This activity focuses on the system use cases and system gain analysis as well as the demonstration of content distribution in the form of the digital broadcasting of content via high throughput satellites in the future. For one this is the integration of digital broadcasting services in the context of high throughput satellite systems as well as the development of a satellite content distribution network system that is capable of caching video and offering non-linear video services such as video-on-demand and a mix of linear and non-linear video services as well as efficiently distributing multicast traffic. The end goal is a lab a caching file transfer and cache management technique selection with a full implementation of a demonstrator and a comprehensive assessment of the system aspects.

This activity develops an on-board eNB capable of overcoming the technical challenges of using standards that aren’t originally conceived for satellite communications, preferably compatible with small satellite platforms. The eNB is integrated in a testbed capable of emulating different scenarios and relevant channel impairments to validate its performance in realistic conditions.

A monolithic Ka-band Beam Forming Network (BFN) breadboard including 5 TX and 5 RX elements is designed, additive manufactured, and tested. The produced part is 65% lighter than similar parts produced using conventional manufacturing technologies and has an RF performance that is suitable for demanding modern telecom multibeam missions, like High Throughput Satellites (HTS).

Rockwell Collins Deutschland GmbH (in the following “Collins”) has more than 40 years’ experience in developing analog space wheels.
To provide customers in future with high quality products and continue our history of success in manufacturing and selling high quality space wheels, the analog electronics design is digitalized.
With the ESA InDiCAtor study, Collins is identifying the most suitable digital controller system to finally improve the heritage space wheel electronics.

The SatSecure project develop, test, validate and pilot with selected demanding end users a secured and resilient cloud-based service delivery platform (C-SDP)

The PIM project focusses on the development of an agnostic satellite terminal controller that provides a faster, more direct user interface to advance operations and at the same time improve over the air services, whilst incorporating an environmentally rated enclosure designed to maximize thermal cooling efficiency. Paradigm’s PIM provides a simple to use interface to terminal pointing, modem, RF hardware and terminal configuration, control and monitoring.

100x the data from space. This project develops high-altitude laser transceivers and related support equipment to allow constant, higher volume download from moving satellites & hybrid communications architectures.

BESecured PSS will deliver an advanced secure solution to pool & share satcom resources for institutional customers.

A competitive Low-shock Release Actuator was developed and qualified.

This technology phase study aims to design, develop, manufacture and test an Advanced sliP Ring for hIgh vOltage Mechanism (APRIOM). This new generation of slip ring will be able to operate at voltages up to 400V, without electrical breakdown, allowing a considerable power gain and efficiency for the next generation of High Power spacecraft.

Development of a modular and flexible solution in Ka Band providing low noise amplification and down conversion by slices that allow multiple configurations.

The purpose of this activity will be to implement the required receiver technologies to detect multiple DVB-CID signals, and verify the effectiveness of current technologies in realistic interference scenario. The activity will be instrumental to enhance and improve the capability for detecting the presence of unwanted transmitter signatures.

Design and development of an elegant breadboard of a GNSS receiver including a newly designed, compact and cost-efficient RF front-end

Recent developments by telecommunication satellite manufacturers have stimulated interest in carrying small payloads to GEO. Additionally, growth of very small telecommunication satellites in LEO has helped to improve the performance/resilience of very small satellites. This study has explored the feasibility of implementing GEO microsatellites for Telecommunications applications, including the potential business cases. A baseline Ku-Band IoT services mission was then developed.

The OpenSatCom project analyses the relevance of open-source methodology models for the satellite communications sector, where such models can provide benefits and how can the European Space Agency contribute to assist relevant existing or new open-source projects. Taking into account the recommendations derived several open-source sub-activities are implemented.

Based on the heritage of ELSA antenna developed under the frame of ESA AG1 program, an enhanced system “ELSA+” has been developed, evolving from single to dual polarization, increased band from 250 MHz to 2050 MHz, together with inclusion of emitter Geolocation and Beam Hopping. The activity includes the design and qualification of the subassemblies and the RF and Thermomechanical analysis.

MPB has developed a 10W Polarization Maintaining Optical Fiber amplifier (1550 nm) for space applications. The prototype is based on three stages of optical amplification with photodiodes at each stage, monitoring the output power. It includes the control electronics and software with feedback loops to dynamically control and monitor the amplifier.

MPB communications Inc. has developed a high power (6W) polarization maintaining Ytterbium (1064 nm) optical amplifier to be used as booster for satellite communications. An engineering model was built and tested in a relevant environment. The redundant design is based on three stages of optical amplification with photodiodes at each stage.

There is a growing interest in flexibility, suggesting that the telecom satellite with digital payload processors, will be an increasing market in the coming years. The digital payload processors need several technologies that are not readily available. The digital parts envisaged are power consuming with high currents at low voltages. This project focuses on the design of these power converters including adequate cooling of the parts.

