Projects

The project involves the analysis, design, implementation and validation of a fully passive and highly accurate ranging system for geostationary satellites.

The intention of this project was to move the centralized functionality of our Wireless-To-Go™ pre-pay platform into the Cloud, in order to be able to support local ISPs offering pre-pay Internet services to their customers.

Within the OADT project, SwissOptic is developing two high performance optical assemblies, which form a substantial part of the reception and calibration path of Laser Communication Terminals for the European Data Relay Satellite system.

The project objective is to develop circulators and isolators with coaxial interface for various frequency bands from C-band downlink to Ka-band downlink.

In order to avoid the issue of parts obsolescence, the development of a new version (SCU MK2) is crucial. An objective is to benefit from this mandatory evolution and introduce upgrades consistent with the overall Eurostar evolutions driven by competitiveness and customer needs.

Taking advantage of the upgrading of the Spacecraft Computer Unit (SCU) towards a more optimized architecture, EADS Astrium is currently designing and developing a new security function for the Telecommand (TC) link between the Ground and Space segments.

The objective is to increase competitiveness by the standardization of East / West satellite sides including accommodation standardization of C and Ku-Band antennas meeting stringent customer needs.

The overall aim of this activity is the development of thin Ge-based substrates for the fabrication of high-voltage integrated multi-junction solar cell modules.

The first phase of this project is to validate the experimental means and the degradation behaviours under irradiation of triple-junction and component cells developed by Azur. The second main phase is devoted to the realization of the tests and the exploitation of the data.

The project objective is to develop a Three-way Isolation Valve (3IV) for satellite propulsion systems. The valve will connect the propellant tanks, the thruster branches and the fill and drain valve. It will also be possible to totally isolate each branch from the other two.

The main objective of the DVB-S2 Satellite Experiment project is to perform an in-depth verification and optimisation by satellite of the many new features present in the DVB-S2 standard.

This proposal provides a basis for the study and the design of an Emulator for an ETSI BSM-Compliant SI-SAP Interface. The work will be based on an existing simulator of Satellite Dependent layers (DVB-RCS/S2), available at DLR. The partners will implement the required modifications in it, and will develop new modules, in order to enable the real-time emulation of a DVB-RCS/S2 network with an SI-SAP-compliant access interface.

The objective of Galileo Avionica is to develop and test an elegant breadboard of an Active Pixel Sensor (APS) based star sensor, and to analyse the competitiveness of these sensors against existing CCD based star sensors.

This project will develop a new type of Low Noise Block (LNB) receiver, a so called Multi-Input Element Low Noise Block MLNB, which can replace a conventional LNB. This new MLNB allows signal reception with a small antenna where otherwise a larger dish would be needed with a conventional LNB.

The objective of this study is to design, manufacture and test an Engineering Model of a compact and low cost reference oscillator meeting the requirements specified in Updated Requirements Specifications for Reference Oscillator.

With the Alphabus product line, European Industry extends its telecommunication satellite range significantly beyond the capabilities of the existing platforms, such as Eurostar 3000 and Spacebus 4000, both with respect to maximum payload power and mass.

The objective of the RESKUE project is to design and implement a prototype of a novel antenna for a portable satellite user terminal for provision of high data rates via a GEO satellite in Ku-band. The satellite terminal has to be easy to transport without a vehicle and easy to deploy.

The aim of the proposed development is to improve the frequency flexibility of the Thales Alenia Space France (TAS-F) generic Command Receiver Product.

For future flight applications it is essential to demonstrate the maturity of a design by building up an Engineering Qualification Model (EQM) and to perform a complete qualification test campaign. This is also true for the High Data Rate 8-PSK Modulator and can be considered the main objective of this project.

The main goal of the project is to standardise solutions for IMS Satcom integration. In this process the project creates awareness in the satellite industry for integrating the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) in Satellite based core telecom networks.

The objective of this study is to determine if and how ESA can play a significant role in In-Orbit-Validation to help filling the gap in important technology innovations in the market place.

