17/01/2025
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Nearly 80% increase in capacity! In late July 2024, the Malargue Deep-Space Communications Station completed a significant upgrade of its antenna feed that will allow missions to send more data back to Earth.
With more deep space missions, more international requests, new and more intense data streams, the demand for deep space ground stations has never been higher. Yet this offer is reaching almost full capacity. To power the three deep-space antennas in its global ground station network (ASTRAC), the European Space Agency began a comprehensive upgrade of its stations, including the use of innovative cryogenic technology.
In late July, the program completed cryogenic work on its Argentina-based Malargue antenna, thus allowing the station to download 80% more science data from its increasingly complex science missions, including up to 60% for deep space. increased. Missions like Juice and BepiColombo.
The completion of the upgrade will reduce the demand for operational capacity for ESA missions in the coming years, while also providing new capabilities for future missions.
How does this work? When receiving and decoding a signal, antennas can be affected by background interference – or thermal noise – that limits their sensitivity and data transfer rates. One way to reduce this noise is to cryo-cool the link connecting the physical antenna to the station’s electronic signal transmitter and receiver – also known as the ‘antenna feed’.
Great upgrade for deep-space dish
“Increasing the signal-to-noise ratio is important when designing, upgrading and operating an antenna,” explains Stefan Halte, ESA Ground Station Project Manager.
“At a temperature of 10 Kelvin (-263 degrees Celsius) instead of room temperature, we can minimize noise and increase antenna efficiency between 60 and 80%”.
The new cryocooled feed incorporates a new generation of ultra-low noise cryogenic amplifiers (LNAs) developed with university partners such as ETH Zurich (Switzerland) and Chalmers (Sweden). These LNAs are now commercialized through spin-off companies (LNF and Diaremix).
The same technology is used today for the development of quantum computers. This is an example of where ESA technology development can support the overall scientific community and the competitiveness of European companies.
The BAND cryocooled feed development has been funded through the ESA Technology Development Element program and the first prototype was built and tested by Callisto Space (France). The operational units are manufactured by Callisto and integrated into ESA’s deep space stations by the Canadian company Calion.
Malargue is the second antenna upgraded with a cryocooled feed. It follows the path of Cerebros in 2023. This cryogenic technology is now a standard for ESA ground stations and will feature in new antennas such as the new Norsia 3 One.
