As satellite missions in low Earth orbit (LEO) are growing every year, there are still significant limitations on mission capabilities due to lack of constant communication. Currently, existing satellite solutions offer less than 5% connectivity to the Ground per mission, which leads to huge data opportunity loss. Access to space data is cost-inefficient and complex. Satellite operators have to manage and pay for the entire space value chain (mission analysis, satellite & payload integration, launch, mission operations and ground infrastructure, data services). Thus, the price of operating each NanoSat individually in many cases exceeds 1 to 3 million EUR per year in operational costs. Main challenges are:
• Lost data opportunity: Satellite missions in low Earth orbit (LEO) remain inefficient. With less than 5% average time of communication per mission, transferring data from space remains expensive and challenging.
• Lack of on-demand communication: Lack of instant link with LEO satellites is severely limiting LEO satellites missions’ positive impact and reactive capability (on-demand tracking, control & command, data transfer)
• Expensive ground infrastructure: Traditional satellite mission requires building and operating complex ground infrastructure (antennas, tracking stations, expensive radio equipment, maintenance, teleport rent) at an average cost of EUR 1M to 3M per mission. Renting of equipment remains alternative but equally expensive option for missions exceeding 3 years in orbit
• Everyone for himself in space: Lack of a common standard for in-space communication protocol and satellite comm. tech between NanoSats in LEO limit the positive impact and mission operations efficiency.
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Space Data Gateway (SDG) is an Intelligent NanoSat Communication service in Low Earth orbit, capable of transmitting on-demand space data (speeds of data transmission of 150 Mbps and above) at a fraction of the cost (as low as 5 EUR per GB). It aims to solve two of the biggest challenges in LEO orbit space communication – need for constant connectivity with NanoSats in orbit and ever-increasing demand for more space data.
The main innovation is the capability for NanoSats to interconnect in LEO by using intersatellite communication modules and antennas and transmit up-to 50x more data per mission. The service enables the user to have plug & play satellite communication system and AI-based autonomous mission operations capability, as well as cloud-based Digital Mission Control. This reduces the price of NanoSat missions by 65% on average and at the same time lowers the complexity of the satellite communications and increases the volume of the space data transmitted.
The project objectives were achieved by accomplishing the following activities:
• Engineering and validation of next generation inter-satellite communication modules and antennas which were then integrated into existing EnduroSat NanoSat platforms
• An Artificial intelligence software for autonomous in-space operations and data services was customized and developed by Aiko. The AI-software was embedded into the integrated NanoSat platform with inter-sat modules.
• Integration and initiation of cloud-based Mission Control application for NanoSat operations in orbit, delivered by Planetek. The service enables space customers to operate their NanoSats in orbit without paying for complex ground segment.
• Development and launch of SDG commercial services, including marketing plan, business plan and financial plan, supported by EUN. The SDG commercial service was initiated with existing consortium’ customers. SDG service is available for all current and future NanoSat customers of the consortium partners.
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