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This project includes analysis and solutions to improve major Very High Throughput Satellite (VHTS) ground stations performances operating up to V-band. Solutions are proposed and analysed covering the following topics:
Improve the power consumption of a Ka Tx-Q-V band Earth Station;
Architectures for a Ka Rx-KaTx-Q-V band ground antenna;
RF design of 9-metre and 13-metre KaTx-Q-V band ground antenna;
THRIMOS addresses the current need for automated, optimized and systematic radio frequency (RF) measurement tasking driven by factors associated with increased space object catalogue, especially for Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO), for optimised RF ground infrastructure and RF-link usage. In addition, the THRIMOS web-based interface provides a user-friendly multi-user experience for any distributed team involved in the RF management tasking enterprise.
Sofant Technologies is transforming the multi-orbit satellite communications market by developing an industry-leading Size, Weight, Power consumption and Cost (SWaP-C) satellite communications terminal.
Sofant’s patented radio frequency (RF) micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) technology enables a dramatic increase in power efficiency, manufacturability, and performance in next generation satellite communication antennas. This project is the development of a prototype Ka Band terminal – Ground Based, at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6.
The EC100G project demonstrates erasure coding at 100 Gbit/s. The goal is to mitigate atmospheric effects (e.g. fading) experienced in low Earth orbit (LEO) direct-to-earth optical communication links. The coding is implemented leveraging off-the shelf fibre optical transceivers, that means standard interfaces of such transceivers are used. The performance is demonstrated emulating the channel conditions direct-to-earth links. The ability to use erasure coding at 100 Gbit/s solves LEO data delivery problems and allows transferring huge amount of data from low-cost components aboard the satellite to a ground terminal.
This project takes an innovative approach to develop a low-cost, high-efficiency tracking antenna and user terminal, providing broadband internet connectivity via low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites.
This ESA project redefines the use of heat pipes as structural elements. The primary outcome is to identify use cases and generate the related design rules for the implementation of heat pipes in satellite structures, supported by a combination of structural analyses and tests conducted throughout the project at various scales (unitary testing then assembly level validation).
A low power and miniaturised wideband modulator and demodulator (modem) achieving a giga symbol per second (Gsym/s) symbol rates to enable RF signal based inter-satellite links (ISL) on board small-tomedium platforms.
The EDGECOLB project is exploring the potential of edge computing and load-balancing solutions for use in satellite networks, with respect to Earth observation, surveillance, and Internet of Things (IoT) application scenarios. To this end simulation and testbed-driven validations are carried out, aimed at comparing the performance of the proposed concept against the exploitation of terrestrial cloud computing options.
The objective of this activity is to comprehensively explore the application of generative AI within the satellite communication industry. This includes understanding the current state-of-the-art in generative AI across various sectors and identifying how these tools and techniques can be adapted for satellite communication applications.
Globally, self-driving shuttles are becoming real. Connected and autonomous vehicles demand highly-secure, high-speed, always-on networks to enable mission-critical decisions, as well as remote monitoring and tele-operations whilst carrying passengers.
Current deployments focus on urban environments where terrestrial connectivity exists. However, semi-urban, rural and other hard-to-connect locations require space-enabled, satellite-based connectivity. SatCAV seeks to address this challenge.
SAIRCC is an ESA Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES) Advanced Technology (AT) project, with the goal to study, evaluate and demonstrate the performance of a satellite system to be used as an alternative (or complement) to GSM-R, with particular focus on ERTMS/ETCS on-board applications. The project developed and validated a prototype of the resulting air interface in a Software Defined Radio (SDR) platform through realistic packet-level simulations.
The UPLINK project develops low-cost, extensively-compatible, high-power laser sources that can be seamlessly integrated into any Optical Ground Station (OGS), supporting the future needs for free-space satellite laser communications.
The market need for high data-rate (Gbps-Tbps) laser satellite communication requires robust and cost-effective Pointing, Acquisition and Tracking (PAT).
PATROL aims to de-risk the technology required for PAT and Adaptive Optics (AO) in Laser Communications Terminals (LCT) control electronics subsystems.
The new product is a reusable building block for LCTs on ground and in airborne applications.
Development of a modular, software-based abstraction layer for Optical Ground Stations (OGS), enabling seamless integration of diverse hardware components and client systems. The solution addresses current market challenges such as the coexistence of heterogeneous technologies, the growing demand for interoperability, and the need for scalable, future-proof infrastructure in optical communications and observation. By enhancing flexibility and standardisation, the project supports the rapid evolution of space communication and Earth observation services.
The development of non-metallic demisable propellant tanks reduces the costs and lead times related to manufacturing and delivery for all satellite configurations using metallic lined units and improves ground safety on uncontrolled re-entry.
By using novel combinations of available materials, high pressure gas tanks can be produced in a fraction of the current time and supplied from an open supply environment.
The objective of this study is to implement and demonstrate, through live demonstration over a real geostationary orbit (GEO) satellite, Multi-User Multiple Input Single Output (MU-MISO) digital signal processing techniques, namely precoding, in the Forward (FWD) link of a multi-beam satellite system operating in full frequency reuse (FFR). Additionally, the project aims to evaluate the suitability of precoding techniques to MEO mission scenarios. The study shall increase the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of precoding to five.
