RF System Design for Robotic Spacecraft Requirements: Design Challenges and Emerging Technologies

A cornerstone of space sustainability is the ability to efficiently service, repair and refuel spacecrafts in orbit. From low earth orbit to geostationary orbits, the need for such In-Orbit Servicing (IOS) missions is clearly identified and several companies are trying to race each other to be the first to market. Additionally, as the problem of space debris is more and more recognized as such by private and government stakeholders, Active Debris Removal (ADR) missions will be important to reduce the risk of the Kessler syndrome to set in.
One of the many challenges these types of missions entail is the design of reliable and secure RF systems covering communications, radar and RF sensing. The unique set of requirements posed by a highly agile, robotic spacecraft poses several challenges for RF systems in terms of performance, reliability and cost. This talk will give an overview of typical requirements, trade-offs and regulatory hurdles that one will encounter when designing RF systems for robotic spacecrafts. Furthermore, an overview of emerging technologies and current research will be provided.

Hannes Bartle is an Industrial PhD student in the Microwaves and Antennas Group (MAG) at EPFL, while being employed by ClearSpace SA. His research focuses on the field of mutual coupling between antennas and installed antenna performance on electrically large structures. He is the technical point of contact regarding RF and antenna related topics at ClearSpace and is responsible for the development, design and procurement of RF hardware and antennas, most notably the ClearSpace-1 communication systems. He received a B.Eng in Aerospace Engineering from the Corporate State University Friedrichshafen, Germany, and an M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from Aarhus University, Denmark.