ESA Open Invitation to Tender AO10236
Open Date: 02/03/2021
Closing Date: 17/05/2021 13:00:00

Status: ISSUED
Reference Nr.: 20.1TT.50
Prog. Ref.: CC-AT 4.0.1
Budget Ref.: E/0534-01G – CC-AT 4.0.1
Special Prov.: BE+DK+FR+DE+IT+NL+ES+SE+CH+GB+IE+AT+NO+FI+PT+GR+LU+CZ+RO+CA+HU+PL
Tender Type: C
Price Range: > 500 KEURO
Products: Satellites & Probes / AOCS & GNC / Guidance Navigation Control (GNC) / Other
Technology Domains: Space System Control / Control Systems Innovative Technologies / GNC Technologies for Cruise, Rendezvous and Docking or Capture
Establishment: ESTEC
Directorate: Directorate Telecom & Integrated Applica
Department: Telecom Technologies,Product&Systems Dep
Division: Technologies and Products Division
Contract Officer: Ferreol, Audrey
Industrial Policy Measure: N/A – Not apply
Last Update Date: 02/03/2021
Update Reason: Tender issue

Objective: The objective of this activity is to design the antenna mating interface, to develop a reduced scale mock-up of the antenna and central body and to perform dynamic testing (including contact). Targeted Improvements:Enable in-orbit antenna assembly. Description: Future satellites will require narrower beams for significant communications capacity enhancement, but very large solid reflectors do not fit into existing launchers. In-orbit antenna assembly may unlock this leap in performance by enabling the mating oflarger antennas to platforms in low Earth orbit or geostationary orbit. Similar concepts are needed and are being developed for in-orbit servicing. Contact dynamics are very difficult to model, and feasibility demonstration requires implementation of the criticalelements and dynamic testing of the mating or demating process. A breadboard of a guidance, navigation and control systemand mechanism will be designed and manufactured. Dynamic testing will be performed to validate the concept.