Projects

The Flexible Compact Array (“FCA”) is new type of solar array that is currently being developed. It has an unprecedented performance in terms of stowed volume, mass in the high power spectrum (10 kW -  35 kW). To enable reliable deployment of the blanket, two types of mechanisms are developed and verified. A wing demonstrator is realized to enable full functional testing of these mechanisms.

This project deals with the development and qualification of the next generation of Digital Transparent Processor (DTP) based on 28nm ASIC and optical high speed serial links technologies. Such DTPs will be able to process up to 2500 MHz useful band per access and to present high modularity for offering total capacity compatible of applications ranging from FSS/BSS, HTS & V-HTS needs.

The project focuses on developing a simulator, for analyzing interference scenarios related to Non-geostationary (NGSO) satellite systems. The main objective of this simulator will be to test and validate satellite system designs, including mitigation techniques, against various interference scenarios in which NGSO constellations and/or GSO satellites operate, with the definition of interference mitigation strategies, aimed at enable the coexistence of different systems in the same frequency bands.

Countries located in tropical climates are particularly interested in satellite communication systems, because they can provide telecommunication services to vast regions without the need to install large and costly terrestrial networks. The operation of current satellite multimedia communication systems is moving to Ka-, Q/V- and W-band. However, those frequency bands are severely affected by the atmospheric propagation of electromagnetic waves.
The accuracy of atmospheric and channel models is critical for the design of satellite communication systems, with the actual performance of propagation models for higher frequencies in tropical regions still not being reliably assessed.

The climatic difference to moderate climate can affect several design propagation parameters, including gaseous, cloud and rain attenuation, sky noise emission, site diversity, fade duration and fade slope. The propagation models currently recommended by the ITU-R for global predictions are based on empirical assumptions and on the use of Earth Observation or Numerical Weather Prediction data that cannot provide the same resolution (both in time and space) and accuracy as achievable through direct measurements.

The propagation experiments at these bands are the base for developing accurate propagation models to improve the utilization of the propagation impairments mitigation techniques (PIMTs), such as uplink power control (UPC), adaptive coding and modulation (ACM) and link diversity, which require the knowledge of first and second order statistics of rain attenuation.
The propagation campaign presented in this activity aims to assess the accuracy of current prediction models with focus on rain attenuation and to improve the models for second order statistical parameters such as fade slope, fade duration and site diversity gain.

This activity focuses on the design of a Q/V-Band gateway antenna that can be scaled in the range 7 to 13 meters for future Feeder Link gateways.

SATBETT-5G aims to develop an integrated set of consultancy, prototyping and certification services in the context of 5G private mobile networks over satellite. The long-term goal is the commercial offer of a network-as-a-service platform, driven by the virtualization of terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks and a slicing of the network to tailor the consumer needs. The short-term goal is to provide consultancy services and training to entities planning to build satellite backhauling infrastructures.

The project’s outcomes deal with the design, implementation, test and demonstration of a prototype backhauling solution (satellite terminal, satellite gateway and NB-IoT network functions) which is capable of providing NB-IoT backhauling services. The purposes of this activity is using the latest satellite backhauling technologies and standards in order to provide a more efficient backhauling of NB-IoT cells over satellite. The prototype is embedded in a testbed which represents a realistic environment with regard to a future deployment.

In 2016 EHP has gained a heat pipes contract for the megaconstellation OneWeb, which represented a challenge in terms of volume and recurring price. An industrialization phase was needed. This industrialization phase has been successfully performed and, since 2015, our number of delivered heat pipes has doubled every year, to reach 2350 items in 2020 and now 3500 items in 2021. 



Data in the chart: status is at the date of 24th June 2021

This activity developed and then demonstrated in-orbit, on a commercial spacecraft, a fully Flexible Transparent Digital Processor.   This project is another step along the path to fully flexible commercial telecommunications satellites for Europe.

The goal of the project is to generate additional data for optimization of assets in satellite communication based on available recorded signal quality data from VSAT networks. This business intelligence data is used for daily work in payload operations as well as for optimizing the business case by leveraging cost reduction opportunities in orbit and on ground.

Development of a family of user terminals for Ka band MEO and LEO constellations that can be sold at a low enough price-point to enable operators to provide satellite broadband affordably to the large, transient and growing requirement for global connectivity. The scope in this project is to develop the low-cost terminal for the Methera constellation.