The TAQS project aims to develop a Transportable Agnostic Quantum ground Station to receive Quantum Keys from space (LEO and others) from a variety of potential key distribution quantum satellites. This means that TAQS will be able to interface with different satellites delivering different protocols, including DV-QKD (Discrete Variable Quantum Key Distribution) or CV-QKD (Continuous Variable Quantum Key Distribution).
The consortium for TAQS ELBB includes N10GLED as the prime contractor, and Single Quantum (Netherlands) Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço from Lisbon (Portugal) as consortium members.
Space Gate is the Ground User Segment (or Communication Ground Segment) of a satellite access network solution designed for High Throughput Satellites (HTS) and Very High Throughput Satellite (VHTS) systems to provide a wideband broadcast/broadband connectivity by satellite. The scope of this project covers improvements and optimisations of the Space Gate Data Centre that are specific to update to the R4.3 Space Gate version.
Austrian partners JOANNEUM RESEARCH, PIDSO and S+K Consult are developing a next-generation multi-orbit satellite communications antenna for geostationary orbit (GEO), medium Earth orbit (MEO), and low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. Combining modular, compact design with high performance and reliability, the project strengthens Austria’s space expertise, uniting research and industry, with PIDSO providing advanced antenna and wireless communication expertise.
ReFlex activities focus on the design, implementation, and testing of critical building blocks needed for in-flight reconfigurable flexible shell reflector antennas in various configurations. These include the reflecting shell, actuation subsystem, and a mechanical system for fixed shaped flexible shells suitable for "last minute production". The activity also includes the optimisation of antenna configurations to fully leverage the technology’s benefits.
SATSITY (SATellite-level spatial diverSITY) is a satellite communications unique technology. It combines simplex satellites, air interface protocols, and constellation architectures to boost the whole communication efficiency. This enables simultaneous transmission and reception within the same frequency band (from VHF to C).
The HBSE project delivers a hardware-based security module and supporting ground service for CubeSats, enabling robust end-to-end data encryption, secure key management, and authentication across both satellite and ground segments. This ensures confidentiality, integrity, and trust in commercial small satellite operations.
Global mobile communications are highly dependable of satellite technology. Existing geostationary orbit (GEO) and upcoming low Earth orbit (LEO) / medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellites will offer great bandwidth, speed, coverage at reduced cost. On the ground segment, antennas must be prepared for this new scenario. Multi-beam, multi-orbit, high throughput, wideband, modular and scalable antenna with reduced SWaP-C is possible with our hybrid beamforming approach.
CELEOS provides a cutting-edge satellite channel emulator that combines high-end capabilities with cost-efficiency. Leveraging Software Defined Radio (SDR) technology and DIFI-standard digital interfaces, CELEOS supports complex scenarios such as mobility, Doppler, weather effects and interference. It integrates a built-in Digital Spectrum Analyser for real-time radio frequency (RF) insight and is now deployable also via the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Marketplace, offering scalable, cloud-based emulation for modern satellite communication systems.
The rise in radio spectrum applications and users has made signal interference a critical issue in the satellite industry, which operates within tight frequency allocations. This activity explores using aerial mobile platforms to detect unauthorized transmitters and enhance spectrum management. The airborne platform aims to assist in the final stages of geolocation, also known as the last-mile geolocation.
The amount of data in satellite communications (satcom) systems is tremendous, and automating its on-board analysis is key in practice. However, the characteristics of such data may change in time, and the AI models should respond to these changes. We tackled this issue and developed the continual learning technology for satcom systems and benchmarked it on different flight-ready hardware architectures.
This project explores distributed quantum computing (DQC) via space-based connectivity, focusing on efficient long-distance entanglement distribution. We will survey use cases, parallelisable quantum algorithms, and hardware components like qubit platforms, photon sources, and quantum memories. Simulations will guide the design of a versatile architecture and a roadmap for future quantum technology development.
Planet 5G Video enables ultra-efficient video communication over direct-to-device 5G satellite networks. The solution empowers mission-critical users with reliable visual data at drastically reduced bandwidth and energy costs, supporting smarter decisions in limited-connectivity environments around the planet.
The project involves the development of two optical products using proprietary micro-optics assembly techniques. A prototype ultra compact entangled photon source emitting at 810 nm and an engineering model of a Faint Pulse Source (FPS) with orthogonally polarized light source pairs.
SHINE project is focused on developing a machine learning engine that aids handover decisions between non-terrestrial networks and terrestrial networks while dealing with partial information, uncertainty, time constraints, and rapidly changing communication environment. The ultimate goal is to assist the 5G NTN in developing the required cognition to improve the handover success rate to over 95%, decreasing thus the handover signalling load and the service interruption time to a minimum.
SETERIA‘s aim is the analysis of the feasibility of using satellite communications for the Next-Generation Emergency Call (NG-eCall) system, filling the gap of terrestrial connectivity in remote areas, ensuring that when terrestrial network coverage is unavailable, the in-vehicle system can seamlessly switch over to a non-terrestrial network to maintain connectivity. The feasibility study includes the development of a testbed that integrates various cutting-edge technologies across the different testbed subsystems to assess the suitability of the technology.
ONEST develops a modular testbed for optical and quantum communication networks, enabling optical ground stations and network elements to interconnect and operate in realistic, automated environments. It supports link planning, DTN-based data delivery, and roaming optical ground stations, with integrated simulation and scheduling capabilities.
