SSC Space UK Ltd, with the support and cooperation of strategic partners from the rapidly developing “NewSpace” industry proposed to develop Global NewSpace Network Evolution (GNNetE) to offer an advanced technical solution capable of addressing the NewSpace industry constraints by delivering a more efficient, flexible, and economically viable ground segment and network operations solution.

The NODES project regards the development of a ground network for space to ground data transfer using optical communication, to solve the data bottleneck issue resulting from the continuously increased need of downlink capacity. The network is composed of a network management centre and optical ground stations to allow high volume data transfers efficiently.

Bx-WiFi technology enables broadcasting of uninterrupted audio or video content from multiple sources to thousands of smartphone or tablet devices, all connected to Wi-Fi access points, while simultaneously providing general internet access.

To overcome data rate limitations of RF communication links, the TOmCAT consortium envisions optical free-space communication feeder links for next generation high throughput satellites. TOmCAT is a technology development project, facilitated by NSO and ESA, to enable such links to achieve Terabit/s Optical Feeder Links.

The objective of the proposed activity is to create a new Solenix product for commercial satellite operators. The product is a set of AI applications providing enhanced satellite telemetry analysis, prediction of future events, early identification of issues and supported anomaly handling leading to higher operator awareness, better decision-making and ultimately the possibility of extending the satellite lifetime.

CTG completed a Definition Phase for a Multi-beam Ground Station concept in L and S Band for both high and low gain applications. The design creates multiple beams in large quantities and switches between them in an agile way for demanding non-GEO applications. A reduction in the ground infrastructure costs, and increased flexibility in the teleport sites selection are achieved.

Technology development (TRL 4) of a Routing Solution for a safety-critical LEO satellite constellation providing safety-critical Communication and Surveillance services for Air Traffic Management (ATM).

Optical Ground Stations for optical and quantum communication are seeking for reliable, cost effective, commercial adaptive optics modules to reduce losses and improve key rate and data rates in applications including classical communication and QKD.
Officina Stellare with Dynamic Optics and ThinkQuantum are working to develop the prototype of such a modular, scalable adaptive optics module.

The safeguarding of high value assets always has been a topic in the space industry, but since hacktivism has become itself an industry and developing exploits can be done by script kiddies, the risk of being attacked is more eminent that ever. The cybersecure EGSE copes with these rising challenges by establishing a hardened EGSE platform based on the three industry standards ISO 27001, NIST 800-171 and IEC 62443-2-4;

Implementation on UniverSAS® (existing product) of some specific enhancements identified for Power SCOEs tailored for Telecom Satellites. UniverSAS® product was already successfully validated in over 50 Power and Launch SCOE systems.

A novel, frequency agnostic air interface for uncoordinated IoT communication over extremely low link margin satellite links having signal-to-noise-ratios down to below Ec/No = -40 dB, has been designed. Prototypes for an IoT terminal and an IoT gateway receiver were implemented, and the new air interface was demonstrated for two use cases.

The future of the Satcoms industries and its technologies, materials, and processes offers many opportunities for supply chains from a broad range of sectors. Other industries may have already resolved challenges and developed solutions from which the satcom sector can benefit.  This study identifies high potential technology transfer opportunities and develops a strategy to exploit a selected technology, whilst presenting several other viable concepts for further investigation post-project.

ViSAGE is a unique, cloud-based software solution that can orchestrate a distributed network of ad-hoc ground stations anywhere in the world.

Through the ViSAGE platform, customers can configure mission communications as-a-service during definition, realization, and operation phases.

The SMART project targets the design, development, integration and operational verification of a holistic user and resource communication service manager platform. The SMART solution is envisioned as a web application tool, which enhances the Hellenic government satellite communications infrastructure (GreeCom) resilience, performance and security.

The general objective of the activity is to identify promising services in case wearables can communicate directly with communications satellites within the next 5 years. Five short-term Proof-of-Concepts are demonstrated with current satellite IoT systems.

The activity shall stimulate the discussions around wearable satcom and – more in general - shall trigger a notion that satcom could be economically an option for the wearable market.

Mobile communications are highly dependable of satellite technology. Existing GEO and upcoming LEO/MEO orbits will offer great bandwidth, speed, coverage at reduced cost. On the ground segment, antennas must be prepared for this new scenario. Multi-beam, multi-orbit, high throughput, wideband, modular and scalable antenna with reduced SWaP-C is possible with our hybrid beamforming approach.

Two Q/V band antennas (6m and 10m) using advanced composite reflector technology are developed and tested using a broadband satellite payload.

CREOLA focuses on design (phase 1), assembly and verification (phase 2) of an industrial prototype Optical Ground Station (OGS) for Optical Feeder Links (OFL). There are three In-Orbit Demonstrations (IODs) planned to validate the OGS performance with the TELEO space terminal. The main goal is to validate the efficiency of (pre-) Adaptive Optics (AO) in the optical C-band for transmit and receive communications with a GEO satellite. 

The project has identified a cost effective technology to design,  manufacture and to test a low profile dual polarization/dual band (Ku and Ka) mobile antenna breadboard for railway and long range bus applications.

Development of the miniaturized laser transmitters for satellite-to-satellite, and satellite-to-ground communications.

The project aims to design, to manufacture and to test a low profile dual polarization/dual band (Ka and Q/V) mobile terminal, including a V-band Up-converter and a V-band High Power Amplifier (HPA), for Aeronautical applications.

