ESA Open Invitation to Tender AO9268
Open Date: 05/04/2018
Closing Date: 17/05/2018 13:00:00

Status: ISSUED
Reference Nr.: 18.18I.02
Prog. Ref.: Fut.Mis.Prep.
Budget Ref.: E/E104-E5 – Fut.Mis.Prep.
Special Prov.: BE+DK+FR+DE+IT+NL+ES+SE+CH+GB+IE+AT+NO+FI+PT+GR+LU+CZ+RO+PL+EE+CA+SI
Tender Type: C
Price Range: 200-500 KEURO
Products: Satellites & Probes / Payloads / Instruments / RF and microwave Instruments / Imaging Radars
Techology Domains: RF Systems, Payloads and Technologies / RF Payloads / EO Instruments
Establishment: ESTEC
Directorate: Directorate of EO Programmes
Division: Future Missions & Instrument Division
Contract Officer: Aouad, Nadine
Industrial Policy Measure: N/A – Not apply
Last Update Date: 05/04/2018
Update Reason: Tender issue

Sentinel-1 C-band SAR observations constitute an essential component of Copernicus characterized by wide-swath systematic global observations. Sentinel-1 has established a new paradigm for this class of measurements. It has reduced the large number of operationalmodes of the previous generation and enabled to build-up a systematic, long-term archive of globally consistent data. Such choices have been instrumental to virtually all services and are one of the key reasons for the large number of users of this mission.The Copernicus Regulation provides the mandate for ESA to define the overall system architecture for the Copernicus Space Component (CSC)and its evolution on the basis of user requirements coordinated by the European Commission. The Long Term Scenario (LTS) describesthe main elements of this architecture and has been generated in close interaction with the European Commission and EUMETSAT. The future CSC architecture is intended to meet expectations and needs in terms of stability and continuity while increasing the quantityand quality of the CSC products and services. In addition, emerging and urgent needs for new types of observations are also addressed.The current C-band SAR system is intended to be gradually replaced by a combination of two C-band and two L-band SAR Extension satellites. The next generation C-band SAR satellites will provide revisit performance in excess of the current system capabilities together with enhanced resolutions. The combined use of C- and L-band SAR data will expand the spectrum of data products. The synergy of the two bands in combination with passive measurements will be useful for numerous services and application domains including Forestry Land, Hydrology, Polar Areas, Maritime and Emergency Services.It is foreseen to conduct two “Phase 0 – Mission analysis andneeds identification of Sentinel-1 C-Band Next Generation extension” studies in parallel awarded in open competitive tender for 480k. The studies will start with the analysis of the requirements as established mainly in previous ESA studies, EC studies, working groups and workshops, etc. Candidate concepts will be established and subject to trade-off. Maturity of the technology, reliability of the underlying science and experience in the user community will be criteria for selection of a baseline. The baseline will be defined in detail as required to establish consistent Mission and System Requirements and candidate system concepts.

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