Projects

Below is a list of all running or recently completed projects. Find out about projects funded by ESA through contracts awarded to previous ITTs.

Data and information in the Project section is originated by the Contractors, it is provided for informational purposes only, and is not intended for trading purposes. ESA shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.

	Alphabus: An Extended European Capability
	Company: Thales Alenia Space - France (F) Description: With the Alphabus product line, European Industry extends its telecommunication satellite range significantly beyond the capabilities of the existing platforms, such as Eurostar 3000 and Spacebus 4000, both with respect to maximum payload power and mass.
	Alphasat Ground and User Segment and Applications
	Company: ()
	Alphasat: The First Alphabus Satellite
	Company: Inmarsat Navigation Ventures Ltd (UK) Description: The primary objective of ESA under the Alphasat Programme is to facilitate an early first flight, and in-orbit validation of the Alphabus platform, currently under development with industry.
	BEATLES – BGAN Enhanced Alphasat Technology for L-band Extended Spectrum
	Company: AnsuR A/S (N) Programme Element: ARTES 8 Description: By focusing on how to optimally create the best user experience for communicating highest quality images over bandwidth-limited communications systems, BEATLES targets key challenges in Mobile Satellite communications in general, and new Alphasat opportunities based on BGAN and GSPS in particular.
	EAM - European Apogee Motor
	Company: EADS-Space Transportation GmbH (D) Programme Element: ARTES 8 Description: The scope of the EAM activities is to define and to develop a competitive high thrust, high specific impulse European Apogee Motor (EAM).
	NetCaster
	Company: Livewire Digital Ltd (UK) Programme Element: ARTES 8 Description: NetCaster will provide a solution for customers looking for multi-party conferencing over the Alphasat and Inmarat-4 satellites with low capital investment and control over operational costs.
	Active Pixel Sensor Based Star Sensor - Jena-Optronik [completed]
	Company: Jena-Optronik (D) Programme Element: ARTES 8 Description: The objective of the activity is to develop an Active Pixel Sensor (APS) based star sensor compliant with the Alphabus/Large Platform Development. The pre-development activities are important to reduce the schedule and technical risk of the overall large platform development. The purpose of this activity is to analyse the economic interest, to develop and to test an elegant breadboard of an APS based star sensor.
	Active Pixel Sensor based Star Tracker: Galileo Avionica [completed]
	Company: Selex Galileo (I) Programme Element: ARTES 8 Description: The objective of the contract is to develop and test an elegant breadboard of an Active Pixel Sensor (APS) based star sensor, and to analyse the competitiveness of these sensors against existing CCD based star sensors.
	Alphasat TDP#1: Broadband Data Relay [completed]
	Company: Tesat-Spacecom GmbH & Co. KG (D) Programme Element: ARTES 1 Description: The objective of the Alphasat TDP#1 - Broadband Data Relay project is to verify the performance of a 2 Gbps optical LEO-to-GEO link in-orbit as part of an experimental broad-band data relay transmitting a 300 Mbps user data stream from Tandem-X to ground.
	Alphasat TDP#2: Optical Deep Space Link (O-DSL) Technology Demonstrator [completed]
	Company: Oerlikon Space (CH) Programme Element: ARTES 1 Description: The objective of this phase A study is to confirm the feasibility of the Alphasat TDP#2 technology demonstrator as defined by CSAG and ESA.
	Alphasat TDP#3: 2-Phase Deployable Radiator [completed]
	Company: Thales Alenia Space - France (F) Programme Element: ARTES 1 Description: The objective of this project is to develop large deployable radiators which will meet the power dissipation requirements for new upcoming spacecrafts.
	AlphaSat TDP#4: T6 Ion Thruster [completed]
	Company: QinetiQ Ltd (UK) Programme Element: ARTES 1 Description: The Phase A study is to confirm the feasibility of the T6 Technology Demonstration Payload (TDP) for AlphaSat by the end of July 2006.
	Alphasat TDP#5: Q/V Band Payload [completed]
	Company: Space Engineering S.p.A (I) Programme Element: ARTES 1 Description: The project aim is to assess the feasibility of realizing one of the Technological Demonstration Payloads (TDP), to be hosted aboard the Alphasat satellite (the main passenger of which will be a proper operational payload).
