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Funding
This page displays the ARTES Invitation To Tenders (ITTs) which are published on ESA-STAR. If you are looking for a specific element select from the list provided and click on the Apply button to start the search and display the results.
Funding of the individual Prime or subcontractors, for ARTES Core Competitiveness and ARTES Applications activities, is subject to authorisation of the required ARTES budget by the related National Delegations. Therefore, bidding teams are requested to inform their National Delegation(s) of their intention to participate in funded activities already before submitting a proposal.
The official information platform for providing potential bidders all the relevant documentation and details concerning the intended and issued Invitations To Tender (ITTs) for Open Competitions and Direct Negotiations is ESA-STAR - managed and operated by the ESA Procurement Department.
DISTINCT TRANSMIT AND RECEIVE SATELLITE SYSTEM FOR SIMULTANEOUS TWO-WAY LOW DATA RATE COMMUNICATION SERVICES (ARTES AT 3A.202)
The objective of the activity is to design a system concept based on distinct transmit-only and receive-only satellites for the user link. The goal is to enable at the system level simultaneous two-way low data rate communication services such as Internet of Things, messaging, and VDES operating in frequency range from VHF to C-band. The system concept will be implemented and tested in an end-to-end system testbed. This includes the user termi…
COMPACT TRIBOLOGY-FREE POINTING MECHANISM (ARTES AT 4E.094)
The objective of the activity is to design, manufacture and test a tribology-free mechanism breadboard for both platform and payload pointing applications on telecom satellites. The lifetime of the developed mechanism shall be assessed, and endurance testing shall be carried out. Targeted Improvements: Enabling a European source of compact, tribology-free pointing mechanisms with no backlash or friction hysteresis effects. Description: Today p…
DRAG AND ATOMIC OXYGEN RESISTANT CARBON FIBRE REINFORCED POLYMER FOR VERY LOW EARTH ORBIT TELECOM SATELLITES (ARTES AT 4A.092) (ON DELEGATION REQUEST)
The objective of the activity is to develop and test a coating material (e.g. for substrates such as carbon fibre reinforced polymer, polymers, etc) with improved atomic oxygen and drag resistance to be used on the external satellite surfaces for very low Earth orbit applicationsTargeted Improvements:- Enabling technology not existing today; allowing telecommunication satellites with conventional construction materials in much lower orbits tha…
SOLAR ARRAY WITH LATCHED SHALLOW CURVED SURFACE FOR IMPROVED DEPLOYED STIFFNESS (ARTES AT 4F.161) (ON DELEGATION REQUEST)
The objective of the activity is to develop, manufacture and test a latch to enhance the deployed stiffness of an existing array, by means of a slight repositioning of panels. Targeted Improvements: Increase the frequencies of the deployed array by 30%.Description: Most telecommunication solar arrays comprise in-line panels, arranged in a row. Some include lateral panels, forming a cross configuration. In the case of the latter, the frequency…
HIGH EFFICIENCY Q-BAND POWER AMPLIFIER MONOLITHIC MICROWAVE INTEGRATED CIRCUIT FOR ACTIVE ANTENNAS (ARTES AT 5B.238)
The objective of the activity is to design, manufacture and test a set of highly efficient (minimum 25% power added efficiency) Q-band Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits (MMIC) for active antenna applications in GEO, MEO and LEO. The packaged devices will be based on European technology covering the 10 Watt power class (GEO) down to a few 100mWs for LEO applications. Targeted Improvements: Enabling critical building block technology deve…
L-BAND GALLIUM NITRIDE LOW NOISE AMPLIFIER-BASED RF FRONT-END (ARTES AT 5C.465) (ON DELEGATION REQUEST)
The objective of the activity is to design a compact L-band RF front-end for telecom applications which is based on a GaN Low NoiseAmplifier (LNA). A breadboard of a GaN microwave monolithic integrated circuit will be developed and tested. The RF front-end including the filtering function shall be modelled.Targeted Improvements: up to 30% mass and volume saving of the RF front-end (LNA and filtering) and 20 dB improvement of the LNA dynamic ra…
CYBERSECURITY MAKERSPACE: IDENTIFICATION, EXPLORATION AND ASSESSMENT OF CYBERSECURITY CHALLENGES TO SATCOM SYSTEMS (ARTES 4.0 SPL 4S 3D.025)
The objective of this activity is to enable rapid delivery of small proof-of-concepts and technical investigations that are addressing emerging cybersecurity challenges in the field of cybersecurity for satcom systems.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:…
FACETED RECONFIGURABLE REFLECTOR BASED ON REFLECT ARRAY TECHNOLOGY (ARTES AT 5B.242)
The objective of this activity to design, manufacture and test a Ku- or Ka-band faceted reconfigurable reflect array operating in receive band for reconfigurable coverage applications. RF and thermo-elastic performance shall be experimentally evaluated.TargetedImprovements: - Reduction up to 20% the reflector aperture diameter in comparison to today's shape reflector technology.- Improvement of the directivity performance at the edge of t…
