Abstract
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has assigned the W-band for the downlink and uplink of satellite communications systems. This was highly necessary because the capacities provided by the new generations of high
throughput satellites (HTS) are in the order of Tbit/s, both uplink and downlink, requiring wider bandwidths. The Wband, together with the Q-band, will be employed by the feeder links of the next generation of HTS.
The Q-band is already under detailed analysis (e.g. Alphasat TDP5 [1]) and is being used by the first satellites. However, the W-band lacks real measurements between space and ground to get an accurate propagation channel model. ESA has started the initiative for the exploration of this band by giving to the consortia composed of VTT, KuvaSpace, LCT, Fraunhofer, the University of Stuttgart and with the project lead by JOANNEUM RESEARCH the opportunity to build and operate a 3U CubeSat which transmits beacons at 75 GHz and 37.5 GHz, both with left and right-hand circular polarizations. This system allows to derive the complete transfer matrix and the frequency scaling relation between the two bands.
The W-CUBE satellite was launched in June 2021 and soon afterwards a 75 GHz beacon signal was received, for the first time worldwide, from space to ground. In this presentation we describe the satellite payload architecture and the methods to measure the beacon on ground. First propagation measurement results are presented, allowing to perceive the different attenuation between W- and Q-bands. Challenges faced throughout a wave propagation campaign with LEO satellites are described. The possible continuation of the CubeSat operations and measurement campaign beyond 2 years up to 4 years
are under discussion with ESA.
throughput satellites (HTS) are in the order of Tbit/s, both uplink and downlink, requiring wider bandwidths. The Wband, together with the Q-band, will be employed by the feeder links of the next generation of HTS.
The Q-band is already under detailed analysis (e.g. Alphasat TDP5 [1]) and is being used by the first satellites. However, the W-band lacks real measurements between space and ground to get an accurate propagation channel model. ESA has started the initiative for the exploration of this band by giving to the consortia composed of VTT, KuvaSpace, LCT, Fraunhofer, the University of Stuttgart and with the project lead by JOANNEUM RESEARCH the opportunity to build and operate a 3U CubeSat which transmits beacons at 75 GHz and 37.5 GHz, both with left and right-hand circular polarizations. This system allows to derive the complete transfer matrix and the frequency scaling relation between the two bands.
The W-CUBE satellite was launched in June 2021 and soon afterwards a 75 GHz beacon signal was received, for the first time worldwide, from space to ground. In this presentation we describe the satellite payload architecture and the methods to measure the beacon on ground. First propagation measurement results are presented, allowing to perceive the different attenuation between W- and Q-bands. Challenges faced throughout a wave propagation campaign with LEO satellites are described. The possible continuation of the CubeSat operations and measurement campaign beyond 2 years up to 4 years
are under discussion with ESA.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Proceedings of the 1st ESA Space Microwave Week |
| Publisher | ESA/ESTEC |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Publication status | Published - 11 May 2023 |
| MoE publication type | B3 Non-refereed article in conference proceedings |
| Event | 1st Space Microwave Week - Noordwijk, Netherlands Duration: 8 May 2023 → 12 May 2023 https://atpi.eventsair.com/space-microwave-week-2023 |
Conference
| Conference | 1st Space Microwave Week |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | Netherlands |
| City | Noordwijk |
| Period | 8/05/23 → 12/05/23 |
| Internet address |