COM DEV Europe Says Its System Will Be "Revolutionary" In The
Field
The European Space Agency (ESA) has awarded a contract worth
approximately $7 million to COM DEV Europe, a subsidiary of space
hardware manufacturer COM DEV International Ltd. for the
development of new SB-SAT (SwiftBroadband for Satellite)
technology. Partnered with Inmarsat and U.S.- based Broad Reach
Engineering (US), COM DEV Europe says it will develop an SB-SAT
terminal that will enable 24/7 access to Low Earth Orbiting
spacecraft, utilising Inmarsat's existing I-4 satellite
network.
Low Earth Orbiting (LEO) spacecraft can currently only
communicate with the ground during the ten minute period when they
fly over a dedicated ground station. Consequently, satellite
operators have to invest in expensive ground segment
infrastructure, or lease dedicated facilities, in order to
communicate with the spacecraft for just a short period a few times
a day. Satellites have to be designed to store data until the
satellite passes over a ground station and such data is very often
'out of date' by the time it reaches the user.
The SB-SAT concept would enable LEO spacecraft to continuously
communicate during the entire orbit. Space-qualified SB-SAT
terminals, which will be specially adapted versions of Inmarsat's
aeronautical SwiftBroadband service, will be incorporated on LEO
spacecraft. The terminals relay signals to the Inmarsat satellites
located further out in space, in geostationary orbit, and then
through the Inmarsat ground stations to the user or operator,
making full use of Inmarsat's mobile broadband system and its
proven infrastructure. This will allow 24/7 access with very low
latency at data rates up to 475kb/s, opening up new mission
opportunities. The SB-SAT terminal will be designed with an
integrated GPS receiver and antenna controller, though it can be
supplied as a terminal only if desired.
"The contract with ESA is a major endorsement of the SB-SAT
concept, and will provide a significant boost to its development,"
said Rob Spurrett, Managing Director of COM DEV Europe. "This
pioneering technology promises to revolutionise the way in which
LEO spacecraft communicate with the ground, often to share
essential and time-critical information."
The $7 million contract is split into two phases, with the
second phase contingent on successful completion of the first, and
all work expected to be completed by 2012. Funded by the UK's
Technology Strategy Board contribution to the ESA ARTES 3-4
program, the contract covers the development to Engineering
Qualification Model and the modification to the Inmarsat ground
segment. In a separate contract award, Inmarsat is to receive
funding from the US's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
(DARPA) to provide a flight terminal and service demonstration in
space, with contracts awarded from Inmarsat to Broad Reach
Engineering and COM DEV Europe as part of the overall award.
Inmarsat, COM DEV Europe and Broad Reach Engineering have signed
a Teaming Agreement for the provision of the space-borne SB-SAT
terminal and associated service provision, and will jointly market
the terminal and service to LEO satellite manufacturers and
operators. A number of opportunities are being investigated with
terminal production expected to be divided between COM DEV Europe
facilities in the UK and at Broad Reach Engineering facilities in
the US.