The proposed INTERSTELLAR project addresses one critical topic of European non-dependence under the line “High speed DAC-ADC based on European Technology” – analogue-to-digital and digital-to-analogue data converters. E2V designs, manufactures, supplies to the space market these essential components, but faces keen competition from US providers. To preserve know-how and production of such competitive components in Europe and to underscore its efforts for non-dependence, the industrial consortium proposes to develop two new data converters and to mature them to TRL6. A four-channel ADC, sampling at up to 6 GSPs offers ultra-wide input bandwidth, flexibility and high-speed serial outputs. A multi-channel DAC, reconstructing at up to 6 GSPs offers multi-Nyquist output bandwidth, configurable modes and high-speed serial inputs. Using a European semiconductor technology, the new converters shall target performances beyond today’s state-of-the-art to ensure their competitiveness by their delivery dates. Such devices facilitate innovative Rx-to-Tx signal chain solutions for satellite telecommunications, earth observation, navigation and scientific missions. To achieve the challenging objectives set, the four partners have intimate knowledge in space technology and will bring expertise to the project. E2V (F), coordinator, will be in charge of design, manufacturing and test activities. AIRBUS Defence & Space (UK) and THALES ALENIA SPACE (F), the two major European space companies, will make a key contribution as end-users of space data converters – guiding initial requirements and evaluating the devices under relevant conditions. The Fraunhofer Institute (D) will significantly contribute with reference PCBs hosting the new ADC and DAC, thus enabling detailed device evaluation and enhancing the dissemination of the results. Assembling such honed skills within a fruitful cooperation, promises to make the INTERSTELLAR project a great success for the European space industry.

Photonic technologies are recognised as key enablers to satisfy the flexibility, SWaP and performance requirements of next generation EO missions. The ability of Photonics to handle high data rates and high frequencies and its easy reconfigurability is critical in this scenario, where current purely RF technologies are limited in SWaP and performance. However, the use of Photonics is currently restricted to a few demonstrations in non-critical equipment, due to their perceived immaturity compared to RF. RETINA will develop several key RF-photonic building blocks to TRL5-6, designing, fabricating and testing 1) multi-beam TTD phased array antennas for X band operation, 2) a photonic integrated beamforming network, 3) novel configuration active X-band antenna array and 4) miniaturized space-grade components and subsystems. Miniaturization will be achieved by integrating lasers and external modulators with electronics in the Tx side, integrating photodiodes, amplifiers and electronics at the Rx side and by fabricating a PIC beamformer. RETINA will integrate and demonstrate such building blocks in a test bed proving the suitability of the proposed architecture in a SAR scenario for 64 beams, demonstrating a flexible SAR payload for missions requiring flexible frequency plans and channelization and dynamic coverage operation. RETINA consortium comprises the multidisciplinary skills needed to achieve its objectives and fully exploit its results, with partners representing the whole value chain, from space-grade hardware developers to EO satellite integrators and by Academia Partners developing key technologies and fostering technology transfer. RETINA builds on the results of FP7 project GAIA and is complementary to developments made by its partners in ESA and EC Projects. RETINA success will contribute to enhance EU competitiveness and non-dependence by developing critical technologies for the EU satellite industry that can be transferred to non-space sectors.