Projects

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.

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

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

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 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.

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using Electric Propulsion got ahead the nowadays Flight Dynamics Systems, - slowly, yet surely - making them outdated.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.

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.

This project demonstrates the feasibility of a software hub implementation scalable to support handling of 5 GHz RF bandwidth based on cloud technology and general processing hardware. The DVB-S2/S2X/DVB-RCS2 modulation and demodulation is performed by processing of digitized I&Q samples on general x86 CPU hardware with cloud technology, without use of FPGAs.

New technologies like small, mobile VSAT terminals, high throughput satellites (HTS) and the growing popularity of satellite mega constellations are a major reason why interference has become an increasingly significant problem in recent years. Sophisticated interference detection and geolocation systems have been developed in the past years to combat the rising interference challenge. SkyMon PED is significantly improving the efficiency of such systems by providing very accurate orbit determination data for all active satellites in the GEO, MEO and LEO orbit.

In this project Space Norway led a consortium together with Comrod AS and Kongsberg Seatex AS who will design and develop a RHCP VHF antenna. This antenna is to be used within the Satellite VHF Data Exchange System (VDES). The new antenna is expected to improve link quality and reduce multipath fading compared with the traditional vertical dipole antenna currently in use.

In terrestrial 5G networks, the concept of Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) is nowadays being standardised and initial deployments of IAB are being experimented with. IAB will support very flexible network deployments by allowing radio access network (RAN) nodes (gNB’s) to function as a relay to other network nodes, in addition to acting as regular access node for user equipment. The application of IAB could potentially support future heterogeneous “3D” networks that consist of satellite, terrestrial, airborne and maritime nodes and still need standard mechanisms for resource management, service management and orchestration of the many links within such topologies.

Unhindered access to frequency spectrum is of fundamental importance to the whole satellite services sector and hence to the manufacturing industry it supports. This activity supported the satellite community both in the run-up and aftermath of the World Radio Conference 2019, and initiated preparation for the 2023 World Radio Conference.

Digital IF provides analogue to digital conversion (downlink) and digital to analogue Conversion (uplink) of the IF signals in satellite ground stations. This allows signal transport over the standard GbE network and therefore the physical decoupling of the antenna sites from data processing sites.

The activity aims to implement a fully software defined DVB-S2X demodulator, running on general-purpose hardware, which could replace a dedicated hardware demodulator in some selected use cases with a support of consumer hardware platforms, up to 36 Msymbols/s.

This project provides an opportunity for European satellite operators and service providers to combine forces and develop a set of common standardized interfaces they can all work with as their emerging Pooling and Sharing systems (PSS) evolve, allowing the interoperability between individual systems and other operators to join the ecosystem in order to build a more appealing open solution.

The activity covers the development, testing and validation of a pre-operational Satellite Services Aggregation Platform (neXat SAP) with the aim to cross-sell satellite capacity and services through this platform. This is followed by a Demonstration Phase to pilot use-cases with teleports operators.

R3 IoT are enabling digitisation all across the world using a novel satellite-enabled smart gateway. With 90% of the planet not serviced by communications infrastructure the system allows companies with remote operations to gain insight and improve operations.

This project is developing the next generation of R3 technology, integrating new strategic technologies, improving the value-adding capabilities of our demonstrated service, and preparing for large-scale deployments around the world.

Artificially intelligent satellites and communication systems, once solely the province of science fiction, are now a reality. Recent advances have equipped the latest generation of space platforms with new levels of autonomy, awareness and resilience.

CGI have collaborated with the European Space Agency (ESA) and industry to develop the Autonomous Satellite Solutions (AUTSS) platform, an artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) accelerator for the Satcoms industry.

CGI has created AUTSS to address the unique engineering challenges of Space. AUTSS combines CGI’s 50 years of experience in the European and North American Space industry with: optimised hardware; Machine-Learning-as-a-Service (MLaaS); and bespoke AI tooling. The platform offers substantial reductions in the cost, time and risk required to explore how AI can improve your business.

The Satellite Operations as a Service project goal is to develop a service based on GMVs ground segment products. The solution allows satellite operators to completely outsource the control of the mission and focus on final mission purposes and exploitation.

Thales Alenia Space brings over 40 years of experience to the design, integration, testing and operation of innovative space systems for telecommunications, navigation, Earth observation, environmental management, exploration, science and orbital infrastructures.

Thales Alenia Space in Belgium is an expert in many high-technology fields and a key player in Electrical Power Conditioner for travelling Wave Tube Amplifiers.

In this activity, the design and manufacturing (using Selective Layer Melting - SLM) of a monolithic cluster containing 13 closely-packed (pitch of 22 mm), dual-band, dual-circular polarization feed chains in Ka-band for GEO antenna applications is demonstrated.

