Space Tech Expo 2021 Preview

WORK Microwave will demonstrate its latest space technology solutions at Space Tech Expo Europe 2021 in Bremen, Germany. Benefiting from more than 35 years of experience in satellite ground-segment equipment, WORK Microwave’s solutions are deployed in real-world missions with LEO and MEO constellations, as well as optical down-to-Earth links. Key highlights at the show will include WORK Microwave’s new optical receiver and detector.

One-Stop-Shop Solution Includes AX-60 IP Modem and IQ Spacecom’s XLink Transceiver

WORK Microwave will demonstrate an end-to-end CubeSat solution at Space Tech Expo Europe 2021. From space, an XLink Transceiver from IQ Spacecom will connect seamlessly with the AX-60 IP modem from WORK Microwave. Both platforms connect to IP networks and provide easy-to-use, straightforward connectivity. The solution allows operators to reliably perform telecommand and telemetry transmission tasks to and from satellites. As one of the world’s first end-to-end CubeSat solutions, it supports satellite communication for both the ground and space segments. In addition, the solution features space communication waveforms according to CCSDS recommended Standards (Blue Books) 131.0 and 231.0.

At the heart of the solution is WORK Microwave’s AX-60-S02190 CCSDS TM/TC Modem, a ground station modem for CCSDS 131.0- and 231.0-based mission communication to IQ Spacecom XLink space segment transceivers. The modem features a CCSDS 131.0-B-3 compliant downlink, CCSDS 231.0-B-3 compliant uplink, symbol rates of 10 ksps up to 75 Msps, and IQ diagram output, with a proven and flexible A-Series SDR architecture.

Optical Ground Station Receiver and Detector

WORK Microwave’s recently developed and released solutions for optical ground segment use feature leading-edge optical technology. The future-proof solutions can transfer over a secure downlink laser when very high data throughput rates are needed. The following solutions will be demonstrated at Space Tech Expo Europe 2021:

• FSOD1 Free Space Optical Detector: The FSOD1 is a fiber-coupled optical detector for the reception of optical free space communication. The detector features a highly responsive InGaAs avalanche photodiode (APD) with fiber coupled input. The amplified and limited output make it suitable for receiving hard decision on-off-keying signals. Built in a 19-inch rack-mount housing, the detector includes both a front-panel user interface and network access via SNMP and HTTP interface, assuring easy integration into satellite ground station infrastructures.
• AR-80-OPT Optical Multi-Mission Receiver: The AR-80-OPT receiver is dedicated to supporting the processing of optical direct-to-Earth links. Designed for multi-mission support, it enables effective ground station reception. Optical On-Off-Keying (O3K) and High-Photon-Efficiency (HPE) transmissions can be processed via a common input that operates either based on hard-decision decoding or the processing of logarithmic-likelihood-ratios (LLR).