	Alphasat TDP#6: Feasibility Study: Star Tracker [completed]
	Company: Jena-Optronik (D) Programme Element: ARTES 1 Description: The objective of the project is to establish the Phase A documentation to enable the opportunity to flight an APS Star Tracker as Technology Demonstration Payload (TPD) on AlphaSat.
	Alphasat TDP#7: Mechanically Pumped Fluid Loop Flight Experiment [completed]
	Company: Bradford (NL) Programme Element: ARTES 1 Description: The project objective is to fly a Mechanically Pumped Fluid Loop loop Flight Experiment (MPFL-FX) as Technology Demonstrator Program (TDP) on the Alphasat mission.
	Alphasat TDP#8: Environment and Effects Facility (AEEF) [completed]
	Company: Oerlikon Space (CH) Programme Element: ARTES 1 Description: In the proposed experiment, radiation effects that are important for instrument and spacecraft design are studied by employing several technology experiments in conjunction with radiation monitoring instruments.
	Central Tube: Alcatel/CASA [completed]
	Company: Thales Alenia Space - France (F) Programme Element: ARTES 8 Description: This project is devoted to the pre-development of Alphabus Central Tube (@CT) equipment, which belongs to the structure subsystem of the Alphabus spacecraft.
	Central Tube: Alcatel/SAAB [completed]
	Company: Thales Alenia Space - France (F) Programme Element: ARTES 8 Description: This project is devoted to the pre-development of Alphabus Central Tube (@CT), equipment which belongs to the structure subsystem of the Alphabus spacecraft.
	Cooled Low Noise Amplifier Implementation on Large Platforms [completed]
	Company: Thales Alenia Space - France (F) Programme Element: ARTES 8 Description: The objective of this project is to define the best cooled LNA thermal control design and accommodation for Alphabus.
	Development of High specific energy Li-Ion cell [completed]
	Company: Saft (F) Programme Element: ARTES 8 Description: Saft is developing within the frame of the ARTES 8 Alphabus contract a "high specific energy cell". The purpose of this cell is to reduce the battery weight for the Alphabus satellite. The objective is to increase the specific energy by more than 25% of the existing VES140 cell. The specific energy target for the VES180 is 170 Wh/kg.
	Electric Thruster Based on Plasma Propulsion including Power Processing Unit [completed]
	Company: Snecma Moteurs (F) Programme Element: ARTES 8 Description: The ultimate technical goal is to qualify for 2006 / 2007 a life capable Hall effect thruster with specific impulse higher than 2500 s (50 % higher than the current state of the art) and a power as high as 5 kW (three times more than the current qualified European Hall effect thrusters).
	High Performance Constant Conductance Heat Pipes (HPCCHP) [completed]
	Company: Euro Heat Pipes (B) Programme Element: ARTES 8 Description: The objectives of @BUS High Performance Constant Conductance Heat Pipe project is to develop, design and test new high performance heat pipes (in the range 500 to 700 Wm) with a limited weight target and constant conductance performances.
	High Performance Loop Heat Pipe [completed]
	Company: EADS Astrium SAS (F) Programme Element: ARTES 8 Description: The aim of this project is to design, develop, manufacture and test a High performance Loop Heat Pipe for a deployable radiator (in the frame of AlphaBus program) and large power range applications.
	High Power Distribution Bar and Connections [completed]
	Company: Axon' cable S.A.S. (F) Programme Element: ARTES 8 Description: The objective of the project is to choose the insulating and conductive materials, the shapes, the dimensions and the means of interconnection of the Axon' bus bar in order to provide qualified technologies to be integrated in a complete power distribution system on @bus service module.
	High Power High Temperature (HPHT) Power and Signal Slip Ring assembly (PSSR) for Large Platform Solar Array Drive Mechanisms [completed]
	Company: RUAG Aerospace Schweiz AG (CH) Programme Element: ARTES 8 Description: To develop a compact size PSSR able to transfer the high power of coming large satellite platforms.Improved thermal design is foreseen and the possibility to use materials able to withstand higher temperatures will be investigated. All design choices will be evaluated while carefully considering their associated costs in order to reach a cost efficient product. Special attention in this regard will be given to the chosen production methods.
