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Astronautics
Space Communication Technologies and Architectures
Teleoperated on-orbit servicing and space debris removal
missions, a key research area of LRT, require near real-
time transmission of multi-channel video signals and
spacecraft sensor and control information which can
exceed data rates of 20 Mbps. DLR-funded research pro
jects developed novel high-gain antennas as low-loss
direct radiating array antenna systems (Lightweight Inter-
Satellite Antenna, LISA), both as mechanically or elec
tronically (beam forming) steerable antennas in copper-
galvanic waveguide designs (LISA projects completed in
2016).
CFRM-HF is a development of alternative manufacturing
methods for integrated waveguide designs, based on the
established copper galvanic process in LISA. Thereby,
two objectives are investigated: 1. Carbon fiber reinforced
copper – to reduce weight and thermal expansion of
the copper parts; 2. Additive manufactured cores – to
reduce the costs and enable highly integrated waveguide
designs. In the last year several standard waveguide parts
have been manufactured to investigate the influence of
the additive manufactured core on the RF-performance.
Furthermore, the deposition and embedding of carbon
fibers in a copper matrix with attached flanges was
investigated.
CopKa is a cooperative technology development and
demonstration project of a multi-sensor-based emergency
services mission, using data from a UAV helicopter and
other imaging data sources, transmitted over Ka-band
satellite links. The project develops and tests novel
communication architectures as well as supporting rapid
antenna pointing technologies, and demonstrates the
integrated system in various test scenarios in cooperation
with the TUM firefighting services. The CopKa emergency
use scenario represents a synergetic satellite communi-
cation system to the RACOON on orbit servicing architec-
ture. The UAV copter and local cameras can be controlled
over the Ka-band SatCom link to provide enhanced
situation awareness from the remote accident site to the
emergency services coordinators at the control center/
home base. The CopKa system must not interfere with
local first responders and therefore requires novel control
environments including virtual reality technologies for safe,
partial autonomous operations from the control center.
In the last recent years three exercise were successfully
carried out with the fire fighter brigades. In two exercises
we demonstrated teleoperation of the UAV over a GEO
satellite relay and supported the emergency coordination
of a large-scale exercise with the fire fighter brigade
München-Land with the CopKa system.
These satellite communication projects are funded by
DLR (German Aerospace Center – Space Administration)
research grants no. FKZ 50YB1113 (LISA Ka-band elec-
tronic steering), FKZ 50YB1333 (LISA Ka-band mechanical
steering), FKZ 50YB1533 (Hybrid Manufacturing CFRMHF)
and FKZ 1523/1524 (CopKa Comm. Architectures), by
BMWi/DLR Space Administration in Bonn.