ESA Open Invitation to Tender AO9260
Open Date: 26/04/2018
Closing Date: 02/07/2018 13:00:00

Status: ISSUED
Reference Nr.: 18.1TT.22
Prog. Ref.: ScyLight
Budget Ref.: E/0502-01A – ScyLight
Special Prov.: DK+FR+DE+IT+NL+CH+GB+IE+AT+LU+CZ+RO
Tender Type: C
Price Range: 100-200 KEURO
Products: Satellites & Probes / Optical Communication / Optical Comm ¿ BB / Laser sources, modulators
Techology Domains: RF Systems, Payloads and Technologies / Telecommunication Systems/Subsystems / Telecom System Engineering Tools / RF Systems, Payloads and Technologies / RF Payloads / Telecommunication Payloads
Establishment: ESTEC
Directorate: Directorate Telecom & Integrated Applica
Department: Telecom Technologies,Product&Systems Dep
Division: Technologies and Products Division
Contract Officer: Engels, Wilhelm
Industrial Policy Measure: N/A – Not apply
Last Update Date: 26/04/2018
Update Reason: Tender issue

The objective of the activity is to establish guidelines for the safe use of laser technology, addressing:1)Transmission through the atmosphere (to/from satellites or to/from unmanned aerial vehicles) with an emphasis on human eye safety.2)Space-to-space or ground-to-space links and the risk of blinding/damaging other space assets (international space station (ISS), satellites with optical instruments, etc.).3)Handling of laser technology in assembly, integration and test (e.g. terminals/optical components).Ground-to space and space-to-ground laser communication links through the atmosphere, like high data rate feeder links or satellite-to-UAV/RPAS links, have the potential to unintentionally illuminate manned aerial vehicles (e.g. commercial airliners) as they cross the laser beam, which brings a risk of human eye damage, particularly for high-intensity earth-to-space links. Other risks, especially for high power applications, include the inadvertent blinding of space or airborne assets (e.g. ISS, optical satellites) and human eyedamage when handling laser components and subsystems during, for example, satellite assembly, integration and test. Various studiesand activities relevant to the domain have been undertaken and should be considered as inputs to this activity. In this activity the various risks associated with the use of laser technology in the implementation and operation of a satellite communication system shall be identified and categorised. Handling and operational constraints and protection measures shall be established for each ofthe identified risk scenarios and consolidated in a set of safety guidelines for industry and operators.

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