5G NEW RADIO (NR) NON-TERRESTRIAL NETWORKS RELEASE 18 PROTOCOL STACK ENHANCEMENTS (ARTES 4.0 SPL 5G/6G 3F.011)
The objective of this activity is to develop the software protocol stack for Release 18 enhancements related to 5G New for Radio (NR) for Non-Terrestrial Networks. The software protocol stack development shall be based on a testbed considering both the User Equipment (UE) and g-NodeB (gNB) features and operational procedures.Targeted Improvements:Enable 5G NR NTN system performance simulations with the latest Release 18 modifications.Descripti…
BREADBOARDING OF CRITICAL TECHNOLOGIES FOR A MULTI-BEAM SATELLITE RECEIVER FOR AIRCRAFT MODE-S SIGNALS (ARTES 4.0 4S SPL 5A.082) (ON DELEGATION REQUEST)
The objective of the activity is to design, develop and test payload technologies compliant with multi-beam receivers for satellite-based air traffic surveillance. Critical breadboarding will be carried out to demonstrate the concept suitable for use on small satellites in LEO or MEO. Targeted Improvements: 50% reduced payload power consumption, mass and volume compared to current technology.Increase the probability of message detection by a f…
INVISIBLE PHASED ARRAY ANTENNA TO PROVIDE BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY ON BOARD CARS (ARTES 4.0 SPL 5G/6G 7C.094)
Objective: The objective is to develop and test a Ku or Ka band transparent phased array antenna to provide broadband connectivity on board cars. Targeted Improvements: Develop a new class of phased array antennas for cars able to guarantee a seamless broadband connectivity with LEO satellites. Description: There is today a significant interest to provide broadband connectivity to cars. This request is associated to the need to guarantee emerg…
BACKGROUND LIGHT AND ATMOSPHERE METROLOGY FOR QUANTUM KEY DISTRIBUTION AT URBAN LOCATIONS (4S SAGA)
Development of tools and hardware and the execution of a measurement campaign for background light and atmosphere conditions for Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) at urban location (major cities and metropolitan areas) under ARTES 4.0 Space Systems for Safety and Security (4S) Strategic Programme Line. These measurement results are an important check point to validate the design of the SAGA system. The background light and atmosphere metrology ac…
EARTH UPPER ATMOSPHERE FORECAST TOOL FOR MISSION DESIGN AND OPERATION (ARTES 4.0 AT 4C.066)
The objective is to develop a multi-model informed predictive tool of atmospheric parameter variability for mission design and operation.Targeted Improvements:- Enabling a new European tool allowing prediction of atmospheric conditions (e.g., density, composition, radiation) over time, including local state and total dose.- To reduce initial mission design margins hence avoiding overdesign.Description: The recent loss of several communication…
RAPID AND FLEXIBLE END-TO-END MANUFACTURING PROCESS FOR COMPLEX-SHAPED COMPOSITE REFLECTOR ANTENNA (ARTES 4.0 AT 5B.226)
The objective of the activity is to develop rapid and flexible advanced manufacturing techniques, with a full digital workflow, forhigh volume production of complex-shaped composite reflector antennas from 1 to 3.5 metres in diameter.Targeted Improvements:Reduction in composite reflector manufacturing time by a factor of five in comparison to standard metallic mould processes.Description:Today, the manufacturing lead time of reflector antennas…
IN-ORBIT DEMONSTRATION OF A NARROW BAND INTERNET OF THINGS (NB-IOT) INTER-SATELLITE DATA RELAY (ARTES 4.0 SPL 5G/6G 3E.023)
The objective of this activity is to proof that a standardised existing solution such as NB-IOT can be used for satellite-to-satellite low data rate communications. Targeted Improvements: Introduce world's first standardised intersatellite data relay solution based on 3GPP NTN standards, opening up a new market for new companies and telecom operators toprovide data solutions to Earth Observation missions via intersatellite data relay. Des…
MULTI-PLATFORM DUAL BAND CONFIGURABLE POWER AMPLIFIER FOR AVIONIC TERMINALS (ARTES AT 7C.052) (ON DELEGATION REQUEST)
Objective: The objective of the activity is to develop, manufacture and test a breadboard of a L- and C-band configurable power amplifier to enable dual band operation of avionic terminals. It shall demonstrate 200W peak power per channel and a 10dB dynamic rangewith a constant average power added efficiency of at least 50% for both bands, without compromising linearity performance. The breadboard shall include driver, main and peak amplifier,…
SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE AND WAVEFORM FOR AERONAUTICAL MOBILE-SATELLITE ROUTE SAFETY AND SECURITY SERVICES IN C-BAND ( ARTES 4.0 SPL 4S 3A.198)
The objective of this activity is to design, develop and validate a system architecture and suitable waveform for an Aeronautical Mobile-Satellite (Route) Services (AMS(R)S) constellation in C-band for safety and security services.
