International space agencies currently plan high data rate space research missions with bandwidth requirements up to 400 MHz. Satellites for these missions may carry telescopes and/or other passive instruments to measure phenomena such as the Earth’s magnetosphere and solar flares. Moreover, satellites belonging to the international human exploration initiative, that will first target the Moon, and later Mars, will need a frequency allocation which is not restricted to near earth or deep space missions, so that the same communications equipment can be used at Moon and Mars orbits.
Until recently, 8450-8500 MHz was the only band below the 37-38 GHz band that was available on a primary basis in the Space Research Service (SRS) to transmit moderate to high-rate data directly from Earth-orbiting satellites to earth stations. Since this band will not meet the requirements of future high rate space research missions, a new allocation in the band 25.5-27 GHz was obtained at the ITU World Radiocommunications Conference in 2003 (WRC-03). This band can be used by both near earth and deep space missions, thus fulfilling the requirements of human exploration as well.
ESA has started a study with Callisto in order to perform a detailed analysis of the mission requirements, to verify the feasibility of the introduction of the new frequency band into the existing ESA Deep Space Ground Stations (DSGS) and to perform a feasibility analysis of the ESA DSGS modifications required accommodating the new 26 GHz band.
MakaluMedia has been awarded a subcontract with Callisto, in support of the communications and return-link data storage/forward aspects of this project.
For more information about MakaluMedia activities, please contact Mr. Fausto Roveda or Mr. Matt Henderson at mail@makalumedia.com.