ESA Open Invitation To Tender AO8681
Open Date: 27/05/2016
Closing Date: 08/07/2016 13:00:00

Status: ISSUED
Reference Nr.: 15.1ET.06
Prog. Ref.: TRP
Budget Ref.: E/0901-01 – TRP
Special Prov.: BE+DK+FR+DE+IT+NL+ES+SE+CH+GB+IE+AT+NO+FI+PT+GR+LU+CZ+RO+PL+EE+HU
Tender Type: C
Price Range: 200-500 KEURO
Products: Satellites & Probes / RF / Microwave Communication (Platform and Payloads) / Communication – BB(Antennas excluded) / Analog: RF front ends
Technology Domains: RF Systems, Payloads and Technologies / RF Technologies and Equipment / RF Devices
Establishment: ESTEC
Directorate: Directorate of Technical & Quality Manag
Department: Electrical Engineering Department
Division: RF Payload Systems Division
Contract Officer: Karl, Heinz-Uwe
Industrial Policy Measure: C1 – Activities in open competition limited to the non-Larg…
Last Update Date: 27/05/2016
Update Reason: Tender issue

The objective is to develop novel switch solutions that overcome the present limitations in terms of power handling (multipactor) without increasing the size of the existing products. The next generation of GNSS is expected to be more demanding in terms of RF power transmission in order to guarantee a proper availability and quality of the service, hence, enhanced interference immunity and indoor positioning could be achieved. The HPA currently under development for this application are targeting power levels in excess of300 W. Existing compact high power switches in L-Band are at their limit in terms of power handling capabilities to meet the current requirements from GNSS missions, hence, a new class of high power switches is required to fulfill with margin these demanding applications.T he activity aims to investigate the use of a) new materials: dielectric materials with different permittivity can help to increase the critical gaps. While the breakdown performance can be improved by the selection of a material with suitable secondary emission properties) design variations: different shaping can be applied to the dielectric material such as grooving or surface treatment leading to an improvement in power handling (>350 W) without sacrifices in terms of size/mass and RF performance. The findings from the on-going TRP Novel Investigation in Multipactor Effects in Ferrites and Dielectrics Used in High Power RF Space Hardwareshall be used to improve the prediction of the breakdown. In the frame of this activity one EBB will be manufactured and tested (including high power tests in TVAC).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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