ESA Open Invitation to Tender AO10487
Open Date: 03/12/2020
Closing Date: 04/03/2021 13:00:00

Status: ISSUED
Reference Nr.: 20.1TI.20
Prog. Ref.: OP-Other Act. Prod.
Budget Ref.: E/0534-05A – OP-Other Act. Prod.
Special Prov.: AT+BE+CH+CZ+DE+DK+ES+FR+GR+HU+IE+IT+LU+NL+NO+PL+PT+RO+SE+GB+CA
Tender Type: C
Price Range: 200-500 KEURO
Products: Satellites & Probes / Optical Communication / Optical Comm ¿ BB / Laser sources, modulators / Satellites & Probes / Optical Communication / Optical Comm ¿ BB / Receivers
Technology Domains: Optoelectronics / Photonics / Micro- & Nano-Photonics
Establishment: ESTEC
Directorate: Directorate Telecom & Integrated Applica
Department: Telecom Technologies,Product&Systems Dep
Division: Institutional and European Programme Off
Contract Officer: Lucas, Adriana
Industrial Policy Measure: N/A – Not apply
Last Update Date: 03/12/2020
Update Reason: Tender issue

The objective of the activity is to develop the corresponding technology and demonstrate the feasibility of a space compatible WDM multiplexer capable of operating up to a total optical input power of 100W, as well as a WDM demultiplexer handling low power levels. The proposed solution shall operate in a wavelength range around 1064nm. Targeted Improvements:Enabling technology development not existing today in Europe, which will allow the higher optical data rates needed in the future to be achieved. Description:Opticalterminals of future telecommunication satellites and constellations will require that the optical links achieve a terabyte data rate capability. This will be achieved by the use of WDM. Current methods using the combination of multiple wavelengths generated by single lasers for transmission and the separation of the wavelengths by simple beam splitters at the receiver are not suitable. Therefore, new multiplexing schemes need to be developed. A multiplexer able to operate with a total optical input power of 100W, with an insertion loss compatible with use in an optical payload is needed, while the demultiplexer shall be developed for low power levels.This activity shall develop, manufacture and test an end-to-end Breadboard of a WDM multiplexer and a WDM demultiplexer of at least10 channels each.