Projects

OSS is currently developing proprietary metal mesh fabrics for the foldable reflector surface of their Wrapped Rib and Offset Reflector antenna architectures. The knitted metal mesh structures are being developed using state-of-the-art knitting processes and will undergo full mechanical and RF characterization. The patterns and mesh densities under development enable operational frequencies up to Ka band.

RHYTHM is a time and frequency disseminator based on the use of different technologies to ensure robustness and continuity of the synchronization signal to the final user’s network.
Under the ARTES C&G project, carried out by ANTARES in collaboration with RAI, the RHYTHM prototype is brought from a breadboard to an industrialized product, ready for the market.

The Spainsat-NG phase -1 project objective is to develop an innovative and powerful X-band active antenna fully integrated and using the latest available technologies on the market. The aim of this phase is to de-risk the most critical areas to pave the way for a successful project.

The 3D thermal IF is a 3D heat pipe using ALM techniques, hydraulically connected to a standard AGHP132, in order to significantly reduce thermal gradients from the equipment unit to the radiator panel. It is characterized as in “3D” since it is interfacing equipment’s face, and not its baseplate.This entails the need to operate in gravity conditions.

Design and development of surface mountable filters at L- and C-bands to improve integrated design of frequency converters.

Over the past two decades, Airbus Defence and Space Netherlands (Airbus DS NL) has developed, and continuously updated, a non-explosive low shock hold down and release system for its Advanced Rigid Array and Flatpack solar array families. Many hundreds of these systems have released in orbit - with 100 percent success rate - on a variety of solar arrays and other deployable systems.

The objective of the NELS program is to qualify the successor of the existing hold down and release system, which is more robust and has an extended preload capacity.

In this ARTES C&G phase, Airbus DS NL has qualified the NELS design. At the end of the qualification test campaign the NELS product is considered flight qualified and ready for first application programme implementation.

Traditional TT&C links still utilize frequency division as access method together with bandwidth inefficient modulations. The use of direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) modulation opens possibilities for more secure links with improved interference immunity. For
satellites utilizing electric orbit raising, the use of DSSS is particularly useful since it eliminates the need for detailed frequency scheduling when passing below the GEO belt over a prolonged time frame.

A transmit Ka band FERM for the future active antenna used for Mission Earth Orbit has been developed in this study. This is competitive solution achieving, optimum performances, mass, volume, power consumption and cost.

PROSEQO project’s main aim is the realization of a software for the evaluation of a generic satellite-ground QKD link in terms of secret key rate. The project comprehends the design of an analytical model which describes the relation among the parameters of a QKD setup and serves as a foundation for the software itself.

The project aims to study the feasibility of an eCall system supported by Galileo/SAR and Kinéis as backup communication systems for situations where terrestrial networks might not be available.

To address the challenges with thermal control in space, Airbus Defence and Space Netherlands (Airbus DS NL) has developed the HiPeR product range:
     - HiPeR Flexlinks: these are thermal straps with unprecedented capability to conduct heat on-board spacecraft. Highly flexible and with a conductance-to-mass ratio (W/K per kg) three to five times higher than traditional solutions, the thermal straps offer a versatile solution for thermal control requirements, while being mechanically decoupled (visit our webpage here).  
     - HiPeR Radiators: provide high design flexibility through their low mass and low stiffness performance. They can be used to complement or replace traditional radiators.  In doing so, they enable optimized designs along mechanical and thermal properties without infringing one or the other.
 

Enhancing the cooling loop performance by minimising thermal resistances within this heat exchanger.

The objective of the project is to develop and qualify an assembly of multiple C to Q band converters intended for Very High Throughput Satellite communication payloads employing digital transparent processors for maximum traffic allocation flexibility. The equipment translates a C band output (3 GHz bandwidth) of the processor DACs to a Q band downlink frequency towards the gateways, with a compact and modular unit that must meet very challenging mass and cost targets.

This study determined the optimum use of a FaintStar-based star tracker for the future telecommunications market assessing the feasibility of designing a competitive star tracker suitable for telecommunication satellites. The study demonstrated that a FaintStar-based star tracker can indeed meet the demanding requirements in terms of performance and robustness.

To design and develop a very high power isolator and a compact output multiplexer for use in a QV band 40GHz downlink path

Laser communications has been rapidly maturing since the early 2000’s and can now provide massive backhaul link for airborne connectivity. Airborne Laser communications through UltraAir terminal connected to SpaceDataHighway services will provide a new means for high data rate, protected connectivity for the commercial and governmental airborne users opening up new possibilities and concepts of operation for the aviation future.

A spacecraft with a chemical and/or electric propulsion system, but without a propellant tank. A more compact design, a reduced mass and easier to demise at the end of life. That is the vision of the team working on the Multifunctional Structure Elements project.

The objective of this project is to develop and manufacture a new generation of miniaturised cameras (M-CAM) based on previous concepts. The "MCAMv3" shall be based as much as possible on “plug and play” features, in order to obtain the smallest generic and qualified space camera owning standard interfaces.

