No space mission without electronics
We like to celebrate the big successes - the rocket launch of a space mission, the first signals from the satellite, the first data delivered by a scientific mission. Today we want to draw attention to the less spectacular elements and small successes in space projects.
It is everywhere and yet receives little recognition: we are talking about electronics - space electronics.
Space electronics from Immenstaad in space
SpaceTech supplied its first own electronics as part of the in solar array system for Göktürk-2, a Turkish Earth Observation satellite, launched back in 2012. Since then, our engagement in the field of space electronics has developed considerably. Alongside solar arrays and optical instruments, our electronics and sensors department has become one of our most important pillars.
Our latest electronic creations can be found in major ESA and EU projects such as Earth Explorers, Copernicus Sentinels and Galileo as well as in NewSpace satellite constellations with large numbers of satellites.
SpaceTech LADU for Galileo 2nd Generation
Galileo is Europe’s own global navigation satellite system, providing a highly accurate, guaranteed global positioning service under civilian control.
The Galileo system consists of 24 operational satellites and 6 spare satellites distributed in three circular Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) planes. SpaceTech develops and builds the LVDS Adaption and Distribution Unit LADU for six of the 2nd generation Galileo satellites being built by Airbus. The first of these satellites has just been switched on at Airbus - all systems have been successfully powered up.
Our LADU is fully cold redundant and is responsible for the following essential tasks on the satellite:
- Hardware-Layer adaption and distribution of timing signals
- SpaceWire Router with 8 external users up to 80 Mbit/s datarate: The heart of the LADU is the SpaceWire router, similar to a network router for a home network. This router distributes data between the satellite's payload units
- 3 Interfaces to Command&Control the PHM devices: Passive Hydrogen Maser (PHM) - the atomic clocks on board of the Galileo satellite (= core of Galileo and necessary for navigation), i.e. our LADU box commands the atomic clocks
This document has been produced under funding of the European Union. The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Union and/or ESA and/or Airbus.
SpaceTech SADA number 100
SpaceTech has recently built and successfully tested the SADA with serial number 100, an opportunity for our bosses to put their hands to work and celebrate with the team.
The basic functions of our Solar Array Drive Assembly (SADA) are the rotation of the SAW towards the sun and the power transfer from the Solar Array Wing (SAW) to the satellite.
• Main application of our SADA is currently the use on communication satellite constellations in LEO
• SpaceTech integrates the Solar Array Drive Mechanisms and Solar Array Drive Electronics in one unit, enabling a highly compact and cost-efficient design
• We have been building up to 2 units per day in series since January 2024
Space Electronics – they may not be as spectacular as a rocket launch to the public, but without the ideas and the dedicated work of specialists in this field, we would not even be having launches.
