ESA Open Invitation to Tender: 1-10700
Open Date: 05/10/2021 10:27 CEST
Closing Date: 30/11/2021 13:00 CEST

The objective of the activity is to develop algorithms to address, in an unified framework, the optimisation of satellite cluster reconfigurations with regard to obstacle avoidance (including space debris), autonomous guidance, optimal control and automated return to service post-failure for low Earth orbit clusters. The algorithms will be implemented into a real time software and tested. Targeted Improvements: Enabling the European space sector to develop large satellite constellations able to cope autonomously with space debris and obstacles in orbit. Description: The management of satellite constellations requires complex orbit control management with short response times and fast reorganisation of the orbital configuration to compensate for failed satellites. This calls for enhancing on-board spacecraft autonomy with the following capabilities: spacecraft cluster management (orbit phasing for coverage), station-keeping, collision avoidance and return to mission continuity after failure (depending on criticality). Techniques that are successfully employed for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) autonomous guidance and for self-landing of rockets could be further developed and enable autonomous constellation orbit management. This activity will develop algorithms enabling the functional autonomy of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation defining the avionics and attitude and orbit control system functions (e.g. guidance, cluster and orbit control, avoidance manoeuvring, etc.). Several optimisation techniques will be assessed, benchmarked and further developed to define a safe and reliable on-board implementation of these real-time functions. A unified optimised framework covering guidance, cluster control, resource management in case of failure and avoidance manoeuvre will be designed, tuned and the statistical performance will be assessed. The algorithms will be implemented into a real time software on a representative, flight-like, processor and integrated into a test-bed. Testing and evaluation will include guarantee of convergence, CPU load and avionics performance. Footnote: On Delegation Request activities will only be initiated on the explicit request of at least one National Delegation.

Directorate: Directorate Telecom Integrated Applica
Estabilishment: ESTEC
ECOS Required: No
Classified: No
Price Range: > 500 KEURO
Authorised Contact Person: Adriana Lucas
Initiating Service: TIA-TTS
IP Measure: N/A
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: 5-A-I-AOCS/GNC Architecture / 5-A-II-Autonomy and FDIR / 5-C-II-Advanced Control, Estimation & Optimisation / 5-C-III-Multidisciplinary Optimisation
Products Keywords: 2-A-4-a-*See On Board Data Management / 2-A-5-a-SW for AOCS&GNC design, analysis, simulation, etc.