Design, simulation and prototyping of a radiation-hardened, wideband, low-noise fractional-N frequency synthesizer for clock and pulse-width modulated (PWM) signal generation in CMOS technology. Including user selectable LVDS or LVCMOS outputs. Accepting external reference clock or using on-chip crystal oscillator for reference generation. The design, testing and radiation assessment of the chip are part of the project scope.

The objective of this activity was to identify different business model architectures for debris removal systems together with the associated high-level Concept of Operations where applicable. After finding a valid business model, then an initial design of the associated chaser was made, including verification of the initial cost estimates of the service assumed in the previous business model, which was refined afterwards (even considering the special circumstances which happened during the project, as the COVID-19 pandemic).

Is a 5G service direct to a phone handset using Very Low Earth Orbit possible?

This activity focuses on the system use cases and system gain analysis as well as the demonstration of content distribution in the form of the digital broadcasting of content via high throughput satellites in the future. For one this is the integration of digital broadcasting services in the context of high throughput satellite systems as well as the development of a satellite content distribution network system that is capable of caching video and offering non-linear video services such as video-on-demand and a mix of linear and non-linear video services as well as efficiently distributing multicast traffic. The end goal is a lab a caching file transfer and cache management technique selection with a full implementation of a demonstrator and a comprehensive assessment of the system aspects.

This activity develops an on-board eNB capable of overcoming the technical challenges of using standards that aren’t originally conceived for satellite communications, preferably compatible with small satellite platforms. The eNB is integrated in a testbed capable of emulating different scenarios and relevant channel impairments to validate its performance in realistic conditions.

A monolithic Ka-band Beam Forming Network (BFN) breadboard including 5 TX and 5 RX elements is designed, additive manufactured, and tested. The produced part is 65% lighter than similar parts produced using conventional manufacturing technologies and has an RF performance that is suitable for demanding modern telecom multibeam missions, like High Throughput Satellites (HTS).

Rockwell Collins Deutschland GmbH (in the following “Collins”) has more than 40 years’ experience in developing analog space wheels.
To provide customers in future with high quality products and continue our history of success in manufacturing and selling high quality space wheels, the analog electronics design is digitalized.
With the ESA InDiCAtor study, Collins is identifying the most suitable digital controller system to finally improve the heritage space wheel electronics.

The SatSecure project develop, test, validate and pilot with selected demanding end users a secured and resilient cloud-based service delivery platform (C-SDP)

The PIM project focusses on the development of an agnostic satellite terminal controller that provides a faster, more direct user interface to advance operations and at the same time improve over the air services, whilst incorporating an environmentally rated enclosure designed to maximize thermal cooling efficiency. Paradigm’s PIM provides a simple to use interface to terminal pointing, modem, RF hardware and terminal configuration, control and monitoring.

100x the data from space. This project develops high-altitude laser transceivers and related support equipment to allow constant, higher volume download from moving satellites & hybrid communications architectures.

BESecured PSS will deliver an advanced secure solution to pool & share satcom resources for institutional customers.

A competitive Low-shock Release Actuator was developed and qualified.

Development of a modular and flexible solution in Ka Band providing low noise amplification and down conversion by slices that allow multiple configurations.

The purpose of this activity will be to implement the required receiver technologies to detect multiple DVB-CID signals, and verify the effectiveness of current technologies in realistic interference scenario. The activity will be instrumental to enhance and improve the capability for detecting the presence of unwanted transmitter signatures.

Design and development of an elegant breadboard of a GNSS receiver including a newly designed, compact and cost-efficient RF front-end

Recent developments by telecommunication satellite manufacturers have stimulated interest in carrying small payloads to GEO. Additionally, growth of very small telecommunication satellites in LEO has helped to improve the performance/resilience of very small satellites. This study has explored the feasibility of implementing GEO microsatellites for Telecommunications applications, including the potential business cases. A baseline Ku-Band IoT services mission was then developed.

Based on the heritage of ELSA antenna developed under the frame of ESA AG1 program, an enhanced system “ELSA+” has been developed, evolving from single to dual polarization, increased band from 250 MHz to 2050 MHz, together with inclusion of emitter Geolocation and Beam Hopping. The activity includes the design and qualification of the subassemblies and the RF and Thermomechanical analysis.

MPB has developed a 10W Polarization Maintaining Optical Fiber amplifier (1550 nm) for space applications. The prototype is based on three stages of optical amplification with photodiodes at each stage, monitoring the output power. It includes the control electronics and software with feedback loops to dynamically control and monitor the amplifier.

MPB communications Inc. has developed a high power (6W) polarization maintaining Ytterbium (1064 nm) optical amplifier to be used as booster for satellite communications. An engineering model was built and tested in a relevant environment. The redundant design is based on three stages of optical amplification with photodiodes at each stage.

Development of a range of new high performance products for High Throughput Satellites (HTS) operating in K, Ka, Q and V bands and validation in a repeater subsystem demonstrator

The development of a new Software Defined Radio (SDR) platform designed for the implementation of high-end satellite communication applications. This is a new modular platform, with a carrier board mounted in a 19” rack mechanical enclosure and the capability of plugging powerful FPGA SoC modules, radio front-end modules, and high-speed DACs and ADCs into FMC+ connectors.