ESA NGSO-SENSE – Prototype for Measuring NGSO Satellite Network Interference

Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 +0000

European Space Agency

Role: Vice-Principal Investigator
Funding: European Space Agency (ESA ARTES IC, Contract No. 4000138641/22/UK/AL, in collaboration with SES) · €650,000 (2022–2025)
Official Page: uni.lu/snt-en/research-projects/esa-ngso-sense/

Executive Summary

ESA NGSO-SENSE (Prototype for Measuring NGSO Satellite Network Interference and Radiofrequency Characteristics) designs, integrates, and validates an automated ground-station hardware/software prototype to detect, quantify, and attribute inline and aggregate radio-frequency interference (RFI) between Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) mega-constellations (e.g., Starlink, OneWeb) and Geostationary (GEO) satellite networks (e.g., SES ASTRA) across Ku-band and Ka-band.

Verified Ground Station & RF Chain Architecture

Motorized 1.2 m Dual-Band Ka/Ku Parabolic Antenna (65% efficiency, orthogonal OMTs):
- Ka-Band Chain (17.30 – 22.30 GHz): Antenna gain $G_a = 41.5\text{ dBi}$, $T_a = 50\text{ K}$ (clear sky at zenith), dual circular polarization (RHCP & LHCP), wideband LNA ($\text{NF} = 1.8\text{ dB}$, $G_{\text{LNA}} = 60 \pm 2\text{ dB}$, $T_{\text{noise}} = 149\text{ K}$), and Quad 4-BDC system per polarization (B1: 17.30–18.55 GHz, B2: 18.55–19.80 GHz, B3: 19.80–21.05 GHz, B4: 21.05–22.30 GHz $\rightarrow$ 950–2150 MHz L-band IF).
- Ku-Band Chain (10.70 – 12.75 GHz): Antenna gain $G_a = 45.8\text{ dBi}$, $T_a = 70\text{ K}$, dual linear polarization (H & V), wideband LNA ($\text{NF} = 2.0\text{ dB}$, $G_{\text{LNA}} = 60 \pm 3\text{ dB}$, $T_{\text{noise}} = 75\text{ K}$), and Dual PLL 2-BDC system (Low: 10.70–11.70 GHz with $\text{LO } 9.75\text{ GHz}$; High: 11.70–12.75 GHz with $\text{LO } 10.60\text{ GHz}$ $\rightarrow$ 950–2150 MHz L-band IF).
Hybrid Coarse/Fine Satellite Tracking Loop: Antenna Control Unit (ACU) and Az/El rotors executing periodic CelesTrak TLE coarse orbit propagation in parallel with a closed-loop fine-tracking controller driven by beacon power measurements from a PTR50 Beacon Receiver (925–2150 MHz, 2 kHz PLL BW) tracking Starlink (11.325 GHz) and ASTRA (11.7115 / 12.491 / 18.8015 GHz) beacons.
L-Band Switching Matrix & Receivers: DEV Systemtechnik DEV 1985 (16×16 / 16×8, 850–2450 MHz) distributing matrix dynamically routing the 12 L-band feeds to a Rohde & Schwarz FPC1000 spectrum analyzer, USRP SDR I/Q recorder, and automated Energy Detector + ML Autoencoder anomaly identification pipeline.

Project Details

Funding Agency: European Space Agency (ESA ARTES IC, Contract 4000138641/22/UK/AL)
Industrial Partner: SES
Budget: €650,000
Duration: 2022 – 2025
Role: Vice-Principal Investigator

← Back to All 24 R&D Projects Portfolio

Spectrum Sensing | Dr. Jorge Querol

ESA NGSO-SENSE – Prototype for Measuring NGSO Satellite Network Interference

Executive Summary

Verified Ground Station & RF Chain Architecture

Project Details