SSTL receives first payload equipment for European Sat-Nav
SSTL has taken delivery of a Search and Rescue Antenna (SARANT) for use to support the development of the fully operational satellites that will power Europe’s new satellite navigation system.
An important milestone, this is the first payload equipment to be delivered to SSTL since it was selected by the European Space Agency to deliver the navigation payloads for the first 14 satellites in the system just over a year ago. SSTL’s partner OHB-System in Germany is prime contractor, building the satellite bus for these satellites.
The Search and Rescue Antenna
As part of a Global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), Europe’s new sat-nav service will provide highly accurate, guaranteed global positioning, including specialised rescue services. Consisting of 30 satellites in 56 degrees inclined circular Medium-Earth-Orbits, the baseline is a constellation with 9 equally spaced satellites (plus one spare) per orbit.
The newly delivered Search & Rescue antenna will be used by SSTL in the full engineering model of the payload.
The Search and Rescue Payload on the satellites will relay distress and co-ordination messages from the COSPAS-SARSAT Search and Rescue service. The diagram below shows a fully operational satellite with the SARANT visible on top.
Fully operational satellite with the SARANT
The SARANT, which was supplied by Radiacion Y Microondas, S.A.U (RYMSA), comprises a Short BackFire (SBF) antenna transmitting L-Band and Intermediate Frequency and a 6-helix array antenna receiving UHF frequencies.
This blog has been produced under funding of the European Union. The views expressed herein can in no way to taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Union and/or ESA. The Full Operation Capability phase of the Galileo programme is managed and fully funded by the European Commission. The Commission and ESA have signed a delegation agreement by which ESA acts as design and procurement agent on behalf of the Commission. “Galileo” is a trademark subject to OHIM application number 002742237 by EU and ESA.
This entry was posted by Robin Wolstenholme on Monday, March 7. 2011 at 13:30.
and is filed under GPS and GNSS.
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