ESA Open Invitation to Tender AO10161
Open Date: 26/03/2020
Closing Date: 22/05/2020 13:00:00

Status: ISSUED
Reference Nr.: 19.197.13
Prog. Ref.: Preparation Element
Budget Ref.: E/0600-05 – Preparation Element
Special Prov.: BE+DK+FR+DE+IT+NL+ES+SE+CH+GB+IE+AT+NO+FI+PT+GR+LU+CZ+RO+PL+EE+HU+CA+SI
Tender Type: C
Price Range: 100-200 KEURO
Products: Satellites & Probes / Other
Technology Domains: Others
Establishment: ESTEC
Directorate: Directorate of Tech, Eng. & Quality
Department: Systems Department
Division: Adv. Concepts & Studies Office
Contract Officer: Hertzog, Hendriline
Industrial Policy Measure: N/A – Not apply
Last Update Date: 26/03/2020
Update Reason: Tender issue

All GNSS in operation at present are based on Newtonian physics and rely on global reference frames fixed to Earth. Relativistic effects are treated as deviations that need to be corrected for. Precision and stability in time of the reference frames is provided via ground stations and they are limitedby the Earth´s dynamics and atmosphere. Several theoretical concepts have been proposed for the use of Relativistic Positioning Systems (RPS) and the required relativistic reference frames. These have been studied with different approaches during the last years and the consistency with the General Relativity has been demonstrated. However, none of the proposed approaches were intended to be practical. The proposed activity will address the maturity of RPS for timing and positioning applications, the definition of a consolidated concept and architecture for a RPS constellation suitable for navigation both in the Earth surface and the near-Earth Space,and the High Level Requirements for a proof-of-concept based on current and near-future available state of the art technology.