Understanding ARTES

Last Update: 25 Sep 2012

ARTES offers varying degrees of support to projects with different levels of operational and commercial maturity. The scope and plans for its pursuit are incorporated into the Telecommunications Long-Term Plan (TLTP), the blueprint for ESA's actions over a five-year time frame.

Businesses located within ESA member states involved in the satcom industry - whether small or large, new or experienced - can submit  proposals via the various elements of the ARTES programme.  Every ARTES element includes a funding framework and follows a certain criteria that must be met by satcom companies wishing to participate.

The elements are as follows:
 
ARTES 1 Preparatory is dedicated to strategic analysis, market analysis, technology and system feasibility studies and to the support of satellite communication standards.

ARTES 3-4 Products is dedicated to the development, qualification, and demonstration of products. The word product in this case has a wide meaning; it can be a piece of equipment, either of the platform or payload of a satellite, it can also be a user terminal or a full telecom system integrating a network with its respective space segment. Telecommunication applications can also be undertaken under the terms of this element.

ARTES 5 Technology is dedicated to long term technological development, either based on ESA’s initiative, or on the initiative of the satcom industry.

ARTES 7 EDRS is a specific element dedicated to the development and implementation of an European Data Relay Satellite (EDRS) system. Data relay satellites are satellites placed in geostationary orbit to relay information to/from non-geostationary satellites, spacecraft, other vehicles and fixed Earth stations, which otherwise are not able to permanently transmit/receive data.

ARTES 8 Alphabus/Alphasat is a specific element dedicated to the development and deployment of Alphasat. Alphasat is the satellite that, in partnership with Inmarsat, will incorporate the first unit of the Alphabus Platform jointly developed by Astrium and Thales Alenia Space. Alphasat incorporatess innovative on-board processing technology and promote development of user services.

ARTES 10 Iris  is a satellite-based communication system that will complement the future generation of an air traffic management system currently being developed under the SESAR programme of the EU, by Eurocontrol and the European Aeronautical community.

ARTES 11 Small GEO is a specific element dedicated to the development and implementation of the Small GEO System. This is a satellite that, in partnership with Hispasat will fly the Luxor Platform developed by OHB and partners. This satellite will incorporate advanced payload technology: DVB S2 Processor and active antennas.

ARTES 20 IAP is dedicated to the development, implementation and pilot operations of Integrated Applications. These are applications of space systems that combine different types of satellites, such as telecommunications, earth observation and navigation. Integrated Application projects offer solutions that range from secure transport systems to developing emergency/disaster management systems.

ARTES 21 SAT-AIS: The Automatic Identification System (AIS) is a short range coastal tracking system currently used on ships. It was developed to provide identification and position information to vessel and shore stations. Space-based, or SAT-AIS will provide AIS data via satellite, allowing for the detection of seafaring vessels equipped with AIS tracking devices.