High speed data chain

Activities shall aim at providing advanced on-board data handling and transfer for Earth observation and Telecommunication systems, and its management and exploitation in mission ground segment. These activities shall address the future challenge of high data rates transmission and significant improvements in data throughput:

• Re-configurable high data rate links including high frequency RF bands and optical communications: direct and interoperable links between LEO satellites and links to Earth and mobile or aerial platforms (including X band, Ka band and optical), or direct links between GEO satellites and Earth or mobile or aerial platforms, and inter-satellite links (beyond the specifications of the European Data Relay System – EDRS and its evolution in support to Copernicus).
• On-board data processing, implementation of complex data algorithms (e.g. by means of programmable Digital Signal Processors – DSPs).
• On-board data compression systems to improve on-board data storage (memory modules for new memory devices).
• High data rate image (optical and/or radar) and video processing, such as lossless compression, image enhancement techniques or on-board SAR image generation.
• Improved on-board data storage ensuring efficiency and reliability (management of memory modules for new memory devices).
• Anticipate how the ground segment will cope with higher data rates to improve the overall data throughput. In particular to address the required evolution of technologies, architectures, products, end-user expectations, including the challenges associated with optical ground stations for data uplink and downlink.
• Anticipate the need to link innovative ground segment architectures based on new ICT technologies, including cloud, in the “Big Data” domain and the rise in user demand for wide access to Near Real Time (NRT) and Quasi Real Time (QRT) data in social media and mobile applications.