NAVISP ELEMENT 1 (NAVISP-EL1-022): LOW-COST MULTI-FREQUENCY MULTI-CONSTELLATION GNSS ANTENNA FOR CUBESATS – EXPRO PLUS
23, February 2018

ESA Open Invitation to Tender AO9228
Open Date: 22/02/2018
Closing Date: 16/04/2018 13:00:00

Status: ISSUED
Reference Nr.: 18.154.01
Prog. Ref.: NAVISP Element 1
Budget Ref.: E/0365-10 – NAVISP Element 1
Special Prov.: AT+BE+CZ+DK+FI+FR+NO+RO+CH+GB+NL
Tender Type: C
Price Range: 200-500 KEURO
Products: Satellites & Probes / RF / Microwave Communication (Platform and Payloads) / Receivers / “Navigation Receivers *See AOCS & GNC – Single-frequency (Platform/Low-end missions) – Multiple-frequency (Science mission/hig-end missions)” / Satellites & Probes / RF / Microwave Communication (Platform and Payloads) / Antennas / Omnidirectional, Helix, Horn, Parabolic, Phased Arrays / Platform vs Payload
Techology Domains: Onboard Data Systems / Onboard Data Management / System / Space System Control / Control Systems Engineering / Autonomy and FDIR / RF Systems, Payloads and Technologies / Radio Navigation Systems/Subsystems / Onboard Receivers / Electromagnetic Technologies and Techniques / Antennas / Array Antennas and Standalone Radiators
Establishment: ESTEC
Directorate: Directorate of Navigation
Department: Strategy and Programme Department
Division: NAVISP Programme Office
Contract Officer: Strzelecki, Patryk Michal
Industrial Policy Measure: N/A – Not apply
Last Update Date: 22/02/2018
Update Reason: Tender issue

This EXPRO+ procurement is part of the NAVISP Programme, under Elelment 1, Work Plan 2018.Satellites flying in LEO are relying more and more on Precise Orbit Determination (POD) through GNSS and in particular the computation of real time on-board POD with accuracy at centimetre level. The availability of real-time on-board centimetre-level position accuracy in space will open the door to a myriad of applications (e.g. mega-constellations). Large platforms can afford costly and bulky antennas for very high performance while smaller and cheaper platforms such as Cubesats need to embark low-cost, low-profile antenna multi-frequency, multi-constellationsolutions. In addition to receiving navigation signals, modern receivers could potentially use the INMARSAT L-band as a communication channel for Precise Point Positioning (PPP). In order to enhance performance in terms of multipath reduction, antennas mounted on high impedance surfaces could be a compact alternative to metallic chokes (choke rings). The space user antenna will be compliantwith stringent phase centre stability requirements and have a low cost and low profile compatible with CubeSat missions. The objective of the activity is to design and qualify a low-profile, low-cost antenna covering GNSS frequencies and INMARSAT L-band for CubeSat missions.

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