PSL or other organizations. Their operation is governed by the establishment’s own internal rules and regulations. They are accredited for the duration of the five-year institutionnal contract.

Centers of Expertise (2022-25)

CENSUS (CEntre pour les Nanosatellites en Sciences de l’UniverS) is the Space Cluster of PSL University, hosted by Paris Observatory. The cluster focuses on nanosatellites and NewSpace. The aim of CENSUS is to provide support to PSL scientific teams wishing to develop a nanosatellite in any field of the sciences of the Universe: systems engineering, modeling, specific engineering expertise (optical, mechanical, thermal, etc.), project reviews, loan of specialized tools and components, clean room, test equipment, operations control, etc. Its vocation is also to promote nanosatellite know-how in other fields (robotics, hostile environments...) and to integrate innovations (AI, propulsion...) into its projects to move them forward. CENSUS helps scientific teams define their nanosatellite project and build a design that respects space constraints, by choosing reliable components in the fast-moving NewSpace market. CENSUS also facilitates team interaction with space agencies, and flight operations procedures.

PADC (Paris Astronomical Data Centre) is an ANO5 Regional Center of Expertise (CER) accredited by INSU. Its priority missions are the development and maintenance of ANO5 services, which require human and material resources over the medium and long term. The regional centers of expertise have been set up to meet this need, and their primary vocation is to guarantee these resources. They therefore have the scientific and technical expertise required to ensure the development, maintenance and sustainability of ANO5 services. As far as data dissemination is concerned, PADC participates in the implementation of the establishment’s open science policy, as proposed to the Observatory’s Scientific Council by the Paris Observatory Council for Open Research and Collections (CROCO). The Pôle d’Expertise proposes priorities for these missions to the Observatoire’s Scientific Council, through a multi-year roadmap.