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COTS, New Space, LEO Constellations

Eutelsat perspective on High End Digital Processing enabled by using COTS

  • Posted by Alessandro Le Pera
  • On November 22, 2019
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Eutelsat interest in COTS digital components mainly resides in the possibility to drastically increase processing capabilities while maintain SWaP performance at an affordable level for a commercial GEO Satellite mission. Whatever the communication mission, whatever the frequency band and associated coverages, the digital processing will bring important benefits in terms of being able to flexibly allocate the spacecraft resource to respond to evolutions of the market needs. Additionally, more generic payload “building blocks” will permit to lower the procurement time while permitting to decrease industrial cost associated to manufacturing, test, integration on satellite, ranging from one-time programming on ground to full SDR (Software Defined Radio) architectures with full on-board reprogramming!
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COTS, New Space, LEO Constellations

The COTS use in harsh Radiation environment of the CERN accelerators complex

  • Posted by Ruben Garcia
  • On November 22, 2019
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The radiation environment encountered at high-energy accelerators is composed of a mixed field expected made of charged and neutral hadrons (protons, pions, kaons and neutrons), photons, electrons and muons, ranging from very low (thermal) energies up to the TeV range. Electronic components and systems exposed to a mixed radiation field can suffer from Single Event Effects (SEEs), damage from Total Ionizing Dose (TID) and Displacement Damage (DD).
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COTS, New Space, LEO Constellations, Small Sats Testing

Small Satellites Demand Innovation in Reliability

  • Posted by Harald Schone
  • On November 21, 2019
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SmallSats use predominantly commercial electronics and specialized custom miniaturized subsystems out of the primary need to fit volumetric constraints and meet tough power efficiency targets. Using commercial electronics poses a major challenge as the radiation performance of commercial electronics is generally unknown and long-term reliability at elevated temperatures is not guaranteed. To make matters worse, compressed development schedules and customarily low budgets makes a thorough analysis of each part and circuit impossible. Yet, the combination of educated part selection approaches, part and circuit level mitigations, architectural considerations and operational changes can achieve a high level of reliability even if the individual components don’t meet the typical space grade pedigree. Such mitigation approaches are only cost effective if employed early in the concept and design phase before even minor design changes have the potential to trigger system wide redesigns. For this reason, JPL has developed design and part selection guidelines that reduce the overall part test program.
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COTS, New Space, LEO Constellations

Irradiation test facilities for COTS EEE components

  • Posted by Alessandra Costantino
  • On November 18, 2019
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With the growing consideration of COTS EEE components for space applications, SEE radiation testing will be a challenge. Due to the dense, complex circuits in Flip-Chip, hybrids or plastic packages with Cu bond wires, the opening of such packages is either impossible or difficult, with the risk to modify the device response. This limits the possibility to perform traditional SEE testing with standard heavy ions (<10MeV). Alternative SEE testing strategies have to be used employing high energy protons or more energetic heavy-ion beams with a proper compromise between LET and range. The presentation will provide an overview of the use and availability of the testing facilities in Europe offering high energy protons (200 MeV) and heavy-ion beams: ranging from the high energy Heavy Ions (HE) to the Very-High Energy, (VHE) and Ultra-High Energy (UHE).
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COTS, New Space, LEO Constellations

Lead-free Transition for the European Space Sector

  • Posted by Agustin Coello
  • On November 18, 2019
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The European Space Sector can no longer avoid the need to plan and implement a managed transition to lead-free electronics. This stimulus comes from two fronts: Regulatory and Market pressures. In the Regulatory front while the Space Sector was out of scope of the RoHS Directive, a new front has recently opened with REACH. The Sector is also subjected to increasing Market pressures. Due to the overall transition of the Electronics Industry worldwide to a Pb-free realm, the Space Industry is more and more confronted with a situation where they cannot avoid using EEE parts with Pb-free coatings, notably COTS, and they need to manage the associated risks
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COTS, New Space, LEO Constellations

Abstract Manufacturing Guidelines for COTS in space

  • Posted by Frederik Kuechen
  • On November 18, 2019
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New Space enforces new efficient processes and materials in many areas. To meet the goals COTS materials and parts are mandatory. In order to develop those new processes TESAT has put together engineers from system development, parts engineering and manufacturing to find the best way for new space production. As a result guidelines have been refined that should be used particularly in New Space projects. The guidelines affect the way of engineering, selection of COTS parts, handling, stock, test strategy and more. The presentation is giving insight in TESATs experience in those areas.
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COTS, New Space, LEO Constellations

ADS experience vs the selection, procurement and use of automotive parts in space programs

  • Posted by Simon Albert
  • On November 18, 2019
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Airbus D&S is a major player in the New Space and Constellation market, as well as in the traditional Space sector. As such, we have gained extensive experience in dealing with automotive components. Automotive components are of tremendous and continuously increasing importance for current and future space programs. However, there are differences and challenges when using automotive parts in comparison to traditional Hi-Rel EEE components. We share our broad experience on handling the complete end-to-end supply chain process from the EEE manufacturer, to the final use of automotive components in space programs. There will be special focus on the definition of automotive components & standards, the motivation of using automotive components in space programs, the selection, procurement and use of automotive components in space programs and the main differences compared to traditional approaches.
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COTS, New Space, LEO Constellations

Status of the ESA COTS initiative

  • Posted by Mikko Nikulainen
  • On November 18, 2019
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To meet the opportunities and challenges arising in the context of future space systems, digital and mass manufacturing revolution, emerging space markets and high pressure to reduce cost; an ESA COTS Steering Committee was established in 2018. The Steering Committee objective has been to shape the future use of COTS in ESA’s programmes. The baseline approach taken has been to address three key questions: Where are we now?; Where do we want to go?, and How do we get there? This presentation will provide a status of the ESA COTS Initiative and the next steps being considered by ESA to implement a COTS strategy in the future
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COTS, New Space, LEO Constellations

Thales Alenia Space approach with COTS solutions for New Space

  • Posted by Maria Teresa Valette
  • On October 29, 2019
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The COTS solutions proposed by Thales Alenia Space are obtained from the following matters : high heritage on Hirel and COTS components use a depth and focused analysis of major COTS manufacturers a very good knowledge of normative systems (ESA, NASA, AECQ, JEDEC,…) an improved design using products with very high electrical performances compared to HiRel products an internal risk mitigation system As a result, Thales Alenia Space developed, for COTS use in space applications. a disruptive approach with well-defined requirements/rules. This approach takes into account different technical aspects such as radiations, material&processes, reliability, …
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