ESA Open Invitation to Tender: 1-10188
Open Date: 29/06/2021 08:56 CEST
Closing Date: 13/09/2021 13:00 CEST

Objective: The objective of this activity is to design, manufacture and test a prototype of a Q/V band Transmit/Receive active gateway antenna generating multiple beams for constellations. Targeted Improvements:Eliminate the need for tens of reflector antennas on the gateway. Description: There are a number of current and proposed satellite communication systems based on non-geostationary constellations, usually composed of hundreds of satellites with several Gbps of capacity each. As these systems include inter-satellite links and bent-pipe payloads, the gateway network represents a challenging element. Current systems can require tracking up to 50 to100 satellites from each gateway location. Using the current approach based on tracking reflectors, this solution is complex andexpensive. Consequently, an alternative approach based on multibeam active antennas is superior. Specifically, there is an emerginginterest in developing Q/V band gateway antennas for constellations able to generate a high number of beams (50 to 100) in transmit(Tx)and receive (Rx). Considering the large field of view, the high number of beams, the need for Tx and Rx functionalities, active Direct Radiating Array (DRA) antennas represent the most natural architecture to be considered and developed. Conformal antennas or phased arrays based on multi flat panels could be implemented in order to improve the scanning capabilities. Active discrete lenses canbe also considered because they guarantee important advantages such as true time delay behaviour, large field of view, complexity slowly growing with the number of radiating elements and number of beams, and the possibility to dimension the back of the lensindependently from the dimension of the radiating aperture. Such active antenna solutions may have the additional benefit of potentially improving the performance when small separation angles between satellites are observed, thanks to adaptive beam forming techniques. Hence, this activity will design, manufacture and test a prototype of a Q/V band transmit and receive active gateway antenna generating multiple beams for constellations. Procurement Policy: C2: Activities are in open competition, where a significant participation of non-LSIs is requested. For additional information please go to EMITS news “Industrial Policy measures for non-primes, SMEs and RD entities in ESA programmes”. Footnote: On Delegation Request activities will only be initiated on the explicit request of at leastone National Delegation.

Directorate: Directorate Telecom Integrated Applica
Estabilishment: ESTEC
ECOS Required: No
Classified: No
Price Range: > 500 KEURO
Contracts Officer: Florence Odette Jeanne Glandieres
Initiating Service: TIA-TTG
IP Measure: C2
Prog. Reference: E/0534-01G – CC-AT 4.0.1
Tender Type: Open Competition
Open To Tenderers From: AT+BE+CA+CH+CZ+DE+DK+EL+ES+FI+FR+GB+HU+IE+IT+LU+NL+NO+PL+PT+RO+SE
Technology Keywords: 7-B-I-Wave Interaction / 7-B-II-Wave Propagation
Products Keywords: 4-B-1-a-Structure & Thermal, Servo / Mechanics, Reflectors, feeds and diplexers, Antenna Control Units (ACUs), Drive Systems,…