M.C. Comparini

Mindsh@re radar community: a Finmeccanica initiative for the development of high performance/low cost multi-domain application T/R modules

In this paper a common approach for T/R module development, in the framework of the Finmeccanica Mindsh@re initiative and the results of C and X band T/R module were presented. The roadmap identified within Finmeccanica for said technology is based on the harmonization of key enabling technologies such as the GaAs/GaN and LTCC foundries and the related design and production capability for present and future military/space qualified TRMs situated in SELEX-SI and Alenia Spazio.

Deep Space Receiver for Cassini-Huygens Radio Link

The CASSLNI-HUYGENS mission is a deep space mission for the exploration and the study of the atmosphere of Titan. The combined Orbiter-Probe spacecraft will reach the Saturn system about 8.5 years after the launch. At that time the Probe will be separated and its mission will start transmitting scientific and housekeeping data during the descent phase to the surface of Titan via S-band radio relay link. The Probe Data Relay Link is composed by the Probe Transmitter Terminal (PTT), on Huygens spacecraft, and the Orbiter Receiving Terminal (ORT), on Cassini spacecraft. The PTT includes two chains which tranrsmit the phase modulated carriers at two different frequencies with opposite circular polarizations. On the orbiter the two signals are discriminated and separately amplified by the LNAs. The receivers acquire and synchronize the carter and subcarrier and provide the data demodulation and decoding. Major requirements of the deep space receivers are fast signal acquisition and demodulation capability at very low C/No. The paper describes the Orbiter Receiver architecture underlying the advantages of a fully digital approach.

A breadboard receiver for proximity link applications: design and test results

This paper presents a Receiver Breadboard for Proximity Link applications, offering an insight into the digital signal processing techniques and including a detailed analysis of the algorithms. A section of the paper will be devoted to the test results in terms of acquisition performance, tracking range and demodulation capabilities.

Applications of HEMT devices in space communication systems and equipment: a European perspective

Abstract In the last years the satellite applications have seen a strong increase in the space hardware demand mainly for commercial communication services like fixed satellite service (FSS), broadcasting satellite service (BSS) and mobile satellite service (MSS). The new boundary will be the low cost, high production rate hardware needed for satellite constellations like Teledesic and for multimedia satellite-based systems (Euroskyway, Spaceway, Astrolink, Cyberstar). The design and development of microwave and millimeter wave equipment has been deeply modified in order to combine technical requirements and market needs (large productions, low cost and fast lead time). In this scenario the maturity of gallium arsenide MESFET and PHEMT devices and processes for space applications is a key factor and the design and integration of GaAs MMICs is mandatory to achieve the mentioned industrial drivers in the space companies. The paper will focus the application of GaAs MMIC technology in the European space industry taking as reference the space production done by Alenia Aerospazio in Italy and other European space companies and providing a future road map.

Application of MMIC and ASIC technology to a new generation of satellite repeater equipment

This paperfocuses on Xth application of state-of-the-art technologies such as GaAs MMIC and ASIC in the development of a new generation of miniaturised microwave equipment for on-board satellite telecommunications repeaters.

HTCC based Ku/IF/BB Down Converter for satellite on board processing applications

This paper presents the demonstration of an ultra compact High Temperature Cofired Ceramic (HTCC) based down converter for satellite on board processing equipment. The down converter is composed of three sections: the RF Front end in KU Band, the first IF at 400 MHz and a base-band chain at 50 MHz. The overall gain is of 90dB and the OIP3 is of 20 dBm. GaAs MMICs, Si RF-IC and ceramic saw filter have been integrated on a compact HTCC module of a size of 59x66x6 mm.

Microwave Technology for Space Application: A Fast Evolution to be Competitive

In the last years the satellite applications have seen a strong increase in the space hardware demand for commercial communication services like FSS, BSS making use of GEO birds and Mobile (MSS) mainly using LEO/MEO satellites. Next wave is the design and development of wideband systems for multimedia communications and for internet either to provide backbone where the fiber is not available and to offer the service in emerging markets. The design of radiofrequency, microwave and millimeter wave equipment is rapidly evolving to allow the equipment manufacturers to compete in the new market. High performance, low production costs, compressed lead-time and reduced product life cycle are todays constraints. The paper presents the evolution in the design and application of microwave technologies for on-board space application with particular emphasis to the use of gallium arsenide MMICs, silicon-based highly integrated RF IC, advanced interconnection and packaging techniques. A view of the last generation microwave equipment designed and built in Europe is given together with a look to the future technology road maps.

On-Board Signal Acquisition Strategies for Deep Space Transponders

On-board signal acquisition is a fundamental task for deep space missions when telecommand and/or ranging functions must be implemented Local oscillator frequency instabilities and Doppler contribution cause a frequency offset of the carrier at the receiver input. Two different strategies to allow carrier loop acquisition are reported and compared: on-ground sweeping and on-board frequency aided acquisition. A trade-off based on the acquisition time and the acquisition probability addresses the on-ground sweeping procedure as less efficient with respect to the frequency aided solution for the case of weak signal and wide frequency offset. As regards frequency aided acquisition, two different frequency estimation algorithms are considered, one is based on the classical Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), the other one on an Auto Regressive (AR) Estimation for power spectrum evaluation. Theoretical evaluations via analysis and simulation are proposed together with the experimental results obtained both on the Ka Translator for the Cassini mission and the Huygens Receiver for the Cassini-Huygens mission.

Wideband Gap devices and technologies in the evolution of future space systems

This paper analyzes the possible and effective use of Wide Band Gap based devices in Space Equipment. An overview of the main applications is reported together with the status of main developments currently running trough different collaborations with research centers and Space Agencies. Reliability status is also mentioned with an short overview of recent results. Finally future trend are reported considering the possible evolution of the technology itself in the next years.

A method to design MMICs for high production yields

In this paper, a MMIC (monolithic microwave integrated circuit) design technique, oriented to the optimization of the production yields, is illustrated. This method, based on a sensitivity analysis, i.e. on the circuit behavior for variations of passive elements from their nominal value, and on the contemporary determination of the production yields, allows the identification of the circuit elements to obtain high production yield. Moreover it allows an appropriate choice of the circuit topology. As an example, this technique has been applied to design a MMIC to be employed on equipment where a high number of devices is required.