OPS-SAT ORIOLE Payloads
ERMESAI+
Main payload: The payload consists of a miniaturized free-space optical communication system, specifically the ERMESAI+ space terminal from Golbriak Space, which hosts an onboard thermal imaging sensor, MirCam.
The components of the main payload are as follows:
Optical Transceiver
The Optical Transceiver is an advanced communication system designed to significantly improve data transmission efficiency in space missions. By utilizing optical signals, it offers a highly efficient means for transferring large amounts of data. Key Features and Benefits:
High-Capacity Data Relay: Leverages optical communication to transfer data at 10 to 100 times the efficiency of traditional radio frequency systems, making it ideal for space missions requiring high-bandwidth communication.
Precise Alignment: Equipped with fine pointing adjustments for accurate signal alignment, ensuring minimal signal degradation during transmission.
Digital and Analog Processing: Utilizes both digital and analog signal processing units to ensure the integrity and accuracy of the data being transmitted.
Operational Wavelength: Operates at a wavelength of 1550 nm, which is commonly used for space optical communication due to its low loss and high efficiency.
Proven Flight Heritage: The transceiver has been successfully tested in real-world conditions, confirming its reliability for space-based operations.
Thermal Imager - MirCam
MirCam is a high-resolution thermal imaging system designed to capture precise thermal signatures in the infrared spectrum, aiding in the monitoring of temperature variations on surfaces. Key Features and Benefits:
High-Resolution Thermal Imaging: Captures thermal images with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, allowing for detailed temperature monitoring.
Dual Imaging Capability: Paired with a 4K Visible Imaging Sensor, enabling both thermal and visible spectrum imaging for comprehensive data analysis.
Bolometer-Based Sensor: The bolometer sensor ensures accurate thermal measurements, providing precise data for mission analysis.
Onboard Processing: Real-time image processing ensures that thermal data is quickly prepared for transmission, streamlining the data collection process.
Space-Qualified System: Upgraded for space operations with a proven track record from previous airborne applications.
Telescope and Gimbal Pointing System
The Telescope and Gimbal Pointing System is designed for precise tracking and optical management during satellite missions. It enables accurate pointing for both imaging and communication tasks. Key Features and Benefits:
360° Yaw and 90° Pitch: Offers full-range pointing capabilities, allowing the system to track targets in all directions with precision.
Self-Balancing: The system minimizes vibrations and disturbances, ensuring stable performance without affecting imaging quality or data accuracy.
Rapid Target Acquisition: Enables fast and efficient targeting without interfering with the satellite's main attitude control system (ADCS).
Optical Signal Management: Ensures optimal performance by managing communication and imaging signals for maximum efficiency.
Advanced Data Processing: Signals are processed by an FPGA, ensuring reliable operation in harsh space conditions with a radiation-tolerant processor.
Mission Operations Platform - Spaceit MCS
Spaceit MCS is a software platform for overseeing and managing satellite operations, including satellite monitoring, command and control, telemetry, data handling, and communication. Its main characteristics are as follows:
Extended Telemetry Processing: Limit checking, alarms, and notifications, telemetry parameter mnemonics, and synthetic telemetry parameters.
Advanced Telecommanding: Session-based command queues, stored telecommand sequences, event and time-based telecommand execution, and telecommand validation based on telemetry values.
Mission Log: Records events created by the system and users in the mission log, with search and filtering capabilities.
Asset Configuration Management and States: Supports a wide variety of input formats for asset configuration, integration with Git, asset state management based on telemetry, events, and user entries, with search and filtering of asset states.
Event Based Automation: An automation system accessible directly from the Spaceit Platform's user interface, allowing for actions to be executed on specified events, with immediate notification in case of failure.
Advanced Communication: File uplink functionality and automated retransmission of corrupted/missed packages for uplink and downlink.
Online Payments: Built-in capability for online payments for mission control and ground station services.
Extended Dashboards: Templating for dashboards and activation of dashboards.
Aggregation of Ground Station Services: Spaceit MCS integrates standalone ground stations, as well as virtual and physical networks, into a unified ecosystem. It enables users to book services, manage contacts, and communicate with satellites within a single cross-network environment. As of February 2025, Spaceit software is integrated with six ground station networks.
Satellite Platform and Deployment Agnostic: The platform supports a wide range of satellite protocols (e.g., CCSDS, CSP, AX-25, etc.) and can be deployed on various cloud services or on-site, offering flexible deployment options.
Integration with Third Party Solutions: For more complex satellite operations, Spaceit MCS is interoperable with third-party solutions for flight dynamics, mission planning, and space situational awareness.
