ESTEC, the European Space Research and Technology Centre, is the technical heart of ESA – the incubator of the European space effort – where most ESA projects are guided through the various phases of development. To reduce the weight of satellites, engineers at ESA assess the replacement of data cables with wireless for sensors in and outside the satellite. The wireless communication technology must be proven in the field and designed to enable superior RF performance in satellite applications. The selection requirements are based on high reliability, extreme battery life time (+15 years) and robustness against interference.
In our effort to reduce the complexity of harness onboard satellites and in ground tests, ESA has been searching for commercially available wireless communication technologies for sensors,” said Jean-François Dufour, Computer and Data Handling Engineer with ESA. “GreenPeak’s IEEE802.15.4-2006 silicon was evaluated for its extremely low current consumption characteristics, which are needed for long-duration maintenance-free missions, and for its antenna diversity feature providing robust links within satellite systems. We were delighted by the quality of the silicon and the dedication of GreenPeak’s staff.
Cees links, CEO of GreenPeak said: “We are excited to meet the challenges posed by ESA and passing in depth testing of our silicon. Working with ESA is a unique quality recognition and demonstrates that our silicon is highly suitable for the most demanding applications requiring performance leadership.”