GPS World

Tag: nanosatellite

  • France develops GNSS backup service using nanosatellite

    France develops GNSS backup service using nanosatellite

    Image: Rick_Jo/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images
    Image: Rick_Jo/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

    France has begun the Synchrocube project with an aim to provide a complementary service to GNSS. In the project, a low-Earth-orbit nanosatellite will provide synchronization functions when GNSS navigation signals are unusable.

    Development of the Synchrocube is part of the French recovery plan for the space sector. Planned to be 6U in size (typically 20 × 10  × 34.05 cm),  the satellite platform is being developed by Syrlinks, which will provide both the payload and the ground receiver necessary to provide the location and timing service.

    Consortium

    Besides Syrlinks, companies taking part in the Synchrocube project include U-Space, (nanosatellite platform supplier), Anywaves (miniature antennas for satellites constellations) and Comat (satellite instruments).

    By pooling their technologies, the companies in this consortium demonstrate their ability to provide effective and competitive solutions to respond to ambitious space programs.

    “Synchrocube represents a major evolution for Syrlinks,” said Guy Richard, Syrlinks CEO. “The implementation of a project as sizeable as this opens up new commercial prospects for the company. Syrlinks, initially known as a satellite subsystem manufacturer, is on its way to becoming a service provider.”

  • Spire to develop flexible geolocation signal-processing tools for ESA

    Spire to develop flexible geolocation signal-processing tools for ESA

    Spire logoSpire Global has been awarded a contract under the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Navigation Innovation and Support Programme (NAVISP), specifically “Element 2 – Competitiveness in PNT.” The contract is funded by the United Kingdom Space Agency.

    Spire will work with NAVISP to build on the current capabilities of the Spire constellation and develop tools needed for geolocation signal processing, which will be applied toward geolocating GNSS interference sources coming from the Earth’s surface.

    Spire’s low-Earth orbit (LEO) nanosatellite technology will be used to collect suspect interfering RF signals from a range of geographic areas prone to disruptions. Using advanced processing algorithms, the project will develop a suite of geolocation signal collection and processing techniques (including single and multi-satellite) to detect and characterize signals from a variety of interference scenarios.

    NAVISP Element 2 emphasizes maintaining and improving the capability and competitiveness of the position, navigation and timing (PNT) industry and its technologies and services in the global satellite navigation market. In recent years, PNT services have become ubiquitous and relied on by industry and critical national infrastructure such as telecommunications, emergency services, energy, finance, food and transport. The GNSS signals used in these applications are vulnerable to interference, which can disrupt PNT services.