DIGITAL SUN SENSOR FOR TELECOM MISSIONS (ARTES AT REF. 4C.046) – EXPRO PLUS
11, August 2017

ESA Open Invitation to Tender AO8884
Open Date: 18/07/2017
Closing Date: 15/11/2017 13:00:00

 

Status: ISSUED
Reference Nr.: 17.1TT.19
Prog. Ref.: CC for Advanced Tech
Budget Ref.: E/0505-01C – CC for Advanced Tech
Special Prov.: BE+DK+FR+DE+IT+NL+ES+SE+CH+GB+IE+AT+NO+FI+PT+GR+LU+CZ+RO+CA
Tender Type: C
Price Range: 200-500 KEURO
Products: Satellites & Probes / AOCS & GNC / Sensors / Sun Sensors
Techology Domains: Space System Control / AOCS/GNC Sensors and Actuators / AOCS/GNC Optical Sensors
Establishment: ECSAT
Directorate: Directorate Telecom & Integrated Applica
Department: Telecom Technologies,Product&Systems Dep
Division: Technologies and Product Division
Contract Officer: Dean, Andrea
Industrial Policy Measure: C1 – Activities in open competition limited to the non-Larg…
Last Update Date: 27/07/2017
Update Reason: Loaded a new Clarification (English version)

Objective: The objective of the activity is to design and develop a new digital sun sensor for the telecom market, meeting the 180 degree field of view, dual redundancy, power and data interface needs. Target Improvement: Improving performance of sun acquisitionin safe mode, in particular taking into account full-electric satellites with limited torque capacity. Simplification of the sun sensor design. Simplification of integration by reducing the number of sensors and interfacing electronics.Description: As of today,there is no high-reliability and rad-hard European Sun Sensor available, commendable through digital interface. In addition, analoguesun sensors with wide field of view are becoming obsolescent. In a recent ESA study, a digital sun sensor prototype based on a single chip was designed. However, for telecommunication missions, the redundancy within one equipment and a larger field of view is required, in particular for full-electric platforms. In the proposed activity, the determination of the sun position can use any mean(CMOS pixel array, photo diodes, solar cells or a combination), but the interface with the AOCS shall be digital. A new dual redundant digital sun sensor, with 180 degree field of view, and meeting the power and data interface needs shall be designed, developed and manufactured. Tests shall be performed to validate the design concept and the expected improvements. Procurement Policy: C(1) =Activity restricted to non-prime contractors (incl. SMEs). For additional information please go to EMITS news “Industrial Policy measures for non-primes, SMEs and RD entities in ESA programmes”.

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