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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.
EFFICIENT DIGITAL BEAMFORMING TECHNIQUE COMPATIBLE WITH NON-UNIFORM BEAM AND ARRAY LATTICES (ARTES 4.0 AT 5C.492)
The objective of this activity is to develop and evaluate efficient digital beamforming algorithms and techniques that are compatible with non-uniform antenna arrays or non-uniform beam lattices. The developed techniques will be implemented and evaluated on a representative processor test bed. Targeted Improvements: 30 to 70% power reduction on the implementation of digital beamforming algorithms with non-uniform input/outputs with respect to…
Q/V/W-BAND INTEGRATED FREQUENCY CONVERTERS FOR FUTURE VERY HIGH THROUGHPUT SATELLITES (ARTES 4.0 AT 5C.500)
The objective of the activity is to design, manufacture and test Q/V/W-band frequency converters based on a single chip core MMIC for telecommunication payloads employing Digital Transparent Processors (DTP).Targeted Improvements:- Footprint and mass reduced by a factor of 10.- Power consumption reduced by a factor of 3 to 5.Description:For Digital Transparent Processors (DTP) pre- and post-processors are needed in order to up- and down conver…
ADVANCED MANUFACTURING FOR ELECTRIC PROPULSION COMPONENTS OF LOW EARTH ORBIT SATCOMS (ARTES 4.0 AT 4B.176)
The objective of the activity is to develop advanced manufacturing techniques for electric propulsion components in order to improve their performance.Targeted Improvements:Increase the thermo-mechanical, thermo-optical and magnetic performances by 10-15% and the sputter retention of electric propulsion components (e.g. anode, cathode, discharge chambers).Description: Large low Earth orbit satellite constellations will be using electric propul…
5G REGENERATIVE PROCESSOR AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEM TESTBED (ARTES SPL 5G/6G 5A.083)
The objective of this activity is to implement and test the signal processing portion of a 5G LEO satellite payload capable of handling several high throughput beams assuming an active antenna configuration. The demonstrator shall be based on a processor capable of controlling a reconfigurable beam-forming network (BFN) and performing signal (re-)generation andchannelisation of 5G waveforms. Targeted Improvements: Enable 5G regenerative payloa…
DEVELOPMENT OF A SIMULATOR FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF ATMOSPHERIC SCINTILLATION AT OPTICAL FREQUENCIES (ARTES 4.0 SL SPL 6A.086) - EXPRO PLUS (RE-ISSUE)
Objective: To develop a simulator of optical propagation based on a high-resolution numerical atmospheric simulator, to be used forthe long-term characterisation and the forecast of the signal scintillation and other propagation effects in the area around a ground terminal for Earth-Space optical communication system. Targeted Improvements: Breakthrough to achieve regional optical channel performance assessment; achieve high resolution channel…
EFFICIENT TESTING APPROACH FOR SOLAR ARRAY DEVELOPMENT (ARTES 4.0 AT 4F.160) (RE-ISSUE)
The objective of this activity is to form a European consortium and to develop a solar array test approach as needed for the preparation of the ECSS E-20-08 handbook, in the case of a design or process change. The new test approach will be validated by Development Validation Testing (DVT) coupons. Targeted Improvements: Substantial reduction (50%) in the delta-qualification time of solar panels, which deviate slightly from existing qualified d…
USER TERMINAL SIGNALLING FOR NON-GEOSTATIONARY SATELLITE NETWORKS (ARTES 4.0 AT 7B.074) (RE-ISSUE)
The objective of the activity is to design, implement and validate signalling and control techniques for satellite user terminals in a non-geostationary satellite network where the user terminals can login and function in the network without necessarily relying on the assistance from global navigation satellite services. Targeted Improvements: Enable autonomous commissioning, login and operation of satellite user terminals within a non-geostat…
IN-ORBIT EXPERIMENT OF AN INFLATABLE DE-ORBITING DRAG DEVICE FOR SMALL SATELLITES (ARTES AT 3E.003) - RE-ISSUE (1-10674)
The objective of the activity is to design, manufacture and test in orbit an inflatable drag device for de-orbiting small satellites from Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Performance data will be gathered (deployment imagery and positional telemetry) in a fully representative space environment (including drag effects) that would not be possible to simulate or test on ground. Targeted Improvements:Reduce de-orbit time by a factor of 5 (for altitudes of 4…
