Computers and Data Handling Systems
RUAG Space has a large proliferation of products in this area. Systems from RUAG Space have been taking care of the command and data handling function on more than 80 telecommunications, earth observation and scientific satellites since the late 60's. By the end of 2005, our systems had an accumulated failure-free life of more than 550 years in orbit.
We also have a unique record, starting in the early 70s, of delivering fault-tolerant on-board computers for more than fifty satellites and numerous launchers, including the guidance and control computers for the family of Ariane launchers. Not a single one of them has failed.
With our expertise on all levels of integration from systems to components, we also offer other space quality products such as payload processing and control units, mass memories, GPS occultation instruments, power converters, motor drive electronics and processor boards.
Command & Data Handling Systems
RUAG Space develops and manufactures both general and specially designed Command and Data Handling Systems, including flight software and attitude control.
Our reliable on-board “butlers” control and monitor satellite subsystems and payloads. They perform on-board telecommand and telemetry functions such as collecting and formatting platform and payload data for down-link, distributing and executing up-linked telecommands as well as controlling temperatures, power distribution, pyro release, etc.
Our main products presently in production are the distributed DHS95 systems supplied to about 20 Spacebus-3000-based telecommunications satellites, the Data Handling System of the Meteosat second generation meteorological satellites and the highly integrated Command & Data Handling system developed for the half-ton multipurpose satellite platform Proteus. The first Proteus mission, Jason, is working flawlessly in orbit since December 2001.
A new Command and Data Handling system has been developed and is undergoing qualification testing. Its first use will be the scientific Herschel/Planck dual satellite mission. Its new processor core, "Tiger", offers higher performance at lower mass and power consumption than ever before. In the near future, another step will be taken in introducing a rad-hard ASIC including both the SPARC V8 processor "LEON" and all of its I/O support. We nickname the new product "Panther" to give you the sense of its speed and flexibility.
Guidance & Control Computers
RUAG Space range of fault-tolerant computers are used in launchers for guidance and control, and in satellites and space vehicles for attitude control and general control purposes.
We have supplied more than 200 Guidance & Control computers for the Ariane 4 and 5 as well more than 50 on-board computers for satellites. They all feature robust and fault-tolerant design, high error detection coverage and SEU immune components. Furthermore, the designs are based on full exploitation of the very latest generations of ASICs and processors in combination with state-of-the-art production processes. The computers are supplied with basic software.
Payload Processing & Control
RUAG Space has supplied instrument control units for numerous European scientific and earth observation satellites, and high-performance processing subsystems for Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and other instruments. Utilizing our expertise in electrical interface engineering and data buses, we also built the NOAA Interface Unit that adapts the interfaces of eight US instruments from NOAA to European interface standards for the METOP satellites.
RUAG Space offer expertise in digital signal processing. We supply the digital payload control units for the Inmarsat 4 series of broadband telecommunication satellites and we are currently developing the Navigation Signal Generator for the European global navigation satellite system, Galileo. We also supply the Data Processing Subsystem (DPS) for the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) instrument to be flown on METOP.
For further information please contact:
Paul Häyhänen
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