ESA Patent 756 presents a compact dual-polarization four-way power divider, enabling the design of passive waveguide arrays with small element spacing (below one wavelength). That invention was originated as a mean to reduce the length of radiating elements in space-segment feed systems for GEO satellite communication applications, including passive multiple beam reflector antennas and active arrays. This requires compact power dividers, preferably operating in dual-polarization.

Advanced III-V technologies, especially wide-bandgap GaN, are the engines powering the rapid deployment of various SATCOM multi-beam active antenna arrays in space today. Although power levels per element in the recent Direct Radiating Arrays (DRAs) are typically in the order of few watts (e.g. for GEO with HPA MMICs 2-15W), already now it is apparent that larger deployable active antennas with hundred or even thousand elements will yield much lower power per radiating element with DRA.

THz waves are demonstrated as an efficient tool for non-destructive testing (NDT) but remain time-consuming and complex to use, particularly for curved parts. One solution is the multi-beam topology, using Luneburg lenses. However, this solution is generally unpractical above 40 GHz due to significant insertion losses caused by the materials used to produce the required graded-index profile.

SIDLOC (Spacecraft Identification and Localization) is a new transmission scheme proposed by Libre Space Foundation to enable LEO satellite identification and tracking. The SIDLOC system relies on a reduced size autonomous transmitter that requires minimal integration and area on the carrier spacecraft. The ground segment of the SIDLOC system utilizes the existing SatNOGS network and the UHF band to perform the signal demodulation and identification. The SIDLOC system uses DSSS (Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum) PSK modulated signals with an effective bitrate of ~50 bits/s.

This project aim was to make steps towards a demonstrator for a fully stabilized frequency comb, with the ultimate goal of creating a space-grade version. Such a system is essential for advancing timing and frequency distribution in space technology and enhancing Galileo satellites. Transitioning from electronics to photonics promises to significantly boost the accuracy and precision of satellite clocks, leading to heightened data transfer security, improved telecom performance, resistance to jamming, and more accurate greenhouse gases detection.

Present ESA Deep Space Stations are equipped with a 20 kW X-Band High Power Amplifier (HPA).

Development of deep-space optical communication systems (DOCS) poses a number of technical challenges as compared to conventional radio-frequency links. The higher energy of a single quantum (a photon) at the optical carrier frequency implies the need for dedicated modulation formats and receiver designs. The current technical standard for efficient DOCS is pulse position modulation (PPM) format combined with direct detection (DD) which for photon-starved links is implemented as photon counting.

Passive intermodulation is a real threat to all types of payloads. In some cases, it could even lead to total lost of the spaceship. Despite of this, there is very weak understanding of the parameters that generate this unwanted interference as well as their influence in the amplitude of the interfering signal. In addition, there is a total lack of agreed testing techniques, procedures and methodologies as well as justified test margins, as has already been recently stated by the European community (National Delegations, satellite operators and Eurospace).

The interest of having in the near future an available Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) service supporting future missions to and at the Moon is currently supported by both institutional and commercial initiatives. On the commercial side, multiple companies are developing business solutions targeting the Moon and several major European companies are proposing to team up to build a communications network on the Moon compatible to terrestrial standards. In parallel, NASA has recently announced its plans to a ?Return to the moon?