Projects

The purpose of this study was to investigate future GEO constellation communication scenarios and derive the resulting requirements for optical intersatellite links. Starting point for the investigations was the existing Laser Communication Terminal (LCT) developed by TESAT. For future GEO applications, additional features for the LCT were identified.

Home users and companies need to transmit / receive high bit rate information and services with high availability and in a ubiquitous manner. At the same time the European Commission, which has proposed a challenging program that includes 100% coverage of users with aspeed of at least 30 Mbps by 2020. In SAT4NET we analyse the technical and economic feasibility of meeting such ambitious targets using the xDSL technology complemented by satellite as a supplementary service when the ground network performance is limited.

The objectives of this activity were to develop a number of new products of the Septentrio product portfolio to prepare it for the growing amount of satellites and the higher complexity of the GNSS algorithms.

These new developments were:
• GReCo4 baseband ASIC (building block for new products)
• Enhanced Loose Coupling Hybridisation software
• MF rover and MFMA Rover

The product developed in this project is a software tool able to compute radiation patterns and assess interference effects of multiple telecommunications satellite reflector antennas when mounted on a spacecraft platform. The new tool is tightly integrated with the well-established and validated reflector antenna design tool, GRASP

This study enabled the design of a new Ku band antenna compatible of in orbit reconfiguration of the radiation pattern. The reconfiguration of the pattern is achieved by means of a number of mechanical actuators acting on a flexible reflecting surface.
The challenge of the project is the definition of a flexible shell compatible with RF and mechanical needs. The antenna design is based on a multidomain optimization (technology, mechanical, RF).

Aim of this project is the design of a complete new single chip SiGe synthesizer (PLL including VCOs) with a very good phase noise performance at nearly no spurs, due to a novel system concept.

Recent advances in satellites network technologies such as larger antenna apertures, more powerful repeaters, better pointing systems, improved network management systems have allowed the introduction of satellite systems leading to a significant network capacity breakthrough from 10’s of Gbps today in orbit up to several 100’s of Gbps are targeted for the end of the decade. These improvement on the performance allow a significant increase of the number of beams generated by the satellite payload.

A novel feature for future star trackers enabling the angular rate measurement even with high angular rates for a fully gyroless spacecraft solution.

Satellite-to-aircraft signals are crucial to supply either the aircraft itself or the passengers with communication abilities, and signal propagation characteristics are of special interest for assessing the performance of communication links. This project aimed to extend the current state-of-the-art aeronautical satellite channel models (aircraft and helicopter) in order to consider the influence of physical related propagation effects on the communication link, and to extend these models in order to be close to reality.

This project covers the development of a Large Multiple-spot Feed Array (LMFA) and its adaptation to the Eurostar E3000 spacecraft interfaces. Multiple spot beam scenarios are becoming more common for Ku-Band satellites and Airbus Defence and Space has flown multi-beam feed systems at Ka-band on previous missions. There is an increasing demand for complex Ku-Band multi-beam antennas and these missions drive the need for a new feed array product which is larger and heavier than any feed array already flown.

Focused on Ku-band linear polarized applications with two shaped reflectors, the surfaces built out of in total more than 500 single CFRP rods led to a tremendous mass reduction and lower acoustic loading on the DGR. Due to the full CFRP approach also a very good thermo-elastic distortion performance had been achieved and verified in thermo-elastic distortion test. The RF performance was validated in a compact range during an extensive RF test campaign.

Enhancing capacity and flexibility is one of the major challenges for new-generation DTP payloads. One of the main axis is the introduction of flexibility within conventional payload with the qualification of Generation 2.5 of a Digital Transparent Processor.

TOBOGGAN is to review both On-Board (OBB) and On-Ground (OGB) Beamforming techniques and analyse the trade-offs between both approaches. Particular focus is given on the definition and analysis of OGB system through the assessment of its applicability to mission scenarios derived from satellite operator needs.
The study provides guidelines concerning OGB and OBB approaches and contributes to determine the roadmaps for ground and space segment technologies.

