Projects

Through the Artes-34 R&D project “TTC” with ESA, Norspace has developed and qualified three different EQMs. These are a Command Receiver (Rx), a Beacon Transmitter (Bx) and a Telemetry Transmitter (Tx). In addition a 31dBm Ku Band output amplifier module has been qualified under the frame of this contract.

This has been an important and strategic activity for Norspace, and this development project has established the company as a provider of TTC equipment for space.
The main strategic and technical objectives have been met, and commercial orders for flight models of Beacons, Transmitters and Command Receivers have been signed. This success shows that this program has been very useful and demonstrates an efficient use of ESA funding.

In this project, an efficient spectral monitoring concept design will be bread-boarded and validated using realistic in-space spectral sensing scenarios. Dynamic sensing within the C-, Ku-, Ka-bands are targeted, considering integration in commercial satellites with minimal impact in terms of size, weight, power consumption and complexity. This project targets a proof-of-concept architectural design and not a direct equipment design.

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.

LNAFIN Oy implements a Q-band LNA according to ESA specifications. The unit is waveguide packaged, and its specifications include NF=2.5 dB, gain >30 dB and better than -18 dB wideband matching.

A robust, efficient and flexible communication data bus compatible with a next generation of more versatile and powerful Telecom payloads.

NanoSpace has under this contract continued to develop a gauging system to predict the residual propellant on-board satellites in orbit. The target market is medium and large satellites in Geo-synchronous orbits. The main value lies in capability to predict end-of-life with high accuracy – for a typical satellite down to a few weeks. A first engineering model has been designed, built, and tested together with propellant tanks up to 368 litres within this contract. Test results have demonstrated accuracies between 0.07% to 0.35%, depending of amount of gas injected. Test results compared with EcosimPro-simulations shows excellent agreement.

The objective of this activity was to increase the robustness and speed of the EEE parts procurement and testing of the Regys20 gyrometer for space applications. This comprised of 2 main work packages: i) EEE parts procurement transfer from Syderal to Sagem, through a CPPA (centralized parts procurement agent), and ii) the robustification of the testing process. This latter WP consists of 4 main points of improvement:
- 2 additional two-axes rate tables were qualified to avoid a bottleneck in the AIT process
- The EEPROM management process was enhanced with multiple checks to avoid human operator error and detect read/write errors
- The calibration process was robustified to automatically detect out-of-family-behaviour
- The test sequence was automated to allow weekend and night-time automated testing and save considerable time.
The combination of the above 2 WPs has considerably increased the competitiveness of the Regys20 and increased the robustness of the AIT process.

The design of a T/R Ku-band electronically steerable antenna based on a horizontal integration has considered various approaches, covering both technological and system aspects, enabling the realization of a low-cost architecture. The antenna uses the available aperture for both Tx and RX functions and the RF components are integrated in a single horizontal board which allows an effective manufacturing process and avoid the need for complex mechanical structures and RF connectivity.

The objective of the study is to develop and validate a digital test bench for use during AIT and IOT for all C-band to Ku-band payloads, exploiting innovative and rapid RF test techniques to significantly reduce the overall test schedule. Furthermore extension to Ka-band payloads and RF interface using optical fiber are designed.

In the frame of this project Tesat designed, manufactured and tested a BB and an EM of an Electronic power conditioner (EPC) for Very High Power S-Band TWT with 500W.

In the frame of this activity an innovative Ku-band high power reconfigurable multibeam broadcast antenna has been designed, with the development and test of a demonstrator model. The most promising payload solutions suitable to support the present application in terms of both antenna configuration and front-end architecture have been identified and investigated in detail. This extended trade-off activity led to an innovative antenna solution consisting of a Confocal antenna configuration fed by an aperiodic feed array.
The designed Confocal antenna architecture, associated with sparse/aperiodic array feeding system, creates an innovative approach capable to fulfill the reconfigurable regional coverage mission in Ku-band, with full array operation and then full reconfiguration capability, full power allocation flexibility and graceful degradation, minimizing the number of controls.

