German Researchers are Working on the Exploitation of New Frequency Bands for Satellite Communication [Picture: pixabay/IRS]
The continuously growing need for higher data rates as well as globally available broadband internet requires innovative technology developments and the exploitation of a new electromagnetic spectrum. In the scope of R&D projects funded by the German Aerospace Center, researchers at the University of Stuttgart have developed a high-performance technology platform to exploit the frequency spectrum in the so-called E-band at 71-86 GHz. State-of-the-art transmissions in terrestrial radio-relay and an initial gigabit data transmission between an aircraft and a ground station justify and motivate a first verification of this technology in the space environment. At this point, the research project EIVE starts with a worldwide first in-orbit verification of a communication link in the E-Band. A central part of the scientific objectives of this project is to accomplish a broadband data downlink in the previously unused frequency range of 71-76 GHz from a nanosatellite to a ground station.Detailed link budget calculations show the feasibility of a data downlink during an overflight in the sun-synchronous low earth orbit with a full bandwidth of 5 GHz by incorporating realistic antenna dimensions and availabilities.The partners of the EIVE project group are highly qualified for the implementation of this project due to their competence profiles and prior art. The EIVE project network is coordinated by the Institute of Robust Power Semiconductor Systems (ILH) at the University of Stuttgart and is composed of the Institute of Space Systems (IRS) of the University of Stuttgart, the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics (IAF), the Radiometer Physics GmbH as well as the Tesat-Spacecom GmbH.
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