The idea is to propose and to investigate a thin flat antenna for home applications (i.e. DVB-S), which it allows to be easily installed and aligned in a good-looking manner, suggesting innovative and cost/power efficient solutions to implement beam steering or custom solutions with a specific pre-pointing.

The enhanced Deployable Panel Radiators (eDPR) is a major feature of the OneSat innovative, fully reconfigurable; software defined, and standardized satellite for commercial telecommunication missions in geostationary orbit. This product is one of the major OneSat innovation providing the thermal system with an unprecedented heat rejection capability and efficiency thanks to its ecliptic mechanism (Airbus patent) keeping the panels out of the sun exposure. This is essential to the OneSat platform to reach the required heat rejection due to Active Antenna dissipation in addition to fixed radiators while preserving the Spacecraft compactness.

Development of two Highly-Integrated Single-Chip Frequency Converter MMICs (SCFC) capable of supporting various frequency translation schemes, at Ku and Ka bands, to be exploited in future LEO and MEO constellations.

Study to investigate long-term electrical breakdown behavior of typical isolation designs including bare, encapsulated and conformal coated PCBs for space application.

The performed activity included three different parts : The Q Band EPC qualification and Q Band TWTA validation, the adaptation of current test means (Pre Integration test bench & TVAC) and the preliminary study of EPC for very high power amplification in Ka Band.

Development and processor-in-the-loop validation of innovative guidance algorithms for on-board optimization of thrust and attitude profile for autonomous electrical orbit raising.

Eurostar NEO has two double-capacity almost-spherical skirt-mounted propellant tanks placed within a central cone/cylinder structure. The benefits vs. legacy Eurostar platforms, which featured four polar mounted tanks around a central structure, are: more room for payload, more cost-efficient use of titanium alloy and value added in MAIT.

The activity is designed to address the deficiency in available secure access technology in remote areas and in areas where there is no or unreliable terrestrial radio coverage. The solution provides a satellite ready secure access device, which can pass IP data between a secure management portal and remotely located equipment.

This activity focuses its efforts on the implementation and verification of the most critical features of ground components for DVB standardized beam-hopping. In that context an end-to-end hardware testbed is developed to verify standard compliance and demonstrate features like e.g. seamless beam-hopping time plan updates.

Magister Solutions Ltd. offers a cloud-based simulation service called Magister SimLab, which integrates the whole network simulation workflow into one easy-to-use service including scenario and campaign design, simulation execution and monitoring, and results analysis.

This project consists of the development and implementation of a demonstrator for DVB-S2X wideband transmission links - supporting baud rates up to 1.4 Gsps.

Three different frequency generation modules have been developed in the program. These frequency generation modules are targeting use in low phase noise applications.

Low power, low weight electronically steerable Ka band antenna arrays for fixed and mobile satellite terminals using RF MEMS phase shifters. Typical applications are Maritime, trains, UAV’s, mobile, Satellite backhaul.

SHADER investigate the use of HAPS-borne broadband satcom datalink, to relief small RPAS (drones) from the burden of heavy data transceiver payloads.
This is an enabling technology for the use of small UAV in areas with little connectivity.

RADIOSAT: a miniaturized K/Ka band transceiver for small satellites.

Satellite communications industry has been growing rapidly over recent years. There has never been more satellite launches than we have had in the last two years with all the LEO launches. Diversity of satellites, new transmission modes and optimization techniques combined with proprietary standards is all adding complexity to an already challenging environment. As the number of satellites increases, it is expected that the number of interference cases increases as well. This leads to a significant higher amount of effort for satellite operators to identify interference cases.
AI has the potential to be a game changer in the satellite industry, where it could be used to improve processes and increase efficiency. AI could establish a digital assistant, capable of processing information about everyday satellite procedures, resolving and predicting issues before they become errors.

The “Large Xenon Tank Assembly” (L-XTA) is the largest high-pressure xenon tank in the world – designed and built in Europa.
Its cost-competitive, qualified lightweight COPV design offers an optimal performance for high-pressure storage of Xe gas for hybrid & full-electric satellite propulsion systems. 
Two dedicated “tank families” have been qualified, each with a common diameter, covering a total volume range of 300-900 l.
Tank qualification was successfully performed with two dedicated models, one for each family size. First targeted missions are ELECTRA and Mars Sample Return.
 

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.

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

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.