DreamSat: the Vision of a Satellite Manufacturer to Prepare the Future of Communication Satellites
- Paper number
IAC-07-B2.4.08
- Author
Mr. Jean-Didier Gayrard, Thales Alenia Space, France
- Coauthor
Dr. Erick Lansard, Thales Alenia Space, France
- Coauthor
Ms. Isabelle Nann, Thales Alenia Space, France
- Year
2007
- Abstract
The communication satellite business is facing the harsh competition of terrestrial networks where techniques and technologies keep progressing at a sustained rhythm. New innovative and even disruptive technologies are the true keys to stay in business, to adapt to the market evolutions and to create new applications. Compared with other domains, R\&D in communication satellite is mainly characterized by costly and lengthy developments for a few satellites delivered per year. This is a real concern regarding the return on R\&D investment. Technological satellites are the best way to explore, to evaluate and to qualify new technologies, but they demand a tremendous financial effort. Furthermore, they do not ensure the good selection of the right technologies. Although it is not easy to make projections for future communication satellite systems within a perspective of 10 to 15 years from now, it is possible to capitalize on technical expertise and to sketch out for the post 2020 time period what could be the evolution of today technologies and the emergence of new disruptive technologies that may be involved in the design and improvement of future satellites. Thereby, it is possible to envision the future of satellites through the design of a virtual (paper) satellite: a "DreamSat". Alcatel Alenia Space’s DreamSat project is thus the "paper design" of a futuristic satellite for the post 2020 period that answers a likely market and makes use of the best to-be technologies. The DreamSat illustrates the outcomes of technological trends at both platform and payload levels and it optimizes conjointly payload and platform for a specific future mission. DreamSat is essentially technological pushed, and thus it does not define the future role of satellite in terrestrial systems. Dreamsat is an engineered illustration of the potential of future techniques and technologies for designing innovative, cost effective and performing future satellites. This vision can also cover other domains: Earth Observation, Navigation etc. but this paper focuses on telecommunication satellites. First, the whys of the DreamSat concept are explained, and then the wherefores are illustrated through an example of a broadcasting satellite. Future probable needs give the likely performance requirements for the Dreamsat. A joint payload platform design process makes the best use of the latest technological improvements and breakthroughs.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-07-B2.4.08.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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