MODEL-BASED APPROACH FOR SOFTWARE DEFINED PAYLOAD APPLICATIONS (ARTES AT 5A.089)
The objective of the activity is to design, develop and test key building blocks for software defined payloads using a model-based approach. At least six building blocks implementing telecommunication application functions (e.g. signal processing, signal filtering, encryption, compression, etc.) shall be developed. At least two use case applications shall be developed, and the performance tested to validate the approach.Targeted Improvements:…
5G NON-TERRESTRIAL NETWORK SECURE TWO-WAY RANGING FOR LEO SATELLITES (ARTES 4.0 SPL 5G/6G 3F.022)
Study, design and validate a secure two-way ranging protocol relying on 5G Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) in LEO.Targeted Improvements:Enable secure two-way ranging via future LEO 5G satcom services for target applications such as IoT sensors.Description:All GNSS systems are principally based on one-way ranging and as such they are fundamentally vulnerable to spoofing and/or meaconing attacks, even in the presence of GNSS security mechanisms su…
MAGNETIC BEARING SYSTEMS FOR HIGH-SPEED ROTARY MECHANISMS (ARTES 4.0 AT 4E.092)
Objective: The objective of the activity is to design, manufacture and test a magnetic bearing system for high-speed rotary mechanisms in telecommunication spacecraft applications (e.g. reaction wheels or thermal control pumps and compressors). Targeted Improvements:- Increase rotation speed by a factor of 2 (resulting in higher angular momentum capability). - Increase lifetime by a factor of 2 (due to contact-less bearings and no lubrication)…
SMALLSAT PLATFORM WITH SELF-TRANSFER CAPABILITY INTO GEOSYNCHRONOUS ORBIT (ARTES AT 3E.001) (ON DELEGATION REQUEST)
The objective of this activity is to develop radiation tolerant platform technologies and semi-autonomous orbit transfer capabilityfor small satellite platforms. An experimental small satellite will be designed, manufactured and launched. The satellite will feature the platform technologies developed as well as a simple telecommunication payload allowing experiments during orbit raising to GEO as well as in GSO. Targeted Improvements: Enabling…
ASSESSMENT OF 5G NON-TERRESTRIAL NETWORKS (NTN) WITH SUB-6GHZ TIME DIVISION DUPLEXING (TDD) COMMUNICATIONS (ARTES 4.0 SPL 5G/6G 3F.017)
The objective is to carry out an assessment of the NTN deployment of the 5G NR air interface in TDD mode and identification of technology gaps and constraints. Develop a software testbed implementing and testing the scenario.Improve the overall spectrum utilisation by up to 50% when using Time Division Duplex communication as per 3GPP standard.The 3GPP has specified for Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) the n255 and n256 bands, both operating in…
FREQUENCY COORDINATION DEMONSTRATOR FOR NON-GEOSTATIONARY SATELLITE SYSTEMS (ARTES AT 3A.153) (RE-ISSUE OF ITT 1-11179)
The objective of the activity is to develop and test a demonstrator of a frequency coordination system that manages access to spectrum among different non-geostationary satellite systems. The concept will be implemented and tested as a real-time emulator to be developed as part of the activity.Targeted improvements: Improving the achievable throughput by 50% with respect to partitioning the frequency band.Description:The increasing number of c…
SINGLE-CHIP 71-86 GHZ TRANSCEIVER RFIC FOR AERONAUTICAL SATCOM APPLICATIONS (ARTES AT 6A.074) (ON DELEGATION REQUEST)
The objective of the activity is to design, manufacture and test an integrated W-band transceiver Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit (RFIC) configurable as transmitter and receiver covering the 71-86 GHz band for aeronautical satcom applications. Targeted Improvements: Enable satellite aeronautical broadband services in W-band. Description: The maturity of Silicon technologies allows for the implementation of multifunctional and reconfigurable…
ASIC/FPGA WITH 112 GBPS OPTICAL I/OS (ARTES 4.0 SL SPL 5C.480)
The objective of this activity is to develop the technology step needed to enable the use of optical interconnects at speeds of up to 112 Gbps. This should be demonstrated through testing of an integrated digital signal functions (ASIC and FPGAs) with the developed electro-optic transceiver photonic integrated circuits that form the optical I/Os to replace traditional electrical I/O.Targeted Improvements:Increase the data rate throughput up to…