This project aims to produce a space-qualified coated cover glass for telecoms use. Cover glasses are routinely used to protect photovoltaic cells from the space radiation environment, which prolongs the life of the spacecraft. Cover glasses also provide a performance enhancement, allowing optimal efficiency of the solar array.

The project objective was to perform the system accommodation of some of the electrical & power units developed in the frame of the Alphabus program within the Eurostar platform.

The project goal was to build a methodology and a software tool able to analyze the system performances of next generation S (or L) -band mobile satellite hybrid networks.

The objective of the current activity is to develop a Local Oscillator with enhanced phase noise performance to be integrated as part of MIER frequency converters.

Based on system, technologies, techniques analysis and trade-offs, the study aims to identify and assess the introduction of disruptive technologies in the space segment of SatComs, addressing internet broadband access services within the 2020 time horizon.

The study will provide a comprehensive analysis of techniques and technologies at system level with focus on space segment so as to meet user expectations by the 2020 time frame while minimising the satellite resource unit costs.

The objective of the study was to develop a design & analysis tool to optimise full electric station-keeping, bringing thus the EP-based station-keeping strategies from TRL 2-3 to TRL 4-5.

The NEXA is a non-explosive low shock actuator for hold down and release mechanisms.

The HTLHP project addresses the potential increase in the operational and non-operational temperature limit for spacecraft electronics in the near future, which demand heat transfer devices that are able to operate up to 125º C.

The UNISAT project aims to adapt the current Integrasys Satmotion-Pocket commercial product to the Satlabs Harmonised Monitoring and Control recommendations.

The SIMPLE project is about a Satellite Interactive Multimedia Platform for Low-cost Earth-stations.

Test, demonstration and evaluation of two-way satellite IP networks for rural communities with Wi-Fi local access in South West Ireland.

The TASMANIA applications platform
provides the content industry with a B2B centralised
administration to organise, execute, control and account
for music (or other digital content) track delivery from
release by Record Companies to certified receipt &
handover to online music Digital Service Providers
(DSP). The service also supports the obligations record
companies have with their Artists by tracking consumer
purchases and producing an audit trail for Royalty
statements. The application takes full advantage of
satellite communications benefits in terms of large-scale
content dissemination, economics, flexible bandwidthon-
demand allocation and a low data rate return path to
satisfy users on the key concern of security and certified
acknowledgement backchannel retransmissions.

The initial phase of research of the Satcom Market Monitoring project completed in September 2008 identified some potential trends in the evolution of the satellite communication market, the industry structure and the roles of the actors. The objective of this project is to examine how the situation has evolved since that work was completed and whether the trends identified are occurring or whether there is evidence of alternative trends.

S@Commerce intends to generate
revenue streams from the intelligent use of existing
digital satellite TV broadcasting channels to home
viewers who are also PC home users. The S@Commerce
applications platform transmits a catalogue to the end
users through the satellite TV channel on the PC via an
'off-line' connection. S@Commerce in fact delivers and
stores the catalogue and its functionality in a local
environment, allowing the customer to access the
information any time. As the available satellite capacity
is large enough to transfer large amounts of data, the
Service Provider can offer innovative multimedia assets
and e-advertising.

The DEDICATION project aims to develop ground-segment products compliant with the new DVB-S2 standard and turn such equipment into proper commercial products.

The objective of this project is to design, develop and test a two-channel Down- and Up-
Converter Module for an on-board processor.

The project extends an E-GSM-900 low cost, low power 1TRX GSM radio and bandwidth efficient “GSM over IP over DVB-RCS” integration for low opex GSM backhaul into GSM-850, DCS-1900 and PCS-1800 bands. The product family is also provided with CE marking and the production line is established through pre-production.

The goal was to develop a new concept for C-Band OMT capable of covering the complete TX and RX bands in dual circular polarization. The
design is suited for new generation of platforms with high power capability and increasing number of channels.