Space Cyber Range
A Cyber Range is as a controlled sandbox environment designed for the replication of real-life systems, facilitating simulations and exercises. The Space Cyber Range (SCR) will help you to:
Test and validate: Assess space software cyber readiness to reduce vulnerabilities and risks. Capabilities include penetration testing, communication testing, integration testing, performance testing, reliability and recovery testing, as well as testing using open-source and other means. Additionally, the SCR provides tools to assess new space solutions against various regulations, with a view toward future accreditation and/or certification needs.
Train and exercise: Create space-related environments and simulate potential cyber threats within secure artificial environments (cyber ranges) to train users for more effective defense capabilities. The SCR will offer team-based hybrid exercises, multi-party exercises, collision avoidance scenarios, live-fire exercises, and other cyber defense exercises. Additionally, users can incorporate their own content into the platform.
Knowledge sharing: The SCR will function as a marketplace for sharing space cybersecurity-related content, including articles, blog posts, academic publications, and manuals. Additionally, it will support the organization of various cyber defense-related events with a space infrastructure component.
S/X-Band Transceiver (HSCOM)
The S/X-Band Transceiver (HSCOM) is an essential communication subsystem for satellite missions, offering high-speed data transfer capabilities for scientific and operational payloads. Key Features and Benefits:
High-Bandwidth Data Downlink: Utilizes S-band uplink, downlink and X-band downlink to efficiently transmit large volumes of data from Earth observation or scientific instruments to ground stations.
Optimized for Large Data Volumes: Capable of handling gigabytes of data per orbit, addressing the platform's need for faster and more reliable data transmission.
Seamless Communication: Integrated into the satellite's payload, it ensures high-speed communication between the platform and mission-specific payloads, supporting mission success with reliable data transfer.
Efficient Data Flow Overcomes the limitations of standard UHF communication systems, allowing for efficient management of data generated by payload instruments.
IPC (Intelligent Payload Controller)
The IPC (Intelligent Payload Controller) is a crucial interface unit that connects the payload to the platform, facilitating seamless data and image processing. It also supports flexible, mission-specific application software development. Key Features and Benefits:
Flexible Integration: Supports a range of payload subsystems, allowing for easy integration into different missions with minimal customization.
Linux-Based Platform: Uses a Cortex-A9-based computing platform, offering a flexible runtime environment for various mission applications.
Pre-Manufactured Subsystems: Designed to minimize non-recurring engineering (NRE) costs, allowing rapid adaptation to different payload needs.
Support for FPGA Technology: Extends the platform’s interface capabilities, offering additional flexibility for future missions and payload integration.
Shared-Payload Missions: The IPC’s modular approach allows for supporting multiple missions without the need for significant re-engineering.
On-Board Whereabouts Locator (OWL)
The On-Board Whereabouts Locator (OWL) enhances satellite safety and situational awareness by tracking spacecraft location and health. Key Features and Benefits:
Autonomous Operation: With its own battery and independently deploying VHF antenna, the OWL operates autonomously for up to one day after separation from the spacecraft.
Real-Time Tracking and Monitoring: Tracks spacecraft’s position and health, transmitting crucial data like spacecraft ID, temperature, and movement.
Beacon Transmission: Sends location and health data via a VHF beacon, ensuring reliable communication and satellite health monitoring.
Simple Integration: Easy integration into CubeSat platforms with minimal mechanical setup, enhancing flexibility and mission adaptability.
Independent Power Supply: The Electrical Power Supply (EPS) ensures that OWL operates independently, providing redundancy in case of spacecraft failure.
The OWL system is not only used for determining the satellite's position but also ensures communication between satellites. With the use of the Inter-Satellite Link (ISL), satellites can directly exchange data, eliminating the need for ground stations. Through ISL, satellites can share positional data, telemetry, and GNSS measurements, enabling precise determination of position and velocity.
RadNano Dosimeter
The RadNano Dosimeter is the world’s smallest and most energy-efficient electronic dosimeter, designed to measure radiation in space and other critical environments. Key Features and Benefits:
Ultra-Compact Size: At 12.7×12.7×2.5 mm, it’s the smallest dosimeter available, perfect for micro-satellite and space missions.
Wide Measurement Range: Capable of measuring radiation doses from 1 mGy to 100 Gy, suitable for various radiation environments.
Low Power Consumption: Consumes less than 10 μW in standby mode, ensuring minimal energy usage.
Dual Sensors for Accuracy: Features dual sensors for precise radiation measurements, including gamma, X-ray, and proton radiation.
Durable Design: With IP67 protection and shock/vibration resistance, the dosimeter is built to withstand harsh conditions in space.
Space-Qualified: Proven for space applications, providing reliable radiation data for mission-critical operations.
