Spaceborne GNSS-Receiver Heritage Leveraged on New Space

Abstract

Global Navigation Satellite System receivers have become inevitable for space missions. Although space qualified components and proven receiver concepts with space heritage exist, dedicated products are required for NewSpace applications due to cost reasons. On the one hand the NewSpace paradigm asks for low cost, mass, size and power consumption, suggesting usage of commercial off-the-shelf technology and minimal features, while on the other hand applications such as telecom mega-constellations and innovative earth observation missions simultaneously using many small satellites require superior navigation performance. Relying on such performance results in full dependence on receiver reliability and availability. Based on the analysis of current traditional as well as NewSpace GNSS-receiver approaches relative to the underlying applications, a GNSS-receiver product platform dedicated to NewSpace, but aiming at leveraging traditional space experience and at preserving flight heritage is presented.