Development of a range of new high performance products for High Throughput Satellites (HTS) operating in K, Ka, Q and V bands and validation in a repeater subsystem demonstrator

The development of a new Software Defined Radio (SDR) platform designed for the implementation of high-end satellite communication applications. This is a new modular platform, with a carrier board mounted in a 19” rack mechanical enclosure and the capability of plugging powerful FPGA SoC modules, radio front-end modules, and high-speed DACs and ADCs into FMC+ connectors.

The mission of the SECOPS definition study is to identify the set of security requirements and controls enabling protected delivery of configurable satellite communications services to meet government requirements for the new class of GOVSATCOM satellites and secure commercial communications, with a particular focus on the ‘Pooling and Sharing’ use case.

The Aspire 400 satellite communication system provides safety voice and data services for the aircraft cockpit and in-flight, non-safety services for the aircraft cabin for business aviation, airlines and helicopters - anywhere in the world. Leveraging Inmarsat's satellite system, Aspire 400 brings greater connectivity, reliability, cost savings and efficiency, globally.

The objective of the STEDI project is the development, manufacturing, test and comparison of different technology concepts for user terminal Ku-/Ka-band dplxs using novel technologies, aiming at large-scale fabrication of RF compact filters compatible with planar and monolithic circuits.

The CYBERSAT project aims at investigating the effects of the current and upcoming cyber security regulations issued at European level on future satellite communication (SATCOM) systems and services.  The twofold objective is, on the one hand, to identify and analyse the cyber security regulations and to assess their impact on the design, development and operations of SATCOM systems; on the other hand, to identify new SATCOM service opportunities fostered by these regulations. 
 

Quantum encryption based on Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is an alternative to classical cryptography. It aims to solve the problem of key exchange by the use of physics and thus offers the potential of ensuring “unconditional secure” key exchange. Every attempt to eavesdrop on the key-exchange causes errors in the QKD protocol alerting the communicating parties of the attack.

The RF product policy from Thales Alenia Space is built according to the expansion of the GaN power amplifier based on a vertical housing approach. In this frame, Thales Alenia Space proposed a study to develop and to qualify a C-band LC-SSPA using European GaN technology.

A waveguide-based transmit (Tx) direct radiating array (DRA) operating in the Ku-band that is suitable for low earth orbit (LEO) applications is designed, manufactured, and RF tested. The designed passive aperture is fabricated monolithically by using selective layer melting (SLM) additive manufacturing (AM) technology and shows very good agreement with simulations.

Development of an innovative and light weight battery packaging made
of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) integrating an individual cell replacement feature.

SIMO (Sige broadband Iq MOdulator) is a MMIC allowing direct conversion from baseband to an ultra-wide RF frequency (L band to Ka Band) enabling a new generation of compact, lightweight, and power efficient portable terminals.

Development of a miniaturized space radiation monitor based on the hybrid active pixel detector technology

This project focuses on the development of a hermetically packaged, fiber coupled photodiode for Ka-band with a bandwidth larger than 20 GHz capable of handling incident optical input powers of 120mW. Such photoreceiver modules are key building blocks of photonic RF links with very high dynamic range that will be extensively employed in microwave photonic payload designs.

Four different frequency converter hybrids have been developed in the program. These converter hybrids can be used in payload equipment or in inter-satellite link applications.

The main approach of this study was to develop ancillary power supplies for a Power Processing Unit (PPU) for electric propulsion systems which provide a high grade of flexibility and modularity to serve a wide spectrum of thruster assemblies.

«Satellite trunking» is referring to very different services and usages. Here, we define trunking as the provision of high data rate point-to-point links for professional use.
Up to now satellite trunking services (including mobile/cellular backhaul) are only provided by GEO satellites over regional coverage, with the notable exception of the equatorial O3B MEO constellation.
Mega-constellations are developed to provide Internet access services to private customers.
The future would be to rather use LEO/MEO constellations for the provision of high speed trunking services to professional customers.
The question is : will be LEO/MEO constellations the right solution for the next generation of high speed trunking services

The Deployable and Pointing System (DPS) is a major feature of the OneSat innovative, fully reconfigurable, software defined, and standardized satellite for commercial telecommunication missions in geostationary orbit. As per the previous Eurostar series, it allows to maximize the efficiency of the propulsion system with very significant mass saving with respect to classical chemical propulsion systems.

The objective of this project is to design and demonstrate solutions for compact and energy efficient Machine-to-Machine (M2M) user terminals for direct, massive uncoordinated access via satellite.
A novel access scheme is developed for optimizing energy management at physical and access layer, looking at a global access network and targeting low duty cycle and volume traffic.

The output of this system study is to determine the feasibility and limits of employing a large population of highly distributed small sized gateways to support future VHTS systems.

The Micro Remote Terminal Unit (μRTU) provides interfaces for telemetry acquisition, telecommand execution and power to peripheral units on board a satellite. These interfaces are implemented in a modular way that allows the prime of the satellite to change the number and configuration of interfaces according to mission specific needs without the need to change hardware.