Projects

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 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.

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.

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 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 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.

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 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.

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.

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

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 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.

The objective is to develop a new travelling wave tube with an output power of 500W. The output power is double that of today´s products. Key issues are the higher dissipation power and to have as big a margin as possible for multipaction in the output section.

Two different payload calibration units (PCUs) were developed; one that takes VHF RF inputs called the Return (RTN) unit and a second one that takes L-band RF inputs called the Forward (FWD) unit.

The aim of the project was to qualify a new generation of C Band input multiplexers for communication payloads in a monomode solution with better performances (Q, ELFD) and lower cost than the previous available in-house technical solution.

The objective of the project is to design and build a breadboard antenna system to investigate a Ku band antenna solution for Satellite On The Move (SOTM) Applications.

This project aims at designing, developing and testing a Proof-of-Concept Test-Bed of an On-Ground Beam-Forming and Multi User Detection system to demonstrate the feasibility of such technology for space telecommunication application.

The study interfaces with the Iris Phase B Design study (ANTARES) and aims to ensure the suitability of the ANTARES design for operations. One of its main objectives is also to produce a PPP proposal for Phase 2.2 of the Iris Programme to support the deployment of the subset of the satellite system infrastructure required for validation activities between mid 2014 and end 2015.

This study investigates technical solutions that will increase the flexibility of telecommunications payloads with specific focus on C/Ku and Ka-band multi-beam architectures.

The HERMES project aims at
implementing pilot operations both in Tele-Medicine and in Tele-Education, using asymmetrical Internet via
satellite and dedicated hardware / software platforms.
The network basic architecture used to implement and
develop this project is based on the Iperspace Platform
for telemedicine and Evolv-e for Distance Learning, both
offered by Telespazio as part of its IP via satellite service
portfolio.

The SIRIO study aims at delivering a feasibility analysis of a Satellite Communication services operations and provision scheme for ATM, in terms of complexity, risks and financial benefits for Satellite-Based Aeronautical actors involved. Ultimately, the study identifies an optimised Service Provision Scheme, demonstrating its technical, social and financial benefits.

A comprehensive investigation has been undertaken to study the effects that hypervelocity impact of micrometeoroids may have on GEO solar generators, in particular, whether and under which conditions permanent short-circuits may be induced by impact-generated plasma at the impact location.

This project aims to design and develop the prototype of a miniaturised microwave radiometer to be used as a channel assessment instrument in the ground segment of Satellite Communications systems and in SatCom propagation campaigns.

As part of the global roadmap and development logic to implement GaAs Solar Arrays on the overall Spacebus™ 4000C range, this project covers the establishment of the full design and justification file of a 4-panels wing (CDR level) and its qualification for next Spacebus™ application programs (PFM wing qualification).

This activity aims to clarify the conditions necessary for the development of a software module which offers the possibility for communication satellite payload operation to correlate spatial information from the ground segment with the space segment.