Using the Q/V-Band Aldo Paraboni Payload to Validate Future Satellite Systems: Test Campaign and Preliminary Results of the QV-LIFT Project

IPID5196777submitted. The subsystems developed in the course of the project will be tested in a real environment using the Q/V-band Aldo Paraboni (AP) payload on Alphasat (25 and deg; east) and its associated ground segment, made available by the Italian Space Agency (ASI). This project has been granted by the European Commission and involves a consortium of companies and universities coordinated by ASI. The consortium consists of: Martel GmbH, Erzia Technologies SL, Eutelsat SA, MBI Srl, Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Telecomunicazioni (CNIT), OMMIC SAS, Heriot-Watt University and SkyTech Italia Srl. In preparation of the on-field test campaign using the Aldo Paraboni payload (to be started in July, 2018), two earth stations have been equipped with the QV-LIFT gateways component, whereas a third station hosts the fixed user terminal. This paper describes the preparatory activities carried out to assess the performance of the hardware and software components specifically designed for the Q/V-band satellite communications system. The QV-LIFT project also includes the development of a Q/V-band Airborne Terminal providing a two-way on-the-move communication link for aircrafts. However, this activity is not presented in this paper.