TCR Transmitter Evolution

  • Status
    Ongoing
  • Status date
    2011-01-06
Objectives

The main objective of his contract is to develop a set of new functions for the existing TCR transmitter product, as described in the features section. Different customers have demanded these new functions.


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Challenges

The new TCR transmitter with its advanced features will answer to the demand of a larger number of potential European and American customers.

Benefits

The product baseline upon which this unit has evolved has already proven a great flexibility for its use in the most common platform (SS/L, Eurostar, Spacebus, etc.) and on the full C and Ku bands for transmission.

The main benefit of this new TCR Transmitter is that the unit will be unique and will incorporate all or part of its new characteristics. In this way the production costs will be maintained competitive. The use of hybrids will allow also a high degree of integration and a lower level of tuning.

Features

The resulting TCR transmitter will have the same architecture than the existing generation, and will incorporate the following evolutions:

  • Commandable frequency: A set of multiple (32) output frequencies is selectable
  • Extended frequency range: 7.75 MHz between maximum and minimum frequencies can be allocated
  • External frequency reference, instead of on board OCXO
  • Improved output power

The main specifications are:

Bus 100 V
Frequencies 4217.25 - 4225 MHz
32 channels / 250 KHz step
External Frequency Reference 7 MHz
Pout > 28dBm
Interface Generic design for SS/LORAL compatible with EUROSTAR 3000
Plan

The plan is to develop partial breadboards to validate the different improvements individually, so that later they get combined in a single EQM design. This EQM is qualified against an envelope of the requirements from the most common satellite platforms, namely Alcatel/Thales, Astrium Eurostar, and Space Systems/Loral, comprising performance and environmental requirements.

Current status

Qualification has been successfully achieved via the agreed qualification campaign, with the following environmental tests:

  • Vibration:
    • Low Level Sinus: a 2000 Hz, 0.5g , 2 octave /minute. Direction X,Y, Z axis. One up
    • High Level Sinus:

       
    • Random Vibration

       
  • Shock
     
    •  Frequency (Hz) Acceleration (g)
     200 52
     4000  4200
    10000 4200

  • Thermal Environment
     
    • Operating for Qualification  -25°C /+70°C
    Cold Start  -40°C

Features included in programs currently in orbit, such as ICO and Terrestar, and also delivered.

Documentation

Documentation may be requested

Last update
2024-04-24 01:35