Description
Objective:
Objective of this activity is to design, manufacture and test a single chip frequency converter for future LEO and MEO constellations that is capable of supporting various different frequency translation schemes.
Targeted Improvements:
Increase of integration density by a factor of 10 in comparison to today's space qualified frequency converters
Description:
New telecom constellations are calling for radical changes in the way a telecom satellite is designed and built as the target cost of the satellite is in the range of the qualification cost of a conventional equipment for geostationary telecommunication satellite applications. Conventional frequency converters are a fairly complex equipment that are designed to cope with a very wide range of requirements, complying with different platforms, multiple frequency conversion schemes, various link gains, etc. which inevitably translate into high cost. The drastic increase of the integration density needed for constellation satellites implies a radically different approach in the design of the various major elements of the transparent transponder, which can be broken down in the low noise amplification stage, the frequency translation stage and the high power amplification stage.
This activity aims at defining a simplified frequency translation chain that will be integrated into a single chip providing gain adjustment before and after a broadband mixer. The architecture shall be compatible with various frequency schemes, such as Ku-to-Ku, Ka-to-Ka and Ku-to-Ka-band conversions. The RF chain can then be customised for a specific frequency plan by using application-specific filters that interface directly with dedicated ports on the single chip converter. An integrated converter RF chain shall be designed, manufacturing and experimentally verified. Two monolithic microwave integrated chip manufacturing runs are foreseen to arrive at an engineering model of a single chip frequency converter.
Procurement Policy: C(2) = A relevant participation (in terms of quality and quantity) of non-primes (incl. SMEs) is required. For additional information please go to EMITS news "Industrial Policy measures for non-primes, SMEs and RD entities in ESA programmes".
Tender Specifics