This study aims to identify synergies between SatCom and Distributed Ledger Technologies (DLT, but blockchain in pàrticular) as well as the preliminary definition for the architecture most suited for the implementation of a SatCom+DLT mission.

The project aims to Develop a 5G compliant gNodeB (gNB) and User Equipments (UE), adapted for Non Terrestrial Network uses, and to verify its feasibility by both emulating and using a satellite radio link adapted for 5G uses.

The Expanse project explores the possibility and impact of data acquisition, processing and data-based actuation within a comprehensive 5G satellite-terrestrial system using additional data sources, such as Earth Observation data and data from the application layer. The intention is to widen the technology horizon of SatCom industry in the direction of a more data-centric approach.

Free Space Optical Communications links can offer high bandwidth and secure internet without the need for fixed fibre infrastructure, however turbulence in the atmosphere causes problems. Adaptive Optics using Laser Guide Stars can compensate for the turbulence, allowing stable and reliable optical communications. In GEOStar, such a system is being developed to demonstrate links with a geostationary satellite.

The Enpulsion Micro R³ is a 100W class electric propulsion system for small satellites. It is based on the FEEP technology and is developed as an all in one plug-and-play propulsion system.

The purpose of the project is to perform a study on the Integration of Satellite Backhauled HAPS in Future SATCOM Networks. The project covers a case selection and scenario definition, followed by a suitability analysis, identification of necessary adaptations in the 5G standard and development and validation of the adaptations. The project ends with the conclusions, roadmap and recommendations.

The market for small satellites is currently booming on a global scale.

One of the capabilities that could allow telecommunications applications from a small satellite system is the Inter-Satellite Link. For such links High Gain Antennas are needed; BEAMSAT-2 Axially Displaced Ellipse (ADE) antenna represents one of the first
developments of a HGA for CubeSats at 60 GHz.

The study focuses on Lunar optical communications with the aim to:

1. investigate the communications scenarios and architecture for the cis-lunar region, also involving the Deep Space Gateway

2. perform a technical specification and preliminary design of the required optical terminals

3. perform a technology survey, identify the critical units and derive the technology roadmap.

5G-LEO extends OpenAirInterfaceTM to support satellite systems in non-geostationary orbits. This extension implements a full 5G protocol stack (Release ≥16) for both the UE and the gNB. As a main outcome 5G-LEO provides a publicly available new version of the open source OAI software library with new features to support 5G LEO satellite communication networks.

Through its activities, ALIX supports the satellite communication community to engage with 3GPP in order to develop contributions and advocate positions favourable to the SatCom sector within the 3GPP standardisation process such that they result in tangible industrial opportunities.
The project gathers organizations from the satellite communication community each holding key positions in 3GPP and ETSI as contributors, rapporteurs of study items or chairmanship of Working Group.

The project aims at reaching validation of CASTeC, a tool for advanced telemetry checking for satellites constellations, in an operational scenario (TRL 8). CASTeC provides early identification of anomalies in the behaviour of satellites relative to a contextualised standard, enabling fault isolation and mitigation strategies definition. It may also support the identification of critical operative conditions affecting service performance.

The main objectives of the project consist of developing new solutions in terms of test techniques, instrumentation and methods in order to overcome the three critical difficulties facing the space industry for the testing of multi-beam antennas.

Development of the Onesat mechanical platform & propulsion systems, and a parallel technology development for Aquarius electrolysed water based propulsion technologies for future mission applications.

MRC100 brings new features to Newtec Dialog® as part of ST Engineering iDirect’s continuous effort to deliver efficient, high-performant, scalable, and secure products. One of the main features is the upgrade of the Mx-DMA MRC return link technology to support higher baud rates of up to 100 Mbaud.

The project also investigates the use of AI and ML in ACM, and the potential increase of satellite network sizes using virtual carriers in a physical wideband carrier.

MECANO ID takes a new step in its development for the supply of composite structures with the maturing of robotized products for SatCom in the frame of this ARTES Competitiveness and Growth co-funded activity. Three products are targeted: Hyperstable Composite Tubes for antennas and reflector arms, Composite Booms New Generation for deployable systems and One-Shot Struts for structural applications.

SCNE simulator enables the design of the future LEO satellite communication constellations, but also the study and assessment of protocol and algorithm performances ranging from low-speed data collection and mobile communications to broadband and broadcast services.

The project aims at designing a compact, robust and cost-effective two-axis-mirror tilting system based on piezoelectric actuation. Main scope of application is the utilization as beam guiding mechanism in optical intersatellite communication.