The novel technology of Modelocked Semiconductor Lasers (MLSCL) is a promising candidate to be used in optical metrology systems for various space applications, e.g. in the context of optical interferometry or frequency and distance metrology as well as optical communications and data processing. Recent laboratory demonstrations of MLSCLs are capable of producing VIS / NIR ultrashort light pulses in the few picoseconds time regime at very high repetition rates in the MHz domain.

High Density Interconnect (HDI) technology entails miniaturisation of Surface Mounted Device (SMD) pads, tracks and microvias, which is already available technology for commercial market. Space market currently only uses more conservative larger dimensions for PCB routing and components. HDI is strongly driven by the decreasing pitch due to miniaturisation of available components. Denser population of PCBs leads to mass reduction. Typical HDI components are ceramic and, therefore, require the use of a low Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE) laminate, such as the obsolete Thermount.

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FPGAs are increasingly being used to implement complex and critical functions on-board the Satellite at both Platform and Payload level. The new European Space FPGA software tool chain is intended to be used in the end to end FPGA Development Lifecycle to ensure that the devices are correctly programmed, starting from the functional specification of the device behaviour through to the final Verification and Validation in the target environment.

The library has already been defined in the Phase 1 TRP activity (KIPSAT). The present activity proposes the design, prototyping and testing of Standard Cell and Metal Customizable libraries, representing in total ~ 300 cells. Simulations shall be performed to demonstrate the cells performances and cells radiation hardness. Ageing shall also be taken into account by considering 20 years operational lifetime. The libraries test vehicles shall be manufactured and evaluated according the ECSS test procedures (temperature, radiation). The libraries shall also propose memory generators.

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In previous activities the development of a breadboard of a compact hyperspectral instrument and the deposition of  

The starting point of the activities was the matching performance of a single element InGaAsSb detector, grown on a low cost GaAs substrate, reported by the University of Lancaster. GaAs substrates are low cost and available in large areas, making high pixel count arrays feasible, nevertheless resulting in a slightly lower InGaAsSb material quality. GaSb has been also used as second substrate material candidate: indeed it is easier to grow high quality layers on GaSb even though the bandgap of GaSb prevents to use it in 2D focal planes.