Stardust project

{{Infobox research project

| name = Stardust project

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| project_type = Research and training program

| funding_agency = FP7 Marie Curie Initial Training Networks (ITN) scheme

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| framework_programme = Seventh Framework Programme

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| research_objective = Ways of removing space debris (such as fragments of defunct satellites which risk damaging functioning satellites if they collide with them), and ways to deflect asteroids which could have devastating consequences if they crash into the Earth

| location = Europe

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| partners = Ten full partners and four associated partner institutions

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| start = February 2013

| end = Early 2017

| website = [http://www.stardust2013.eu/ Stardust project homepage]

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{{About|the EU's research into protection from space débris and asteroids||Stardust (disambiguation)}}

{{for|the project concerning space dust|Stardust@home}}

Stardust, which began in February 2013, was a four-year research and training program looking into ways of removing space debris (such as fragments of defunct satellites which risk damaging functioning satellites if they collide with them), and ways to deflect asteroids which could have devastating consequences if they crash into the Earth. {{cite web|title=Researchers at Strathclyde University will investigate hazardous asteroids and space debris in an attempt to protect our planet. |date=3 October 2012 |url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/strathclyde-university-to-lead-32m-outer-space-1357945}}{{cite web|title=Strathclyde to lead the EU's 'Stardust' space debris project. |url=http://www.dpaonthenet.net/article/53572/Strathclyde-to-lead-the-EU-s--Stardust--space-debris-project.aspx}}{{cite web|title=Scientists are already working on defensive technologies. |url=http://www.theeuropean-magazine.com/massimiliano-vasile--2/6690-threats-from-space}}{{cite web|title=SCIENTISTS are to launch a multi-million-pound project aimed at finding ways of stopping an asteroid impact from destroying the planet. |url=http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/349922/Scots-scientists-on-mission-to-save-planet-from-rogue-asteroids}}

Stardust was a European programme funded by the FP7 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Initial Training Networks (ITN) scheme.{{cite web|title=Stardust, CORDIS web page|url=http://cordis.europa.eu/projects/rcn/105568_en.html}} The network is composed of ten full partners and four associated partner institutions across seven European countries. There were five universities – University of Strathclyde (UK), University of Southampton (UK), Technical University of Madrid (Spain), University of Rome Tor Vergata (Italy), University of Pisa (Italy), and the Astronomical Observatory Belgrade (Serbia), four research centres – German Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche Italiano (CNR), French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and the European Space Agency (ESA), and four companies – Deimos Space (Spain), Dinamica (Italy), Astrium Ltd (UK) and Telespazio S.p.A. (Italy). A further 11 early career researchers and 4 post-doctorate researchers were hired and received specialised training.

The Stardust Final Conference on Asteroids and Space Debris was held at the end of October 2016 at the European Space Agency premises.{{cite web|title=Stardust Final Conference. |url=http://www.stardust2013.eu/Training/Conferences/StardustFinalConference/tabid/5484/Default.aspx}}

Stardust completed its four-year remit of research and development activities in early 2017. During that period, the network was awarded the Sir Arthur Clarke award for space research in 2015,{{cite web|title=Winners of the Sir Arthur Clarke Awards 2015. |url=http://www.bis-space.com/2015/07/17/14936/winners-of-the-sir-arthur-clarke-awards-2015}} was featured at the IAC2016 in Guadalajara, and is supporting the [https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/smpag/home/ Space Mission Planning Advisory Group] of the United Nations on matters related to planetary defense.

Answering to another call for an H2020-MSCA-ITN-2018 proposal, a new Stardust-R research programme{{Cite web|title=Stardust-R, CORDIS web page|url=https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/813644}} was created which aims at training, by research, a new generation of scientists and engineers who can develop enabling technologies and effective solutions to critical problems in planetary defence, minor body exploration and the sustainable use of space.