The objective of this ARTES3-4 project is to study and to design a multi-reflectors pallet antenna. This new antenna product is envisaged to generate several coverages from one antenna structure and one single deployment. The design drivers of the product are the capability to accommodate several reflectors from 2 to 5, with different diameters varying from 1600mm to 900mm, a focal length varying from 1.9m to 3.2m. The reflector mounted on the pallet shall be able to operate in Ku and Ka frequency bands, and to realise mono beam and multibeams misions. Moreover, the pallet product shall be compatible of small launchers and several platforms like Spacebus, Eurostar and Alphabus. This antenna should be accommodated in double deployment. All these characteristics are considered to design this new product.

Pre-development and testing of cell assembly technology based on GaAs multi-junction solar cells on 20 µm and 80 µm Ge.
System level study and trade-off of the ultra-thin GaAs multi-junction solar generator.

This project addresses the design, development and industrialization of a novel Ka band bidirectional Fly-Away terminal.
The terminal is intended for basic broadcasting users and for more demanding performance applications as well.

The objective of the project was to identify the best potential opportunities for European satellite service providers to engage in service delivery over integrated satellite and terrestrial networks.

Composite overwrapped pressure vessels are difficult to inspect for damage, particularly with respect to stress-rupture, creep and damage fibres embedded within the epoxy resin composite. To mitigate this risk of failure due to undetected damages, tanks are manufactured with significant margins and are thus “over engineered” in terms of flight needs. The project’s aim is to design a demonstrator of health monitoring system capable of detecting potentially dangerous damages and thus increasing safety of the vessels. The monitored vessels could be subsequently manufactured with smaller margins which result in their lower weight and reduced operation cost.

The target of this project was to develop a new range of EPC that allows SSPAs to replace Travelling Wave Tube Amplifiers (TWTAs) in
the power range and allows a significant improvement on implementation aspects for some applications. The EPC is able to provide up to 250W with efficiency over than 90%.

The aim of the project is to develop and qualify through an EM/PFM approach specific modules and building blocks for a competitive PCDU

For now several years, the RPAS (Remotely Piloted Aircraft System) insertion issue is a very hot topic both in the US and in Europe, and the Command and Control (C2) link is one of the most important technological challenges to be addressed.

Regulatory and standardization bodies (especially ICAO, EUROCAE, JARUS) are making progress on this topic. Nevertheless, the work in front of us is still significant.

CERES study aimed, generally speaking, at supporting this effort and, in particular, at fostering the development of an adequate framework for the development of an appropriate C2 link satellite communication capability, by analysing the potential performances and security requirements as well as standard needs.

Furthermore, CERES complemented this top down approach by a bottom up approach, via the analysis of potential satcom candidate systems wrt. these requirements and needs.

The project is composed of 3 topics aimed to improve harness mass, cost and performances:
1 - Improvement of waveguide harness attachment solutions
2 - Evolution of waveguide materials and processes
3 - Diversification and consolidation of supplier panel

SATWAYS aims to install remote site controllers equipped with radio and telephony interfaces at isolated heliports countrywide. They will relay radio and telephony communications over satellite connections using IP as the transport protocol.

The TESEO project is dedicated to
realising a system of multimedia narrow casting via
satellite. The different multimedia elements (video,
audio, graphics and text) are distributed to receiving
sites situated in different geographical areas and
assembled to form a local information channel branded
for the specific user group. In the pilot phase of TESEO,
the channel is used by hotel facilities to realise a local
information channel distributed via the analogue cable
TV system into each room, providing the hotel's guests
with geographically tailored information.

ESMEE provides a satellite based
eLearning multimedia platform providing real-time audio
and video streaming of university lessons and Internet
based synchronous interaction.

The aim of the Fusion Studio project is to explore the creation and enablement of compelling and commercially attractive content for Multimedia TV.

