SpaceWire links (based on LVDS for the physical layer) are used extensively on-board Earth Observation, Science and Exploration spacecraft, in particular to transmit science data. MTG and Plato are typical examples out of many. The trend is to use higher data rates over longer cable lengths.

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A crucial benefit of metrological experiments in space is the extended measurement time, which can only be fully utilized when using specially prepared ultra-cold atomic samples, Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs), having the minimum temperatures allowed by quantum mechanics. By utilizing a new method using Grating Magneto-Optical Traps (G-MOTs) which is fast, simple and compact, the generated BEC will be in an ideal format for space and terrestrial applications.

New satellite designs entail more and more complex functionalities implemented in Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA). Although Europe is far behind the US in the availability of powerful FPGAs, the first European reprogrammable radiation hard FPGAs offer the unique opportunity to develop new, larger capacity European ITAR-free FPGAs including the silicon parts, software hardware development and programming tools to be able to cover the big gap.

At present there are few European compact connector solutions that offer performances required for high speed operation of SpaceWire as well as meeting the stringent environmental requirements in space applications. The ECSS E-ST-50-12C defines the connectors and cables to be used on a SpaceWire Cable Assembly, respectively as per ESCC 3401/071 and ESCC 3902/003. Recent developments done under the frame of an ESA TRP activity lead to the definition of new cable variants allowing noticeable mass saving, compared to the current variant of the ESCC 3902/003.

Using the heritage of the existing space-x micro-cameras used in missions such as SMART-1, Exomars, the activity aims at developing a new generation of low energy and low cost cameras for future ESA missions. Thanks to on-going technological developments, the mass of scientific imaging systems (in particular for space exploration) was already drastically reduced during the past few years. However, progress in micro-electronics will also allow a significant reduction in power consumption.

In the short term, the results of this study shall ease the definition of the new generation of on-board architecture and their verification using representative scenarios. In addition, the results of this study should be taken into account in the definition of a new version of the SpaceWire switches and possibly to provide inputs to the next version of the SpaceWire standard.

The main tasks of this activity are the following: 1) Metrological assessment and gap analysis of existing thermal imaging methodology, data processing and uncertainty assessment, related but not limited to aerospace applications.

The main tasks will be:-design-Foundry-Test of performances with existing CMOS detectors-Radiation tests