No abstract

No abstract

This paper reports the main achievements in the development of photonic RF payload solutions for telecommunication satellites based on a multiple-frequency conversion scheme. Representative models of photonic payload equipment, including photonic frequency generation assembly and frequency-converters, have been integrated and proven in a system environment. The end-to-end RF performance for various configurations and frequency plans were tested at ambient temperature. The test plan includes forward and return repeater configurations, with photonic frequency down-conversion from 30 to 20 GHz with up to 6-local oscillators in the case of a Ka-band multi-beam broadband mission. In addition, thermal tests were run over the [-5°C, +65°C] temperature range. The end-to-end RF performances of the photonic repeater demonstrator were assessed in detail experimentally and compared to theoretical predictions. These results are a major step towards new payload solution with enhanced capacity and in-orbit re-configurability.

No abstract

No abstract