The REACT project proposes to address the limitation of the current dependence on mobile technology by developing a hybrid solution for emergency services that intelligently combines the usage of mobile and satellite communication for the transmission of information. The system will be designed for use not only in rural areas where standard mobile communication may be limited or unavailable but also during a major crisis when standard networks are overloaded.

The objective of the GAMMA project is to develop and demonstrate a pre-operational A-SMGCS which will provide surveillance and conflict detection services to controllers and vehicle drivers at airports.

The main objective of the SAET project is to define an engineered satellite-based network architecture for the provision of multimedia services on-board European trains.

The STICK Project aims at providing broadband communications capabilities to the Public Protection and Disaster Relief sector.
STICK will be a service that can be easily deployed by minimally trained operators, providing a mobile broadband shared network that can be simultaneously accessed by multiple users with multiple applications fully independent from public networks which may collapse when disaster strikes.

The CCN#3 "Open eTraining Network for the Millennium Development Goals" to SatElections is a pilot project dedicated to the development of a broadband satellite network in support to both the training (eTraining service) and the electoral needs (Electoral Data Transmission) of the Independent Electoral Commission of the Democratic Republic of Congo (IEC-DRC).

Pacific Skies is dedicated to defining,
developing, implementing and piloting a premium
internet access and corporate services product aimed at
small/medium enterprises (SMEs) in Asia and the Middle
East. The service, branded IPsys Broadband, offers two
way Internet Access for remote corporate sites and is
retailed through ISPs and satellite service providers
specialised in the corporate market. The network will
support services typically demanded by corporate users,
such as virtual private networks (VPNs) suitable for
intranet and extranets.

SEDNET is dedicated to the development
of an interactive retail TV experience with satellite
broadcast in the forward channel and SMS as the tool
for response, ordering and marketing. The SEDNET
product will enable NetCast customers to receive
dynamic, interactive media broadcasts over one-way
satellite communications.

The Webraska project aims to develop and deploy innovative wireless real-time navigation services in Europe using two different satcom networks and terminals.

The RTI-TVS project will be the first demonstrator enabling viewers to immerse themselves
into an "Edutainment / Game TV Show" and to compete
in teams with the physical protagonists of the show. The
project intends to strengthen the use of advanced
satellite communication technology and facilities using
the new DVB-MHP iTV standard. An appropriate 2D/3D
authoring and rendering application for "Edutainment /
Game TV Shows" has been implemented using a
background 2D/3D engine generator for virtual spaces.

Development and prototyping of a map-based news group service for laptops and tablet PC's via VSAT networks and Wi-Fi local access.

This project is dedicated to the production
of an application software suite for a multicast
management platform including an advanced Forward
Error Correction (FEC). One of the future applications of
this project is the distribution of digital assets such as
movies to the projection locations.

The MUTIS (Multimodal Traffic Information
Services) project is aiming at the attraction of the
Danube waterway through the introduction of new
advanced telematic applications. The work contains two
parts, the first part is the demonstration of the
integration of new communication concepts for the
generation of Traffic Information in the Eastern
European countries, and the second part is the
integration of the generated traffic information in a
MUTIS database.

TEMOS' objective is to establish a globally
active satellite based competence network which will
optimise the medical care of humans (tourists and
business travellers) in today's mobile society. This
network will be open for all interested hospitals and
medical institutions such as general practitioners or
assistance companies who agree to accept and apply the
TEMOS quality criteria as developed within the
framework of the project.

The WGStargate Gateway developed in
this project will enable Internet Access for public use
and private enterprise communications combining
Satcom with terrestrial technology such as
UMTS/HSDPA/WIMAX/EvDo. The WGStargate system
will enable cruise liners, public transportation vehicles,
etc. to have high speed Internet access on the move
and in remote places and to provide the Internet service
to their clients through an intelligent bandwidth
management algorithm that limits the bandwidth used
by the clients and that assures bandwidth availability for
enterprise communication at all times.

The objective of the project was to develop Forsway´s one-way Internet over satellite gateway, Mímir, into a carrier grade solution for operators of all sized.