	High Temperature Constant Conductance Heat Pipes [completed]
	Company: OHB-System AG (D) Programme Element: ARTES 8 Description: The interest in heat pipes as a capillary driven heat transfer device is based on its ability to transport thermal energy at high rates and with small temperature gradients. So the main objective of this project is to develop a European High Temperature Constant Conductance Heat Pipe (HTCCHP) for Alphabus, because the present trend is to increase the operational temperature of dissipating units and consequently, the working temperature range of heat pipe networks.
	High-Performance Accelerometer for On-Orbit Autonomy [completed]
	Company: ONERA (F) Programme Element: ARTES 8 Description: The objective of this activity is to assess the feasibility of a high-resolution accelerometer in order to increase the station keeping autonomy in relation with the electric engine of the @BUS platform.
	Increased On-Orbit Autonomy of Large Platforms using Accelerometers [completed]
	Company: EADS Astrium SAS (F) Programme Element: ARTES 8 Description: In the frame of the development of the Alphabus telecommunication platform, a system study is carried out to explore one way of increasing the spacecraft autonomy in orbit.
	InfraRed Earth Sensor IRES N2 [completed]
	Company: Selex Galileo (I) Programme Element: ARTES 3 Description: The objectives of this project are the study and development of a new version of the InfraRed Earth Sensor IRES based on the extensive in flight experience of previous IRES NE ones.
	Light-Weight Deployable Radiator Structure [completed]
	Company: Oerlikon Space (CH) Programme Element: ARTES 8 Description: The objective of this predevelopment activity for the new large European telecommunication platform is to develop, design, manufacture and test a new generation of deployable radiators with higher thermal performance and lower mass than existing aluminium/honeycomb panels.
	Mechanically Pumped Fluid Loop [completed]
	Company: Bradford (NL) Programme Element: ARTES 8 Description: The MPFL project objective is aimed to provide a European supply for equipment for a Single-Phase Mechanically Pumped Fluid Loop. The purpose of the project is to perform all design and development activities in order to qualify European single-phase cooling loop equipment (pump package, By-pass assembly, connectors and coolant fluid) that will be used within the @Bus single phase cooling loop system.
	Mechanically Pumped Fluid Loop Flight eXperiment [completed]
	Company: Bradford (NL) Programme Element: ARTES 8 Description: A Mechanically Pumped Fluid Loop loop Flight Experiment (MPFL-FX) is proposed to be flown as Technology Demonstrator Program (TDP) on the Alphasat mission. The main MPFL-FX objective is to carry-out the on-orbit life testing of the MPFL components in order to increase its acceptance with respect to future customers.
	SRU @BUS [completed]
	Company: ALCATEL ETCA (B) Programme Element: ARTES 8 Description: A new generation of PCU shall be developed in order to improve its competitiveness in terms of mass, efficiency, power modularity and above all cost.
	STD15S-mk2 Infrared Earth Sensor [completed]
	Company: SODERN (F) Programme Element: ARTES 3 Description: The project objective is to develop an improved version of existing Infrared Earth Sensor (IRES) for GEO multimedia satellite application, named STD15S-mk2.This new IRES will be a variant of an already in flight 1553 version (onboard EUROSTAR3000 and EXPRESS-AM satellites).
	T6 Ion Propulsion System predevelopment activities for Alphabus [completed]
	Company: QinetiQ Ltd (UK) Programme Element: ARTES 4 Description: The objectives of this project are to develop a high power 5 kW gridded ion thruster, referred to as the T6 Mk3, and its associated PSCU for Alphabus station keeping.
	Thermal Analysis Developments for the Large Platforms Mission Program [completed]
	Company: Thales Alenia Space - France (F) Programme Element: ARTES 8 Description: The ESA Large Platform Mission Project will develop a new satellite platform in the power range 14-25kW. This large Platform will be engineered and built by the ALCATEL SPACE and EADS ASTRIUM joined Project Team. Its main objective is to develop a high-performing satellite platform family in this enhanced power range which will integrate most advanced equipments from world class suppliers.
	Thin Film Solar Cell & Panel (SOCL) [completed]
	Company: RUAG Aerospace Schweiz AG (CH) Programme Element: ARTES 8 Description: The scope of the activity is to define the flight Thin Film Solar Cell Demonstration Module and to breadboard critical elements.
	Thin Film Solar Cell Demonstration Module [completed]
	Company: Dutch Space (NL) Programme Element: ARTES 8 Description: The main objective of the project is to end up with a European supplier for thin film solar cell technology for large platforms.
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