Dimensioning of a multibeam coherent photonic beamformer fed by a phased array antenna.

The design and dimensioning of a photonic-aided payload for a multi-beam high-throughput communications satellite is a complex problem in which the antenna, RF and photonic subsystems must be considered as a whole for achieving best performance with lowest mass and power consumption. In this paper, we propose and dimension the receiving stage of a communications satellite comprising a phased array antenna (PAA) feeding a multibeam photonic beamforming system (PBS). The PBS uses a single wavelength and resorts to heterodyne detection such that the retrieved beams are frequency downconverted. End-to-end system modeling shows that the complexity of the PAA and PBS can be traded-off for signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) or power consumption without compromising the beam width. The dimensioning of a realistic scenario is presented, showing that an SNR and beam crosstalk on the order of 20 dB are achievable with a total power consumption below 1 kW for a typical number of 100 antenna elements (AEs)

Modular coherent photonic-aided payload receiver for communications satellites

Ubiquitous satellite communications are in a leading position for bridging the digital divide. Fulfilling such a mission will require satellite services on par with fibre services, both in bandwidth and cost. Achieving such a performance requires a new generation of communications payloads powered by large-scale processors, enabling a dynamic allocation of hundreds of beams with a total capacity beyond 1 Tbit s−1. The fact that the scale of the processor is proportional to the wavelength of its signals has made photonics a key technology for its implementation. However, one last challenge hinders the introduction of photonics: while large-scale processors demand a modular implementation, coherency among signals must be preserved using simple methods. Here, we demonstrate a coherent photonic-aided receiver meeting such demands. This work shows that a modular and coherent photonic-aided payload is feasible, making way to an extensive introduction of photonics in next generation communications satellites

Launch of The International Disaster Monitoring Constellation: The Development of a Novel

ABSTRACT Three spacecraft for the UK, Turkey and Nigeria were launched together in September 2003, Io join Algeria's satellite. AISat-I. in the Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC). Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. has designed. built and launched the world's first constellation to provide daily global Earth observation coverage at moderate resolution in three spectral bands. This international initiative will provide daily images for global disaster monitoring, as well as supporting each partner nation's indigenous remote sensing requirements. The DMC programme establishes a novel model for international collaboration, and demonstrates how small satellite missions can be employed for a wide range of applications. This paper shows the first in-orbit mission resulrs from DMC salellites including examples of unique EO data products comprising up to ti00 x 6 W . h images gathered at 32-meIres GSD in 3 spectral bands. In parallel. the small satellite sector has concentrated launcher from Plesetsk, Russia. on reducing the cost of specialised dara prcducts that The Disaster Monitoring Constellation is designed lo are ill servcd bv cwent missions. and on the achieve d i l l tm3prng of any pan of 'he uorld f r m 3 devclopmenr uf ) r i m s prowdong ntrhc irrtices. Onr conctc11alllln .)I 5 s.Itellilcs. E3ch satcll~te IS owwJ and dlqinct qxralcd 0 ) a singlc nation. but b) c~~up.iaring lugether advmtage 16 tn mceung the IIC& for highcr lc!nplral ill the DMC Consdniunl they can achteve dail) reiulutioii by m a n , of an atiordahle conste11at~on uf imaging worlduidc, greatly cnhdncmg the orpabdtt) of EO ,a~llitcs. their national space ascl. The lnlernalionnl organiur~uns and cunimuniltrs that The DMC demonwatcs h a t small salr.llitc> can considrr disaster monttoring and mitqation. using invohe a u,idc range of nations in w o r h h i l e s p~c e space mis,tons. habe identified many detatleJ programmes. Ennh Obser\ntiun (EO) missions are requirements for dehcalcd mksions Accersihdity and pnnicularl) wcll suited 10 stiiliuldtc the de~clopment of htgh temporal resolutlun have aluayb been kcy \u,latimhlc resource management and Cnvirunmental parmeterr. but due tu the diverse natwc of dlsa,ters nlontlonng. and can aid the dc\elopment of neu thls applicstion uas found to require a wide range of naliniial industries and space capabilities. scnsors. incluhng thermal-lR. multi-spectrd and mr. of sJte~~,Ics mcd,um high rPar;dl hypcr-sy*rml sensors. htgh-resolution panchromatic reolutton rcconnatrsancc of the ~a n h has ken ,,cl) wnsors and S)nthetic Apcnurc Radar (SAR) As a de ,",," str;ltc~ in rcccnl )ear,. hrollg

Dimensioning of a multibeam coherent photonic beamformer fed by a phased array antenna

The design and dimensioning of a photonic-aided payload for a multi-beam high-throughput communications satellite is a complex problem in which the antenna, RF and photonic subsystems must be considered as a whole for achieving best performance with lowest mass and power consumption. In this paper, we propose and dimension the receiving stage of a communications satellite comprising a phased array antenna (PAA) feeding a multibeam photonic beamforming system (PBS). The PBS uses a single wavelength and resorts to heterodyne detection such that the retrieved beams are frequency downconverted. End-to-end system modeling shows that the complexity of the PAA and PBS can be traded-o for signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) or power consumption without compromising the beam width. The dimensioning of a realistic scenario is presented, showing that an SNR and beam crosstalk on the order of 20 dB are achievable with a total power consumption below 1 kW for a typical number of 100 antenna elements (AEs)

Launch of the International Disaster Monitoring Constellation; the Development of a Novel International Partnership in Space

Three spacecraft for the UK, Turkey and Nigeria were launched together in September 2003, to join Algeria's satellite, AlSat-1, in the Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC). Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. has designed, built and launched the world's first constellation to provide daily global Earth observation coverage at moderate resolution in three spectral bands. This international initiative will provide daily images for global disaster monitoring, as well as supporting each partner nation's indigenous remote sensing requirements. The DMC programme establishes a novel model for international collaboration, and demonstrates how small satellite missions can be employed for a wide range of applications. This paper shows the first in-orbit mission results from DMC satellites including examples of unique EO data products comprising up to 600 x 600 km images gathered at 32-metres GSD in 3 spectral bands.</p

Launch of the International Disaster Monitoring Constellation; the Development of a Novel International Partnership in Space

Three spacecraft for the UK, Turkey and Nigeria were launched together in September 2003, to join Algeria's satellite, AlSat-1, in the Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC). Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. has designed, built and launched the world's first constellation to provide daily global Earth observation coverage at moderate resolution in three spectral bands. This international initiative will provide daily images for global disaster monitoring, as well as supporting each partner nation's indigenous remote sensing requirements. The DMC programme establishes a novel model for international collaboration, and demonstrates how small satellite missions can be employed for a wide range of applications. This paper shows the first in-orbit mission results from DMC satellites including examples of unique EO data products comprising up to 600 x 600 km images gathered at 32-metres GSD in 3 spectral bands.</p

Modular coherent photonic-aided payload receiver for communications satellites

Satellite communications shall only thrive if being able to compete with fibre in both bandwidth and cost. Here, the authors demonstrate that a coherent and yet modular photonic-aided payload is feasible, paving the way for a new generation of communications satellites with photonics at their core