The purpose of this activity is to analyse the applicability of AM technologies for the production of systems and subsystems of telecommunications missions and to assess the benefit on cost savings, potential assembly, integration time and mass savings at system level. A detailed technology development roadmap for future telecommunication satellites is proposed.

Aim of this project is the development of a silicon germanium (SiGe) voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) array covering frequencies from 1.5 to 12 GHz at very low phase noise.

The objective of this activity is to design, manufacture and test an Engineering Model of a compact Ku-Band output multiplexer with 16 channels of 120 W each.

State-of-the-art and future telecom satellites significantly grow in dimensions and in complexity demanding for new measurement approaches of P/L performances e.g. aiming on reuse of existing and in space limited test facilities.

In the NF-P/L study methodologies were developed and validated using near-field antenna measurement technologies being known for their unique and compact measurement dimensions and analysis capabilities. The study was conducted by the Antenna Measurement Technology Group of Airbus DS in Munich and of the Central Assembly Integration & Test Department of Airbus DS in Toulouse from November 2013 to November 2015.

The need for bandwidth in satellite communications and broadcasting is constantly increasing. It is foreseen that, in some locations, the capacity at the Ka-band alone will not be sufficient to allow for the emergence of new applications such as broad-band internet, satellite-HDTV, live video, telemedicine, interactive gaming, video conferencing, and others.
The exploitation of higher frequency band (Q/V) will offer a substantial increase in the capacity for the needs of both public and private sectors using satellite services. It is expected that Q/V-band will first be used for gateway access.

The effort and investment to make the electrical infrastructure more efficient through smart grid technologies and the large scale development of renewables requires connectivity to a large number of systems, even in the more remote areas, representing a business opportunity for satellite communications and space based services.

Since end of 2013, AER (previous FCV manufacturer) has announced to stop the production of the 400N FCVs and Airbus DS has decided to requalify the production process at Airbus DS Lampoldshausen. In this frame also design improvement steps have been introduced and finally a product requalification sequence was performed on a First Article unit. The existing flow control valve equipment specification is accepted by Airbus DS customers and was baseline for the requalification process finally.

Today there is a growing demand for large aperture antennas exhibiting increased capabilities (in terms of flexibility, reconfigurability, frequency bandwidth, and field of view) and reduced cost and complexity. Sparse arrays represent an effective architecture to achieve high performance while minimizing the number of controls for a limited field of view or wide band array.

Sparse arrays, based on non-regular lattices, are a valid alternative to periodic arrays because they are able to generate an equivalent tapering by adjusting the element positions. They also allow reducing the number of elements, and increasing the DC to RF overall efficiency of the antenna.

In this activity the optimization of the irregular array layout has been done in such a way to satisfy the required radiative performance keeping at the same time a simplified beam forming network and cooling system (e.g. heat-pipe).

The project centres on the creation of a fundamental and wide-ranging Software Defined Radio (SDR) development environment and methodology to address the software portability and reuse issues in developing wireless User Terminals (UTs). A lead UT application in the satellite communications field is also developed to help focus and validate the approach, involving the integration of existing Intellectual Property Right (IPR) blocks with newly developed portable blocks that are not available in the market-place.

LEO constellation comsat typically use mono prop propulsion systems in which the tank is 70% filled with hydrazine and 30% with nitrogen pressurization gas. By application a Solid Propellant Nitrogen Cool Gas Generator to pressurize the tank, the propellant filling rate can be increased to 95% for the same tank. This will increase life time of the satellite with years without changing the propulsion system itself.

The HighLIGHT SAT is a new Solar Array Tester (SAT) for multiple-junction devices. This multisource solar simulator is composed of three synchronized light sources which are independently adjusted to precisely balance the spectral content in each junction range. Accurate electrical characteristics (power measurement) of up to 10m2 triple-junction (3J) solar arrays are thus determined by this future-proof turnkey system with effective footprint.