This ARTES Advanced Technology project developed conductive thermoplastic secondary structure parts for telecom satellites. The parts are modeled according to real metallic baselines, and are verified in their relevant environment. The goal is to significantly decrease part mass and lead time, while retaining conduction requiring applications.

With the Atlas KaLQ PFM contract, Kongsberg Space Electronics successfully delivered two PFM units, Ka/IF downconverter and IF/Ka Upconverter. The flight models were manufactured, tested and delivered for integration in the Columbus Ka-band Terminal (MDA). The terminal was later installed in the International Space Station and is providing wide bandwidth communication between the ISS and earth. The terminal has now passed one year of operation.

INN3SCO addresses the study, definition, development and testing of access mechanisms to 5G networks via non-3GPP satellite systems. With this aim, Network Functions (NFs) already foreseen in 5G 3GPP release 15 and 16 for that scope (i.e., N3IWF, TNGF, etc.), and the associated multi-access methods (ATSSS), are reviewed, adapted and/or extended to support a non-3GPP satellite access.

The OSSI activity will demonstrate satellite-based IoT services in the frequency range 1500-5000 MHz. The satellite used, has a software defined radio (SDR) payload. The SDR payload offers high adaptability in transmission and reception. The payload will also have significant processing power allowing users to write radio functionality in high-level code and to conduct experiments and tests without having to launch their own satellite. The payload also has spectrum monitoring capabilities.

An optimized QUIC protocol for SatCom.

The SPAICE project aims to study, develop, and test AI-based signal processing techniques for satellite communications using COTS AI processors. Traded-off scenario candidates are interference mitigation, link adaptation, FEC, flexible payload and adaptive beamforming for regenerative satellites. The principal outcome of SPAICE is the AI Satellite Telecommunications Testbed (AISTT), a platform to test and demonstrate selected AI-accelerated scenarios.

The objective of the C-DREAM project is to design, implement and evaluate a Radio Resource Management algorithm that shall provide the highest possible performance on a given constellation. The evaluation process was made by developing an end-to-end NGSO constellation simulator, that can simulate flexible payloads, non-uniform user demands and can also compute interferences.

This project covers development of novel fibre optic links to carry high frequency native RF signals over fibre in satellite ground segment installations.  Products for these operating environments are covered by tasks in this project.  The key driver of project activities is the shift occurring in the satellite industry as it moves towards High Throughput Satellites (HTS).

The highly performant On Board Computer core unit is based on the rad-hard European NG-ULTRA/DAHLIA device. This technology allows to design a new generation computer offering a very compact and flexible solution for multi-mission applications.

MUATS - developed by Jena-Optronik - is a stand-alone camera sensor mounted on a satellite next to the optical communication terminal.

The sensor shall provide a high rate mapping of available optical communication terminals within its field of view to the spacecraft computer, to accelerate and simplify the acquisition and tracking of multiple optical communication terminals

The new generation Optical Solar Reflector that combines the high performance and durability of quartz OSRs with the easy handling and flexibility of Ag-FEP second surface mirrors, at fair costs.

Telco EGSE TMTC SCOE: Cost effective COTS HW elements and highly customizable SW layer for implementation of baseband TM/TC interfaces and related functions.

Telco EGSE Power SCOE: Implementation in UniverSAS® (existing product) of some specific enhancements identified for Power SCOEs tailored for Telecom Satellites. UniverSAS® product was already successfully validated in over 50 Power and Launch SCOE systems.

The output of this study is a roadmap of payload equipment supporting flexibility in the 5G environment.

The development of a slim-line Q/V-band Feed System EQM suitable for gateway applications in telecoms GEO VHTS systems.

This project covers development of novel fibre optic links to carry high frequency native RF signals over fibre in satellite ground segment installations.  Products for these operating environments are covered by tasks in this project.  The key driver of project activities is the shift occurring in the satellite industry as it moves towards High Throughput Satellites (HTS).

The technology and the fast-growing number of spacecrafts using Electric Propulsion got ahead the nowadays Flight Dynamics Systems, - slowly, yet surely - making them outdated. As a result, there is a need of a new Flight Dynamics System capable of computing faster and more accurately the curled trajectories described by the Electric Propelled Spacecraft.

The purpose of 5G SENSOR@SEA is to develop a solution (namely the “5GT System”) relying on a hybrid cellular-satellite network and enabling massive IoT services in the context of maritime transport and intermodal logistics, whose objective is the continuous monitoring of cargo containers across seas in a port-to-port service scenario, even in deep-sea travel.

DINoS5G project has developed an end-to-end platform from integration of High Throughput Satellite (HTS) system and 5G terrestrial infrastructure, enabling communications for an advanced diagnostic service in the railway environment. The platform provides communication interfaces to applications for real-time monitoring and “smart” predictive maintenance services of the railway infrastructure.

The National Observatory of Athens owns and operates Helmos observatory, which was selected as the first Optical Ground Station under the ScyLight framework. Project HOTSPOT aims to identify all possible activities that can be carried out at Helmos observatory in Greece concerning optical, quantum, and deep space communications.

Transparent optical modulation schemes and RF-optical modulation -demodulation technologies for Tbit/s feeder links are investigated, including a simulation tool and a lab demonstrator for transmission through the atmospheric channel.