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EGNOS Space Segment
| EGNOS | |
|---|---|
| Title | EGNOS Space Segment |
| Edited by | GMV |
| Level | Basic |
| Year of Publication | 2011 |
The EGNOS space segment is composed of three geostationary satellites centred over Europe:
- Inmarsat-3 AOR-E (Atlantic Ocean Region East) stationed at 15.5° W.
- Inmarsat-3 IOR-W (Indian Ocean Region West) stationed at 25.0°E.
- ESA-Artemis stationed at 21.5° E.
The main criteria followed in the selection of the satellites positions have been:
- Improve the measurement geometry and hence the system availability.
- Maximise the visibility angle diversity and hence minimise the risk of signal blocking.
- Provide dual geostationary coverage (minimum) within the core service area.
Inmarsat’s Third Generation satellites carry a navigation payload which is used by EGNOS.[1]
The first Inmarsat-3 (F2 AOR-E) satellite carrying an EGNOS transponder was launched in September 1996 (PRN 120) while the second one, Inmarsat-3 F5 IOR-W, was launched in February 1998 (PRN 126).[2]
Inmarsat-3s were built by Lockheed Martin Astro Space (now Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space) of the USA, responsible for the basic spacecraft, and the European Matra Marconi Space (now Astrium), which developed the communications payload, being the first satellite launched by the Proton launch vehicle.
The ESA ARTEMIS satellite is not an ordinary telecommunications satellite. It incorporates new, advanced technologies that expand and improve all areas of navigation, mobile communication and satellite-to-satellite communications. Having reached its final orbital position on 31st January 2003, ARTEMIS soon began delivering its planned data-relay, land-mobile and navigation services. In particular, its L-band land mobile payload is being used to complement and augment the European Mobile System, its data-relay payloads are being prepared to provide operational services to ENVISAT and SPOT-4, and its navigation payload is a major operational element of the European Global Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS).[3]
The Artemis navigation payload was introduced at a very late stage of the ARTEMIS satellite development and a very tight schedule was imposed on its procurement. As a consequence and to minimize all possible impacts, it was decided to design it as a completely separated structure, to be installed on the spacecraft top floor. Additionally, the payload design and the relevant pieces of equipment were approached, by maximizing the use of already available commercial products and avoiding as much as possible new technologies.
The technical design drivers for the navigation payload were the following:
- Appropriate frequency selection for compatibility with other existing missions;
- Good control of the group delay stability;
- Electrical and mechanical constraints imposed by the existing ARTEMIS hardware;
- Maximum reuse of off-the-shelf equipments for minimum schedule risk.
All units are redounded in order to meet the specified mission probability target of 0.7 of meeting full performance requirements for 10 years on-station life (inclusive of spacecraft). The total mass for the navigation payload, including the structure, the thermal control hardware and the DC harness is 25 kg. Its total power consumption is in the order of 110 W.
GEO Replenishment options
In the frame of future evolutions for the EGNOS Space Segment, the following three options were identified for the EGNOS GEO replenishment:[4]
- Next Generation of Inmarsat Satellites.
- Piggy Back Navigation Payload in a planned GEO multi-mission satellite.
- In the context of integration of EGNOS into Galileo, the implementation of GALILEO GEOs providing EGNOS links.
The replacement of the EGNOS transponder on Artemis will be done by Astra Sirius[5]. The transponder on Inmarsat 3F2 should be replaced by Astra 5B that was lauched on 22 March, 2014, through the rocket Ariane 5 lifted off from the European Space Port of Kourou. With such replacement the EGNOS augmented navigation services will be assured for another 15 years[6]. In addition this new transponder will support the next EGNOS generation (EGNOS V3) that will provide dual-frequency signals on both bands L1 and L5 and augment both GPS and Galileo[7].
On 25 November 2014, the European GNSS Agency (GSA) kicked off the contracts for two new EGNOS GEO transponder services. The services will be made available from the provision of new signals from the last EGNOS transponders generation embarked on-board the SES-5 and ASTRA-5B geostationary satellites. Both satellites are capable of transmitting dual-frequency signals compliant with GPS L1/L5 and Galileo E1/E5 signal specifications, but these new signals will be introduced into the EGNOS service provision only for L1 between 2015 and 2016[8].
Notes
References
- ^ EGNOS Programme Evolution (EGNOS Portal)
- ^ EGNOS GEO Replenishment: Planning for the Future; Javier Ventura-Traveset, European Space Agency; Sally Basker, SBAS Limited; Ken Ashton, National Air Traffic Service Ltd.
- ^ EC-DG Energy and Transport, “The European GNSS Programmes: EGNOS and Galileo”, Feb. 2011
- ^ Successful launch for the EGNOS GEO-2 satellite aboard Ariane 5 !!!, ESA, March 2014
- ^ EGNOS Capability And Service Enhanced With Addition Of New Generation Transponders, ESA, March 2014
- ^ GSA Kicks Off EGNOS GEO Transponder Service Contracts, GSA, November 27, 2014