Since the introduction of its first Telemetry & Telecommand (TM/TC) system in 1986, Satellite Services B.V. has steadily expanded the range of its products, capabilities and performance. The new range of products called “Spacelink^NGT” builds on the experience gained over the past twenty years. The SpaceLinkNGT product line consists of a number of building blocks, each based on common and proven hardware and software elements. The SpaceLinkNGT product range features a high degree of hardware component integration, scalability and proven software.

The SE985 forms the single-board heart of a baseband processing system with its capability to handle a variety of simultaneous up- and downlink streams at varying rates. The SpaceLinkNGT SE985 board can be configured for multiple purposes including TM Acquisition, TM Simulation, TC Reception and TC generation. All four purposes are possible in parallel and in real-time (depending on speed).

The SpaceLinkNGT SE985 board is purpose build for a wide range of speed applications (up to 150Mbps real-time). The PCI based card uses the latest technology in integrated programmable logic that allows true “System-On-A-Programmable-Chip” (SOPC) solutions. The unique re-configurable architecture of the SE985 card means that it can be easily re-configured to handle many types of coding standards and industry standards, such as CCSDS/ESA TM/TC.

The telemetry decommutation chain supports selectable Viterbi decoding/Correction, Frame Synchronisation or Turbo Coded Frame Acquisition, RAW data dump mode, selectable Pseudo-derandomizer and Reed-Solomon decoding/correction.

In parallel with TM decommutation, the SE985 board can also serialise TC (CLTU’s) with selectable convolutional encoding, decode serial TC (CLTUs) and pass them on to the host for further processing. CLCW feedback can also be done directly on the board.

The SE985 board can also build and generate simulated transfer frames/ Channel Access Data Units (CADU’s), either from host provided data or locally using pre-defined data. Again, this is all in parallel with TM decommutation. The simulator can overlay a sync pattern, VCFC and MCFC counters before passing it on for FECW and CLCW calculation/insertion, Reed-Solomon encoding, randomisation and convolutional coding. If required, this can result in complete CADU’s. Each section of the encoding sequence can be switched in or out as required.

Selectable monitoring points allow signals and events to be monitored, while a remote LED status port enables status indicators to be driven. The SE985 board also has several feature connectors that allow piggyback cards to be connected to the board. These allow the use of other functions, such as BPSK/QPSK modulation/demodulation and customer specific interfaces.

The SE985 module is available in different (programming) variants which can support many different system deployments and processing speeds. In conjunction with the SpacelinkNGT IF transceiver or High-Rate demodulator, a complete ground station up/downlink chain can implemented

The SE985 is usually deployed as part of an integrated and turn-key system, implemented as a highly compact 2U / 19” unit. (incl. PC, CMS software and phycial/ LAN interfaces). This also includes LED front-panel monitoring and software selectable monitoring points.

Application Areas

• Ground Segment baseband processing
• Spacecraft / Payload AIT
• Portable Simulation Systems
• Launch Site verification
• CCS Validation