Radio Frequency Systems Division
Technical and strategic management of activities and technological developments
The Radio Frequency Systems Division is responsible for the technical and strategic management of activities and technological developments including the provision of specialised support addressing RF systems and subsystems, and security including the utilisation and management of the associated laboratory facilities.
MAIN RENSPOSIBILITIES
MAIN RENSPOSIBILITIES
Telecommunication systems and techniques for both the space, the ground and the user segments including engineering tools, digital-communication techniques, signal processing, networks and protocols, telecommunication equipment, security techniques and technologies
Radio navigation systems and techniques for both the space, the ground and the user segments, including engineering tools, receivers, signal processing, navigation algorithms, security techniques and technologies, formation flying and RF metrology
RF systems, analysis and design of concepts and architecture and the associated technologies and techniques
RF systems implementation and verification, service preparation and ground segment implementation aspects
Telemetry, tracking and control (TT&C) systems, payload data transmission (PDT) including system tools, deep-space and near-Earth transponders, proximity link, high-speed downlink modulators, digital communication techniques, signal-processing techniques and secure communication techniques
Pre-commercial and commercial user segment specification, design, development and testing of dedicated test facilities for telecom, navigation and Earth observation
Security policies, processes, standards[1], security accreditation and certification methodologies and processes, auditing, project-risk analysis, vulnerability and threat assessment, supporting tool-set definition and development
Security engineering covering security requirement derivation, design, implementation and verification, analysis and design of concepts, architecture, ground, space and hybrid ground/space systems, mission/users/service links, and all associated tools for simulations and analysis
Security technology, techniques design and prototyping, covering all aspects related to the implementation of security, InfoSEC, COMSEC, CyberSec and Appsec including physical, link, network, application layer and system end-to-end
WHY IT IS NEEDED
RF systems require increasingly complex architectures and more powerful instruments to achieve the performance required by a constantly growing market demand for space-system services. In this context, the capability to define articulated trade-offs between payload and system concepts, provide end-to-end assessment of selected technological elements and allocate and apportion functional and performance requirements among the ground, the space and the user segments is key to supporting ESA leadership in the definition of its future mission and system concepts.
This is what the RF System Division achieves, gathering expertise on the design and development of architecture and technology related to RF systems, e.g., those enabling navigation, telecom, Earth observation and scientific missions. It also provides expert advice on many aspects related to its technical domain of responsibilities, running many of the associated technological developments and managing the related laboratory facilities.
In the Division
In the Division
New architectures for telecom and navigation systems are being analysed in support of the definition of future ESA missions
New concepts for positioning are being explored to improve the performance and robustness of the current GNSS
More powerful payload data transmission capabilities are being implemented to support an increased data rate for instruments on our Earth observation satellites
Cyber protection mechanisms are being developed to increase resilience of our space systems against malicious attackers
In addition, laboratory tools and facilities are used in support of the various projects for the validation of technologies, for the testing and acceptance of systems and for the preparation of R&D activities.
These are just a few examples of the work that the Division is doing in the definition of innovative system and technology building blocks, aiming to make them available to new missions, new programmes and new projects within ESA and European industry.
Related laboratories
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