Communication Satellite Technology and Multi-Media Demonstration on-Board ISS
Abstract
The paper presents ongoing preparative activities and the opportunities for a utilization of the European ISS Module COLUMBUS as a testbed for communications and multimedia technology. This can provide a new service to the commercially oriented Space Communication Community and Parties interested in tests of space bound terrestrial applications (e.g. telematics). For this purpose, Astrium SI, Bremen, has studied several options how to test and verify advanced Multi-Media / Broadband Communications of Non-Geostationary Systemes. These activities have been conducted in cooperation with, and/or under contract of, DLR and ESA/ESTEC. With an accordingly equipped platform on-board the European ISS Module COLUMBUS a generic test-bed for Multi- Media-Services, inter-orbit link technology and other to be verified and demonstrated technology may be derived. The advantages of such an universal test service are obvious: - Crew accessibility / maintainability - Return of hardware after test to earth possible - Exposure of equipment to space environment - Fast to be installed experiments (compared to satellite missions) - Reasonable effort by shared installation costs (esp. compared to GEO missions) This may result in a new kind of technology demo missions (e.g. commercial parts applications, experiments of to-the-need scalable duration etc.).
- Publication:
-
IAF abstracts, 34th COSPAR Scientific Assembly
- Pub Date:
- January 2002
- Bibcode:
- 2002iaf..confE.602A