There has been a steady growth  in the number of new satcom systems announcing plans to make use of RF Inter-Satellite Link technology. In addition to reducing the complexity and cost of the associated terrestrial infrastructure, ISL technology can enable additional networking functionality, increase service area provision, enhance data security, and increase congestion load balancing capabilities. With this growth comes a transformation of ISL-related systems and equipment, from bespoke, project-specific hardware to a more productised offering and associated value chain.   

Despite steady order growth for helicopters and an almost exponential growth in rotary wing UAVs worldwide, outside of military and defence applications the utilisation of satellite connectivity onboard such rotary wing aircraft is still somewhat limited.  This is due in part to the narrow range of technical options available and the limited capabilities they provide.
 

In most satellite communication systems, full duplex operation (i.e., simultaneous transmit and receive functionality) is achieved by using two separate frequency channels with spectral filtering employed to achieve the required isolation between signals. With ever-increasing data volume demands accompanied by pressure to reduce the cost per bit delivered, new techniques to utilise the available radio frequency (RF) spectrum more efficiently are continually needed. Simultaneously transmitting and receiving information in a single frequency channel has already proven a viable approach in other wireless communication application domains and has the potential to double total system throughput. Such systems typically employ a combination of both analogue and digital Self-Interference Cancellation (SIC) techniques, together with a careful antenna design and a suitable placement, to achieve the necessary isolation between transmit and receive signals, and such techniques have therefore advanced rapidly over the last few years. Single channel full duplex operation has consequently been supported within consumer (cable) networks since the release of the Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) 4.0 in 2017, and integrated wireless access and backhaul for 5G using full duplex is also now becoming a reality. Long-Term Evolution (LTE) products are already available using full duplex such as LTE User Equipment Relays which enable a small cell LTE eNodeB to backhaul to an LTE macro base station using the same access frequencies for both the small cell and the macro network.

The first satellite to be built under ESA’s Eurostar Neo programme has completed mechanical tests designed to demonstrate its ability to withstand the vibration that occurs during launch.

Engineers have used converged satellite and terrestrial networks to communicate with a nimble four-legged robot designed to explore environments that are too risky for people to access.

Film fans, gamers and future metaverse users will be able to experience high-quality videos, games and extended reality environments live and uninterrupted from anywhere, as satellites link up with terrestrial-based next-generation 5G and 6G connectivity.

Passengers on board commercial airline easyJet will speed to their destinations faster and greener, thanks to an ESA-backed initiative to digitalise the skies.

The first Eurostar Neo spacecraft, developed by Airbus Defence and Space as part of ESA’s Neosat Partnership Project, has successfully completed its Thermal Vacuum Test Campaign.

More than 150 attendees including national delegations, industrial representatives of ESA member states, ESA staff members and academic researchers met in Bonn this week for the 5th ScyLight Workshop. This was the first time the event was able to take place in person since 2019, after last year’s event was held online due to COVID restrictions.