ESA Open Invitation to Tender AO9230
Open Date: 17/04/2018
Closing Date: 31/07/2018 13:00:00

Status: ISSUED
Reference Nr.: 18.1TT.03
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: > 500 KEURO
Products: Satellites & Probes / Optical Communication / Optical Comm. / Optical terminals
Techology Domains: Onboard Data Systems / Onboard Data Management / Onboard Networks and Control/Monitoring
Establishment: ESTEC
Directorate: Directorate Telecom & Integrated Applica
Department: Telecom Technologies,Product&Systems Dep
Division: Technologies and Products Division
Contract Officer: Rinaudo, Nicole
Industrial Policy Measure: C1 – Activities in open competition limited to the non-Larg…
Last Update Date: 17/04/2018
Update Reason: Tender issue

Objective:The objective is to demonstrate the suitability of LiFi as a physical layer for data handling within telecom satellite electrical architecture.Targeted Improvements:Reduction of the harness mass by 30%.Reduction of the Assembly Integration and Testtime by one week or more.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”.Description:One of the challenges on a telecom spacecraft is to accommodate bundles of wires within complex harnesses. Wireless technologies will simplify significantly the electrical harness. Flight electrical harness and instrumentation electrical harness should be considered during Assembly Integration and Test (AIT). WiFi offers this advantage but introduces constraints in term of electromagnetic compatibility and security.Signal transfers through mechanisms is challenging. The activity will address the use of LiFi to transferdata from the main external appendices (solar array, antennas). The activity will also address the best way to introduce LiFi in the AIT process where it is known that wireless technologies reduce the time and effort.LiFi uses optical links instead of RF links.This induces much less risk of interferences and provides good resistance to hacking. Components for LiFi have been available since2012 and terrestrial demonstrations have shown capabilities of several Mbit/s.The activity will demonstrate the maximum data transfer speed that is achievable within a telecom spacecraft cavity (diffused infrared transmission) or in connection with external appendices (direct sight is not mandatory but helps and reflections introduces losses).A scaled Engineering Model of transmitter and hub receiver with critical functions (e.g. solar array temperatures telemetry transfer) shall bedesigned, manufactured and tested in arelevant environment. The suitability of such device to space environment shall be assessed.The question of the sensor power supplyshall be addressed as well as the protocol.

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