ESA Open Invitation to Tender: 1-10932
Open Date: 22/10/2021 16:03 CEST
Closing Date: 06/12/2021 13:00 CEST

Future Earth Observation systems, Near Earth (<2Mkm) Science/Exploration missions (e.g. liberation/moon orbits), or Telecom feeder links, with high TM/PDT downlink rates, will rely on the use of K-Band Payload Data Telemetry (PDT) subsystems, targeting bitrates (in some EO missions) as high as 2 Gbps and beyond, for which the EO missions for example are already baselining the Serial Concatenated Convolutional Codes (SCCC) standard for the modulation and coding, thus allowing Variable Coding and Modulation (VCM) and, potentially, Adaptive Coding and Modulation (ACM). In addition, Near Earth (Science/Exploration) missions requiring high data rate uplinks or forward links may have requirements up to 25Mbit/second and beyond, typically in K-Band.There is already an existing ESA IP core for the SCCC transmit side but only proprietary products for the (ground) receive side, or customized non-IPcore-based receiver developments (T212-057GS), whereas a new IPcore-based receiver development could bring large (>50%) reduction in unit price, making the technology more available to lower cost missions. For the uplinks, there is no SCCC space receiver equipment available: the proposed development would speed the path towards getting this technology in Space via straightforward path to FPGA.This activity focuses on the development of an SCCC IP Core receiver to be used for example first in an EGSE to interface a compatible EO/SCI Payload Data(or Telecom feeder link) Transmitter, to test/experiment with different SCCC implementations and look at the behaviour and performance in the different modes/configurations under typical link dynamics, as well as checking compatibility.The IP core will allow manufacturers to easily support the SCCC standard, will be a useful basis to have early implementation of platforms, and will be offered to future missions as part of the ESA IP Core portfolio, which already includes several cores for space applications (Space Wire, CAN, LEON2-FT, etc).The activity encompasses the following tasks:- IP Core definition- IP Core architecture design- VHDL IP Core implementation and verification- IP Core validation- Technology mappingProcurement Policy: C(2) = A relevant participation (in terms of quality and quantity) of non-primes (incl. SMEs) is required. For additional information please go to this link.

Estabilishment: ESTEC
ECOS Required: No
Classified: No
Price Range: 200-500 KEURO
Authorised Contact Person: Franziska Isabella Erkelens-Sickinger
Initiating Service: TEC-EST
IP Measure: C2
Prog. Reference: E/0901-01 – Technology Developme
Tender Type: Open Competition
Open To Tenderers From: AT+BE+CH+CZ+DE+DK+EE+EL+ES+FI+FR+GB+HU+IE+IT+LU+NL+NO+PL+PT+RO+SE
Technology Keywords: 1-C-I-Methodologies / 6-A-II-Telecom Signal Processing / 6-C-III-Near-Earth Transponders
Products Keywords: 2-L-2/3/4.1-f-Analog: Microwave generators / 2-L-2/3/4.1-h-Digital: Cryptographic, Digital Signal Processors / 4-E-1-a-Electrical Ground Support Equipment (EGSE) and Special Check Out Equipment (SCOE)