ESA Open Invitation to Tender AO9817
Open Date: 17/04/2019
Closing Date: 03/06/2019 13:00:00

Status: ISSUED
Reference Nr.: 19.1ET.09
Prog. Ref.: Technology Developme
Budget Ref.: E/0901-01 – Technology Developme
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) / Antennas / Omnidirectional, Helix, Horn, Parabolic, Phased Arrays / Platform vs Payload
Techology Domains: Electromagnetic Technologies and Techniques / Antennas / Array Antennas and Standalone Radiators
Establishment: ESTEC
Directorate: Directorate of Tech, Eng. & Quality
Department: Electrical Department
Division: RF Payloads & Technology Division
Contract Officer: Ferreol, Audrey
Industrial Policy Measure: N/A – Not apply
Last Update Date: 17/04/2019
Update Reason: Tender issue

For future science missions, communication antennas with full azimuth field-of-view are needed. In previous missions, X-band phasedarray antennae (PAA), with an aperture conformal to a cone surface, have been employed. Although such conformal geometries are stillvery promising candidates for future missions, X-band will phase limitations. For one, the tendency towards increased data rates drives the need for increased bandwidth and increased gain. Second, X-band is more and more occupied by terrestrial services so that its availability for future science space missions is at risk. More promising would be a K/Ka-band PAA, but the K/Ka band technologyreadiness is currently too low for space application. For this purpose, an activity is proposed on a deep-space K/Ka band communication antenna development suited for future science missions. An antenna architecture and layout shall be elaborated and justified byfuture mission needs. Radiating elements, subarray structuring and all active beam-forming network elements shall be assessed (SSPAs, LNAs, amplitude phase actuators etc.). A breadboard shall be designed, RF measured and manufactured. As a minimum, the breadboardshall contain all critical elements identified in the design phase and one fully operational subarray. A technology roadmap shall be presented at the end of the activity