ESA Open Invitation to Tender AO10362
Open Date: 10/06/2020
Closing Date: 31/07/2020 13:00:00

Status: ISSUED
Reference Nr.: 20.1ET.16
Prog. Ref.: Technology Developme
Budget Ref.: E/0901-01 – Technology Developme
Special Prov.: BE+DK+FR+DE+IT+NL+ES+SE+CH+GB+IE+AT+NO+FI+PT+GR+LU+CZ+RO+PL+EE+HU
Tender Type: C
Price Range: 200-500 KEURO
Products: Satellites & Probes / RF / Microwave Communication (Platform and Payloads) / Antennas – BB / Antenna Towers and/or Reflectors
Technology Domains: Electromagnetic Technologies and Techniques / Antennas / Reflector and Lens Antennas / Electromagnetic Technologies and Techniques / Antennas / Millimetre-Wave and Sub-Millimetre-Wave Antenna Front-Ends
Establishment: ESTEC
Directorate: Directorate of Tech, Eng. & Quality
Department: Electrical Department
Division: RF Payloads & Technology Division
Contract Officer: Singer, Anze
Industrial Policy Measure: N/A – Not apply
Last Update Date: 10/06/2020
Update Reason: Tender issue

Earth observation missions are more and more likely to consider small satellite or CubeSat platforms as a realistic option to provide useful scientific data in the millimetre wave range. To fulfil the challenging requirements of on-ground resolution there is a need to have large aperture based passive antennas. This often results in a need to have the aperture antennas deployed in-orbit as opposed to solid antennas. Having the capability to deploy the antenna might also result in a smaller overall dimension of the small satellite/CubeSat.This activity encompasses the following tasks:- Design and develop a larger than 0.5m reflector, with a very low stowage ratio, able to perform at (sub)-millimetre wave frequencies.- Identify a mission scenario and derive the associated antennarequirements- Investigate several reflector antenna concepts and decide best practice- Design and analyse the selected concept reflector antenna in detail.- Manufacture the reflector antenna- Testing – include as minimum a reflector surface accuracy measurement, a demonstration of the antenna deployment repeatability, and a RF test (absolute gain, pattern) of the antenna.