ESA Open Invitation to Tender: 1-10477
Open Date: 22/12/2021 11:48 CEST
Closing Date: 25/03/2022 13:00 CEST

Objective:The objective of the activity is to design and prototype a low profile optical head, together with a roadmap leading to the certification for use on aircraft.Targeted Improvements:Demonstration of flat antenna technology within the optical domainDescription:With Europe having established the use of optical communication systems through the deployment of EDRS, qualified optical terminals for space, operating in both the Low earth and geostationary orbits, exist. Until now, an area not yet explored operationally is the airborne usage, connecting from LEO/GEO satellites to airborne assets. Airborne Applications are considered to have a large market potential. Demonstration of optical airborne links and the feasibility for using these links, is key to progressing these service opportunities and growth, within a commercial environment.Despite optical terminals being available for spacecraft, aerospace licensed terminals for aircraft are not found in today market. In order to be able to show the feasibility of the link, the design and technologies needed to implement the optical head need to be defined. In addition to the technology advance, there are specific requirements for airborne terminals, where they have to be integrated into the air-frame without major disturbance of operation. This includes fast retrofitting to the aircraft and with no impact on fuel consumption. The latter a key driver in commercial aircraft operations can only be established if the terminal is aerodynamically efficient. Currently RF antennas for high-speed satellite communication are being accepted, because commercial products with a flat footprint are available (e.g. Kymeta,). The aim of this activity is to push the commercialisation of a similar airborne optical terminal with two objectives: a) designing and prototyping alow profile optical head and b) elaborating a roadmap to certify the optical terminal for use on an aircraft. Independently of thechosen solution proposed by industrial partners, low-profile optical heads will open a new market of users for optical communication satellite services.

Estabilishment: ESTEC
ECOS Required: No
Classified: No
Price Range: > 500 KEURO
Authorised Contact Person: Claudia Ria Piesche
Initiating Service: TIA-TO
IP Measure: N/A
Prog. Reference: E/0534-05A – OP-Other Act. Prod.
Tender Type: Open Competition
Open To Tenderers From: AT+BE+CA+CH+CZ+DE+DK+EL+ES+FR+GB+HU+IE+IT+LU+NL+NO+PL+PT+RO+SE
Technology Keywords: 16-A-I-Overall Optical System Definition, Design and Engineering
Products Keywords: 2-G-1-a-Optical terminals