ESA/ATG medialab

RADIO FREQUENCY SPECIAL CHECK-OUT EQUIPMENT (RF SCOE)

Experience fully automated S-, X-, Ku- and Ka-band measurements in the satellite TT&C section and payload.

PROVEN AND PRECISE SATELLITE RADIO FREQUENCY TESTING

A satellite without working radio sub-systems is space debris: Like the 2011 “Zombie-Satellite”, the payload is working, but it is unresponsive, unable to communicate and thus it cannot complete its mission. To make sure this never happens to your satellites, the proven and industry-standard RF SCOE tests and calibrates their radio frequency sub-systems with a market-leading degree of precision.

Terma has rich portfolio of own radio frequency testing solution and selected 3rd party products aligned with decades of experience. Designed for seamless integration into existing testing infrastructure and to minimize the risk of malfunctions once the satellite is in orbit. The RF SCOE products are built with a focus on easy integration and reliability. This comprehensive approach ensures your satellites maintain peak communication capabilities, fulfilling their missions without the threat of becoming space debris.

Proven and precise satellite radio frequency test and calibration

Easy integration into existing testing infrastructure

Minimized risk of malfunction when satellite is in orbit

RF SCOE

Proven and precise satellite radio frequency testing and calibration

RF SCOE performs fully automated in all relevant frequency bands such as S-, X-, Ku- and Ka-band measurements in the TT&C (Telemetry, Tracking & Command) section of the satellite during assembly of the spacecraft and during space environment testing at the test center facility. It does the same in the L-, S-, X-, Ku-, Ka-, and UHF-bands for the mission communication and payload section.

RF Scoe

EASY INTEGRATION INTO EXISTING TESTING INFRASTRUCTURE

Terma RF SCOE are based on proven generic and selected mission-independent components, and it integrates easily into your existing testing infrastructure and minimizes one-time investments. Due to the low lead-time of these components, it also optimizes time to delivery.

RF Scoe

MINIMIZED RISK OF MALFUNCTION WHEN SATELLITE IS IN ORBIT

Terma RF SCOE can signiﬁcantly reduce the risk of a radio malfunction once the satellite is in orbit by applying very precise measurement such as absolute power level with an uncertainty of only 0.2 dB, gain vs. frequency with an uncertainty of only 0.3 dB and group delay vs. frequency with an uncertainty of only 0.5 ns.

Terma SPECTRA – Next-Gen SDR TT&C Modem, Flexible, Future-Ready, Extendible

For RF-SCOE applications, the system can be operated using Terma’s own SDR TT&C modem, Terma SPECTRA. It is a compact and cost-effective modem with a focus on reducing CAPEX and OPEX with “Pay what you need” flexible licensing. Terma SPECTRA ensures seamless integration following CCSDS, full control of TM & TC modes, ranging, and customer specific implementations. The solution supports a wide range of operational and testing scenarios for LEO/MEO/GEO missions from a single satellite up to a multi-channel deployment for mega constellations.
In addition to its use in EGSE and SCOE environments, Terma SPECTRA is fully suitable for deployment in operational satellite ground stations, where its SDR architecture and cloud-readiness enable flexible scaling and future feature evolution.

PROVEN HIGH-PERFORMANCE MICROWAVE COAXIAL CABLE ASSEMBLIES

Terma RF SCOE comes with proven high-performance microwave coaxial cable assemblies, ruggedized for use outside a thermal vacuum chamber and good amplitude and phase stability vs. flexure and temperature, as well as superior shielding.

EASY-TO-USE SOFTWARE COMPONENTS

In addition to the remote control functionality via the CCS and GUI control, Terma easy-to-use application software package provides the ”internal logic” functionality of self-test, calibration, measurement and status/measurement reports.

CASE STUDY

ENSURING PLANETARY DEFENCE IN ESA'S HERA MISSION

The European Space Agency’s HERA Mission represents a pivotal moment in planetary defense and advances our ability to protect Earth from asteroid threats. Terma provided a high performance qualified automated measurement test equipment. Our RF SCOE is used for testing and verification of the Spacecraft Communications Module in X-Band for Telemetry, Telecommand and Ranging subsystem.

READ CASE STUDY