BROADBAND Q-V BAND BEAMFORMING NETWORK FOR FLEXIBLE ON-BOARD FEEDER LINK ACTIVE ANTENNA PAYLOADS (ARTES 4.0 AT 5C.488) - RE-ISSUE
The objective of this activity is to design, develop and test a breadboard of a highly integrated Q-V band beam forming network forflexible on-board feeder link active antennas. Targeted Improvements: Enabling a European source for Q-V band beamforming for feeder links. Description: Feeder links in next generation Very High Throughput Satellites (VHTS) rely on a full RF chain in Q-V band. Today, mechanically steerable multi-feed antenna archit…
FAULT-TOLERANT NETWORK SWITCHING USING COTS NETWORK SWITCH COMPONENTS (ARTES 4.0 AT 5C.503) (RE-ISSUE)
The objective of the activity is to develop and test a power-efficient, high-throughput and fault-tolerant network switching architecture for regenerative processors using COTS System-on-Chip (SoC) components as software-defined network switches. This will include radiation testing and development of fault mitigation methods (at system and software level). Targeted Improvements: Enabling reliable software-defined packet switching using COTS co…
ROBUST TIMING AND SYNCHRONISATION TECHNIQUES FOR SECURE COMMUNICATIONS (ARTES 4.0 AT 5C.483) (RE-ISSUE)
The objective of the activity is to design, manufacture and test a prototype of an on-board timing equipment for secure communications. Targeted Improvements: Enabling secure communications thanks to high accuracy and resilient timing synchronisation (sub micro seconds). Description:Governmental communications make use of secured waveforms, which implement modern techniques like frequency hopping or direct sequence spread spectrum, and require…
COMPUTER GENERATED HOLOGRAMS (CGH) FOR OPTICAL AND QUANTUM COMMUNICATION TERMINALS (ARTES 4.0 SL SPL 5F.037) - RE-ISSUE
Objective: The objective of the activity is to develop CGH to replace classical optics (e.g. (dichroic) beam splitters, lenses...)in optical/quantum communication terminals. In addition, performance simulations shall be validated on CGH test samples. Several CGH device shall be manufactured, and their performance tested. A-thermal designs shall be investigated. Targeted Improvements: 50% reduction in the size, footprint and mass of classical b…
DC/DC CONVERTER WITH HIGH VOLTAGE INPUT FOR HIGH POWER TELECOM SATELLITES (ARTES 4.0 AT 4F.165)
The objective of the activity is to design, manufacture and test a DC/DC converter (at least 1kW and up to 5kW range) breadboard with an input voltage of up to 300 V.Targeted Improvements:- Increase bus voltage levels up to 300 V,- Reduce harness mass by more than 100 kg (in high power platforms),- Reduce power losses by 90%.Description:Current electrical units only operate up to 100 V. However, employing bus voltages in excess of 100V, could…
RADIO SPECTRUM SITUATIONAL AWARENESS FUNCTIONS EMBEDDED IN TELECOMMAND/TELEMETRY RECEIVERS (ARTES 4.0 4S SPL 5C.481) - RE-ISSUE
The objective of the activity is to develop RF situational awareness functions for telemetry and telecommand receivers. Algorithms and a test-bed shall be developed and experimentally tested in laboratory conditions based on several representative operational cases.Targeted Improvements: Enabling interference and signal identification and classification using telecommand and telemetry signals. Description:Information obtained from RF (Radio Fr…
MICROWAVE PHOTONICS VOLTAGE-CONTROLLED OSCILLATOR FOR Q/V/W-BAND LOCAL OSCILLATORS (ARTES AT 5C.466) (RE-ISSUE)
The objective of the activity is to design, manufacture and test low phase noise millimetre-wave VCOs based on a photonic integrated circuit for Q/V/W-band local oscillators. Targeted Improvements:- Improvement of 10 to 20 dB on phase noise performance as compared to state-of-the-art MMIC implementation- Compliance to phase noise requirements for Q/V and future W-band frequency convertersDescription: Very high throughput satellites call for th…
DEMONSTRATOR FOR COHERENT FREE-SPACE OPTICAL LINKS WITH HIGH SPECTRAL EFFICIENCY (ARTES 4.0 SL SPL 5G.035) (RE-ISSUE)
Objective: The objective of this activity is to develop and test a high data rate transceiver (TX-RX) demonstrator for coherent optical space-to-ground feeder links, with a high spectral efficiency. The demonstrator shall support coherent optical links with a data rate exceeding tens of Gbps. It shall demonstrate the increased spectral efficiency achieved by using advanced digital signal processing (DSP) techniques at both transmitter and rece…
