With a live weight of around 1.7 tons, OHB brought us a real chunk a few weeks ago. This colossus is nothing less than the repeater module of the German communications satellite Heinrich Hertz, which has found its new, temporary home unscathed at us in Backnang.
While OHB is accountable for the entire satellite, we, as TESAT, are responsible for the satellite repeaters and will now start integrating a set of new technologies like
- a FlexINET with an innovative switch matrix and adjustable filters using liquid crystal technology,
- a FlexOnet, where bandwidths and centre frequencies can be adjusted in orbit,
- power amplifiers that are opening new classes of power levels,
- re-programmable and re-configurable on-board processors (OBPs), including switching and routing functionalities,
and all the other necessary equipment and piece parts to complete the repeaters like
© DLR Space Administration
- low noise amplifiers (LNAs) and receivers,
- up- and down-converters,
- input- and output filters,
- power amplifiers,
- switches as well as
- waveguides and coaxial cables.
Summing up to more than 1,000 parts to be mounted and connected.
Bearing great responsibility, our experts now will work nearly night and day to not just fulfil the demanding schedule, but to deliver highest quality for the first German communications satellite since DFS-Kopernikus.
The Heinrich-Hertz-satellite is named after the eponymous physicist who first relayed electromagnetic waves in free space from a transmitter to a receiver in 1886. The goal of the Heinrich-Hertz-mission is – in cooperation with universities, scientific institutes and industry partners – to investigate new types of communication technologies and to promote and expand the system capability in the field of satellites and telecommunication payloads in Germany.
More information on the satellite and the entire mission can be found on the program site of the German Aerospace Center.
The project “Heinrich Hertz” is carried out by the space management of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and with the participation of the Federal Ministry of Defense.