The study investigated various Optical Beamforming Networks (OBFN) and associated optical techniques and technologies to satisfy the mission scenarios and requirements developed during the initial part of the study.
Two options were identified as the promising option to investigate further and detailed design of these two options were investigated

The BeamSat project entails the development of Newtec’s next generation satellite broadband access system using multi-spotbeam Ka-band technology and wideband bent-pipe RF channels.
The purpose of the research project is to define and develop the next generation broadband Sat3Play solution by the launch of the broadband Ka-band satellite constellations. It will accelerate Newtec’s growth within the broadband market and will leverage Newtec to become the major European supplier for ground equipment in satellite broadband access networks.

The project targets the feasibility of the inclusion of a GNSS Receiver into the platform avionics on-board computer, with target to Geostationary Telecommunication Platforms. The synergies between the TAS Italy on-board computer and GNSS Receiver architectures were investigated, under the supervision of the platform responsible in TAS France. The advantages with respect to a stand-alone GNSS receiver solution are pointed out, as well as the savings that an embedded solution provides.

The ARTES 5.2 programme was aimed at designing a Ka-band SSB Mixer to the conclusion of a fully analysed, manufactured and evaluated part. The primary challenge for the programme of work was to design and develop a SSB Ka mixer with low level spurious performance over a wide bandwidth. AIRBUS Defence & Space has been very successful in achieving these goals.

Airbus Defence and Space Netherlands has developed a flexible film-based radiator enabling in certain cases 50% cost- and mass reductions compared to current state-of-the-art radiators while at the same time enabling easy customization and late integration capability.

Thales prepared the next generation of S-Band TWTs with an output power of 500W which is double compared of today’s available products in addition to a large margin to multipaction. The interface and the specification are similar to today’s product respecting the new output power. As far as possible Thales used known materials and technologies in order to keep their long heritage. The product TL2500 enriches the portfolio of Thales.

This project focused on the design, development and testing of a photonic transceiver elegant breadboard which is capable of providing absolute security to cryptographic quantum key distribution (QKD) for secure space communications.
In addition, its compatibility with space environment was taken also into consideration in order to establish the operational limits and to identify any design or technological weaknesses for future space applications.

High frequency, high output power, next generation for communication satellites.

The objective of this project is to investigate the suitability of commercially available GaN enhancement mode FET for space power switching electronics. This project is peculiar to telecom applications being a flight DC/DC converter, fed by the nowadays common 100V satellite bus and with a power level of 600W. We focused on 200V rated GaN components with a high current capability with the true enhancement mode or cascode assembly.

The Reconfigurable Architecture Demonstration Equipment (RADE) program was an ARTES 5.2 program under which an in-orbit reconfigurable platform, making use of the software defined radio technology, capable of operating a sophisticated RF sampling and message decoding application used for the Satellite Automatic Identification of System for ships (S-AIS) was developed.

The project was aimed at developing a low cost Ka Band 2W Transceiver for use on HYLAS.

This activity studies and develops techniques allowing broadband Tx/Rx multiplexers to be realised as feed chain components. This enables single feed realisations where dual feed or dual antenna realisations would usually be proposed. The extreme temperature range presents challenges in tandem with the realisation of a quadruplexer operating over the extremes of a waveguide band.

Project Mercury comprises the design, development and industrialisation of a novel Ka-band transceiver for satellite communication terminals.

This development is intended as a further improvement and extension of the RUAG Space product range of Frequency Converters and Receivers for telecom payloads, covering frequency bands from C-band to Ka-band. These products are designed in a modular way in which generic sub-elements are used to build up the different equipment versions.

With this development separate Ka-Band LNA units are included in the RUAG Space product family for telecom payloads, which has been requested by customers.

To be ready for future space missions requiring higher powers and voltages implement the recommendations of this study.