New materials, new possibilities for space application

Short bio: Ugo Lafont received his PhD degree in Physics and Chemistry of Condensed Matter from the University of Montpellier (FR) and directly joined the Delft University of Technology (NL) in 2004. First at the faculty of applied science focusing is research interest on nanomaterials and nanotechnologies for energy storage and conversion (Li-ion battery, H-Storage and Fuel cells) and catalysis and later, at the faculty of aerospace engineering working on the development of advanced composite and smart materials (self-healing, multifunctional materials). Since 2013 he is working for the European Space Agency (ESA) at the European Space research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) in The Netherlands, providing support and expertise in the field of non-metallic materials and processes, materials’ physics and chemistry and space environment effect. His work also focus on technology development and implementation for space application in the field of new materials (i.e. new polymeric system, thermoset and thermoplastic based composite, self-healing materials, graphene technology), additive manufacturing with polymers and in-space/on-orbit manufacturing. He is a Member of the council of the European Society of Composite Materials (ESCM) and Associate Editor of the CEAS Space Journal.