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StatusCompleted
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Status date2024-10-29
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Activity Code1A.119
The project aims at determining how Super-Heavy Launch Vehicles that are being introduced in the market might disrupt the Satcom industry in the next 5-10 years, lifting existing design constraints and generating innovative business cases. The final goal is to converge on an actionable roadmap that highlights the specific Satcom technology developments that shall be fostered to optimally leverage on the availability of more capable and cheaper launch vehicles.
Anticipation represents a main driver of the activity, and dealing with the corresponding unknowns and assumptions represents a challenge. In general, implementing change is always difficult especially when it regards future development and anticipated competitive advantage. Also, the roadmap must be clear and understandable from all key stakeholders, which represents a challenge due to their number and diversity.
The activity will provide ESA with a structured technology development roadmap to specifically leverage the potential of SHLVs for the Satcom industry. The roadmap shall support ESA in identifying what would be best to fly with an SHLV, as well as the technologies that shall be advanced to exploit the evolved SHLVs’ capabilities. Also, the project will benefit the wider ESA Technology Harmonisation activity by providing a specific focus on SHLV-relevant Satcom technologies harmonised within the current European R&D and industry, as well as guidelines and directions to optimise effort coordination. The project will additionally give ESA a structured survey of credible SHLV options and preliminary SHLVs-enabled Satcom reference system designs & business models.
WP1 consisted of a SHLV survey of all SHLVs currently being developed with an expected credible first launch within 5-10 years. This was followed by the characterization of the evolved capabilities of SHLVs, the disruptors. WP2 analysed the implications that these disruptors might have on the Satcom industry in terms of business models and mission scenarios. WP3 will translate the implications into SHLVs-enabled Satcom system design reference designs and identify blocking points. WP4 will analyse the existing Satcom roadmaps & will determine recommendations and a roadmap of technology development efforts dedicated to optimal exploitation of SHLVs’ capabilities.
Project complete
