Rakon launches NewSpace Equipment for satellite platforms and telecommunications payloads

Rakon is today announcing a series of NewSpace Equipment for platforms and telecommunications payloads. The range includes NewSpace GNSS Receivers and S-Band Transceivers designed for smallsat platforms, data communications and transmissions. It also features Master Reference Oscillators (MRO) and Master Local Oscillators (MLO), which can be delivered as an integrated Frequency Generation Unit (FGU).

Rakon’s NewSpace Equipment is the recent evolution of its high-reliability frequency control products and timing solutions for the space industry. Additionally, the company has also introduced a number of Phase Locked Oscillators, Ultra Stable Oscillators, Low Power & Low Noise Oscillators and Clock Drivers, developed explicitly for the NewSpace market.

The NewSpace MRO (Master Reference Oscillator) is a piece of modular equipment designed for applications that require high stability and reliable 10 MHz to 1 GHz frequency signals. The equipment is suitable for Telecom satellites of Low Earth Orbit (LEO), small Geosynchronous Equatorial Orbit (GEO) and satellite constellations with a lifetime guarantee of up to 12 years. Key features include:

• High-frequency stability with an overall frequency stability guarantee of ±200 ppb for 12 years
• Low phase noise with a floor noise as low as -160 dBc/Hz for a 10 MHz unit
• A choice of power bus of 28 V or 50/75 V
• A distribution unit with blocks of 8 outputs

The NewSpace MLO (Master Local Oscillator) is a piece of modular equipment designed for applications that require highly reliable signals from 500 MHz up to 40 GHz. The equipment is suitable for high-frequency Telecom satellites of Low Earth Orbit (LEO), small Geosynchronous Equatorial Orbit (GEO) and satellite constellations with a lifetime guarantee of up to 12 years. Key features include:

• High frequency output signal from 20 to 40 GHz
• Low phase noise (-130 dBc/Hz floor noise for a 1 GHz unit)
• Integrated DC/DC converter
• TM/TC interface module
• Frequency Distribution Unit with blocks of 8 outputs

The GNSS Receiver is an easy to customise multi-constellation, multi-frequency and multi-antenna piece of equipment. It is off-the-shelf compliant with Galileo and GPS signals, and its design can be adjusted to take into account new constellations or new signals on request (Beidou, Glonass, SBAS, GBAS, DGPS, QZSS). Key features include:

• Warm/cold TTFF: <10s / < 100 s
• High position accuracy (800km): < 8 cm
• Up to 48 channels
• 1PPS signal output
• Power consumption: up to 5W
• Supply voltage: 5 V
• In-orbit reconfiguration

The S-band Transceiver is a low SWaP (Size, Weight and Power) full-duplex piece of equipment. It is designed for Tracking, Telemetry and Command (TT&C) and high data rate communications between satellites (inter-satellite links) or between satellites and ground stations. The equipment operates over commercial frequency ranges and only needs passive external antennas to be fully operational. It is highly configurable and provides flexibility around changing data rates and frequencies on-orbit. Key features include:

• Full duplex communication
• In-flight re-configurable frequency range (Tx/Rx)
• In-flight re-configurable data rate
• Triple safety watchdog
• Low power consumption (<12W on Tx)
• Max. Tx & Rx baud rate: 5 Mbps
• CAN-bus and RS-422 interfaces to onboard systems
• RF output power of up to 33 dBm (2W)
• Supply voltage range: 5-28 VDC

Rakon’s NewSpace Equipment series supports emerging NewSpace payloads and platforms with cost-effective and short lead-time solutions. In addition to advanced system solutions, Rakon also offers a broad range of highly reliable frequency control products to address specific requirements, such as precise frequency stability, ultra-low phase noise, high frequency and low SWaP.

Rakon has a long history of providing high-reliability frequency control products and timing solutions to the space industry, closely working with key customers for 30 years or more. When it comes to NewSpace, Rakon comes with the best possible credentials, having strong expertise and products in both traditional space and other applications such as 5G telecommunications networks and precision positioning.

For more information, please visit the NewSpace page on our website or contact us.