Description
Objective: Test methods for the verification of large deployable antennas in the aperture range of 3 to 5 m, allowing extension up to 12 m projected aperture.
Main objectives:
- Test methods for key parameters such as deployment, surface accuracy, thermo-elastic stability, RF and Passive Intermodulation (PIM).
- Analytical methods and tools for test predictions and correlation.
- Demonstration of Mechanical Ground Support Equipment (MGSE) and Electrical Ground Support Equipment (EGSE) hardware.
Targeted Improvements: Development of new non-existing methods in Participating States industry.
Description:
There is a general trend towards the use of larger and larger deployable antennas and consequently there is a need to develop a capability to handle and test such large antennas in Europe. To accommodate near-term technology developments, there is a need to support antennas with projected apertures up to about 5 m. In the longer term projected apertures up to 12 m are foreseen and new radio frequency and deployment test methods developed in this activity should be extensible to cover this future need.
Large antennas with projected apertures in the range from 3 to 5 m are of strategic industrial importance as they would enable a variety of services in the realm of satellite communications, including broadband services (apertures of about 4 m - 5 m and possibly as high as 6 m at Ka-band) and broadcasting services (shaped reflectors up to about 6 m for Fixed Satellite Services C-band applications). Larger reflectors of 9 to 22 m projected aperture, currently provided by Harris and Astro in the US, are already operational mainly in L and S bands for Mobile Satellite Services. Other possible applications include air traffic management satellite services in L-band, as well as emergency and tactical communications systems in VHF/UHF. A capability to test such large antennas in Europe is desirable in order to avoid a dependency on US test facilities.
In the frame of the activities of the Large Antenna Working Group, deployable structures for 6 m aperture antennas have been demonstrated in TRP, GSP and industry-funded precursor activities. The objectives achieved are the consolidation of European IPR and feasibility of new technologies at an affordable price. The next steps are the preparation of the necessary infrastructures and test methods for the later potential qualification and in-flight demonstration phases. This gradual implementation of basic engineering tasks would allow a distributed effort in time and across applications.
Currently there are no methodologies or facilities in Europe capable of coping with the large antenna product verification tests. In this first step the test methods shall be identified, developed and validated, prior to an industrial implementation. Later on, identification and tuning of test facilities shall be carried out. The test methods to be developed include mainly:
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Deployment testing with gravity compensation of peripheral support structure
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Surface accuracy measurement with and without gravity compensation and several gravity orientation vectors
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RF testing in combination with surface accuracy measurement
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PIM testing at full reflector scale
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Thermo-elastic distortions testing combined with surface stability
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Quasi-Static loads and vibration testing
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Thermal vacuum and cycling
- Reliability
Procurement Policy: C(1) = Activity restricted to non-prime contractors (incl. SMEs). For additional information please go to EMITS news "Industrial Policy measures for non-primes, SMEs and R&D entities in ESA programmes".
Tender Specifics