COM DEV to Supply Transponders for FORMOSAT-7

COM DEV Europe, a provider of spacecraft equipment with participation in over 86 previous space missions, has been selected to provide the telemetry, tracking, and command (TT&C) transponder equipment to Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSTL) for the first six spacecraft in the FORMOSAT-7 global weather forecasting program. 

 

The total contract, worth more than CDN $4 million, will be fulfilled at its facility in the UK (Aylesbury) over a 2-year period and involves the initial build of 14 units with options for an additional 12 units to be ordered in 2013 or 2014.

 

TT&C transponders are the vital communications link between the spacecraft and ground stations and are therefore critical to the day-to-day operation and success of any mission. COM DEV Europe has delivered space equipment for well over 27 years working with all the world's prime satellite manufacturers. The transponder gained flight heritage in 2012 with the launch of the exactView-1 mission and further flight heritage will be obtained with the launch of the M3M spacecraft expected in late 2013.

 

The COM DEV Europe transponder combines a light, compact and efficient design employing Gallium Nitride (GaN) power amplifier technology and digital signal processing techniques. The design uses commercially available components (ESA class-3) and is free from ITAR restrictions. It is also based on FPGA (field programmable gate array) and software defined radio (SDR) technology to allow a flexible approach for different mission types and phases.

 

The development and qualification of the equipment was part-funded through the European Space Agency ARTES program, with support from the UK's Technology Strategy Board. 

 

Source: COM DEV Europe