WAVEFRONT SENSOR FOR OPERATION UNDER STRONG ATMOSPHERIC TURBULENCE (ARTES 4.0 SL SPL 6C.041) (RE-ISSUE)
Objective: This activity aims at investigating different wavefront sensor technologies in order to identify the best suited one for operation under strong atmospheric turbulence conditions in optical communication applications. Targeted Improvements: 100% increased wavefront sensor performance under strong atmospheric turbulence conditions. Description: Optical beams propagating through the turbulent atmosphere undergo phase and amplitude fluc…
COARSE POINTING MECHANISM (CPM) WITH 250MM APERTURE DIAMETER (ARTES 4.0 SL SPL 5B.222) (ON-REQUEST)
The objective of the activity is to design, develop and test an engineering model (EM) of a Coarse Pointing Mechanism (CPM) featuring 250 mm free optical aperture diameter and pointing/tracking capabilities compatible with GEO-LEO, GEO-MEO, GEO-GEO, GEO-Moon, andGEO-ground optical links.Targeted Improvements:Increasing the apertures of space based optical communication systems from 135mm(EDRS) to 250mm improves the link budget by >10dB (i.e…
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…
VERY LOW EARTH ORBIT GAS GENERATOR FOR AIR-BREATHING ELECTRIC PROPULSION GROUND TESTING (ARTES 4.0 AT 4B.174)
The objective of the activity is to develop, build and test a gas generator to reproduce the gas flow density and composition of a Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) environment with high fidelity for on-ground testing of air-breathing electric propulsion systems.Targeted Improvements:Enabling a European gas generators for ground testing of VLEO missions.Description: Electric propulsion technologies developed for Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) applicati…
MULTI-DIMENSIONAL FREE-SPACE QUANTUM KEY DISTRIBUTION PROTOCOL ( ARTES 4.0 SPL 4S 3D.028)
The objective of the activity is to define, develop and test in a breadboard (consisting of transmitter and receiver) a multi-dimensional quantum state encoding (e.g., spatial and polarisation quantum states) protocol suitable for QKD in free space through the atmosphere.
TIME REFERENCE FOR PORTABLE TERMINALS USED IN SECURE COMMUNICATIONS (ARTES 4.0 4S SPL 7C.078) - RE-ISSUE
The objective of the activity is to design, develop and test a very low Size, Mass and Power (SWaP) device able to assure time and frequency stability from one to two order of magnitudes better than high performance devices (e.g. oven cooked crystal oscillators).Targeted Improvements: Reduce the power consumption down to 100 mW for portable terminals.Description: Governmental communications feature the need to have high-performance synchronisa…
HANDOVER, DATA ROUTING AND RADIO RESOURCE MANAGEMENT FOR VERY LOW EARTH ORBIT (VLEO) BROADBAND CONSTELLATIONS (ARTES 4.0 AT 3C.043) - RE-ISSUE
The objective of this activity is to develop and test handover, data routing and radio resource management techniques for a broadband satellite constellation in Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO). The techniques will be implemented, and their performance assessed in a software system testbed. Targeted Improvements:Enabling system techniques for VLEO broadband systems not existing today in ESA member states.Description: The VLEO orbit is now the centr…
CATHODELESS ELECTRIC PROPULSION THRUSTER (ARTES 4.0 AT 4B.173)
The objective of the activity is to develop, manufacture and test an electric propulsion thruster that does not require a neutraliser to operate nominally with a minimum of 25% of thrust efficiency (based on operation with air as the propellant).Targeted Improvements:Increase thrust efficiency by more than 50% to reach a minimum of 25%.Description: Traditional Electric Propulsion (EP) technologies make use of an electron emitter, or cathode, t…
EVAPORATION MODELLING FOR LONG LIFE MECHANISMS USED IN GEOSTATIONARY SATELLITES (ARTES AT 4E.087) - RE-ISSUE
The objective of the activity is to develop and correlate an evaporation software model for long life (15 years and above) mechanisms (e.g. solar array drive mechanism, reaction wheels, electric propulsion and antenna pointing mechanisms) as needed for geostationary spacecraft. The developed evaporation software model will be validated through testing of mechanism test-vehicles. Targeted Improvements:- increase the accuracy of the current anal…