ESA’s Cebreros ground station in Spain, which is part of Estrack. Photo: ESA

[Via Satellite 03-17-2016] The European Space Agency (ESA) has awarded Indra a contract to supply equipment for the agency’s Estrack network, used to communicate with and monitor satellites and space missions. The company will develop the fourth version of the intermediate frequency modem IMBU Mk4, or Integrated Modem and Baseband Unit, which plays a key role in checking and verifying communications across the Estrack network. Indra will deliver the first of the 10 ordered units in 2017.

ESA operates the Estrack tracking station network, which has locations around the world. The network provides ESA’s European Space Operations Center (ESOC) in Darmstadt, Germany, with communication links to its satellites and missions.

The IMBU Mk4 is part of the Portable Satellite Simulator (PSS), which simulates communications and runs key validation and verification checks on communications between Estrack Tracking, Telemetry and Command (TT&C) stations and satellites.

The IMBU Mk4 provides tele-command receipt and telemetry transmission modem functions, simulating communications issued by satellites. The Ground Station Test and Validation Infrastructure (GSTVI) SW module manages the device.

Indra’s tele-command transmission and telemetry receipt links will comply with the European Cooperation for Space Standardization (ECSS) and Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) standards for TT&C.