HITEC Luxembourg S.A., the Luxembourg based engineering and technology company, announced today that it has been selected for provisioning four antenna systems as part of the satellite ground stations to monitor and control the EDRS satellite network. The project is led by SES TechCom, a subcontractor to DLR (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt), which recently signed a contract with Astrium to furnish major parts of the ground segment. The contract with HITEC Luxembourg includes the design, manufacturing and on-site installation of the antennas at key sites in Germany, UK and Belgium.
"The ground infrastructure is an essential part of European Data Relay Satellite System (EDRS). The high quality standard in product and service delivery of SES TechCom ensures that all requirements for such an innovative ground segment are met. Relying on the experience gained in several successful accomplished European projects with our partner HITEC Luxembourg, we selected the company to supply the four antenna systems," says Gerhard Bethscheider, Managing Director SES TechCom.
EDRS is the European network of geostationary satellites which acts as gateway between Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites and ground stations. The system will allow these LEO satellites to deliver data continuously in broadband quality, even with no line-of-sight to their respective ground station. EDRS will offer new opportunities in data acquisition and delivery following disasters and foster new applications in the field of environmental protection, security and weather forecasting.
The innovative 6.8 meter diameter, limited motion antennas will play an integral role in the system architecture of the EDRS. The EDRS ground stations will consist of two "˜feeder link´ ground stations (FLGS) and two data ground stations, all operating in Ka-Band. The first satellite ground stations are scheduled to be delivered by year end 2013, with the last ones being installed by mid 2014.
"Having accurate information in-time is crucial nowadays "´ especially when it comes to disaster response and security applications. The EDRS system will significantly increase the timeliness with which we are able to receive data for communication or monitoring services. Reliability and performance of ground stations is a must in these application fields. Our innovative Luxembourg engineered antenna systems fulfil these requirements to support faster and more reliable data transmission, and our company is proud to be awarded this procurement contract in the built up phase of a European space data highway," states Yves Elsen, Managing Partner and CEO of HITEC Luxembourg.
The project in the frame of the EDRS system implementation follows the recent delivery of a 13 meter full-motion antenna operating in Ka-band to the DLR. The repeated selection of HITEC Luxembourg by SES TechCom for the delivery of the four antenna systems constitutes a major recognition of the company´s achievement potential and trust in the technical expertise.
"The EDRS contract award to SES TechCom underlined the confidence major actors of the European space industry have in the technical capabilities built-up in Luxembourg since its adhesion to ESA. The procurement contract awarded by SES TechCom to HITEC Luxembourg now brings together Luxembourg know-how to serve this important European satellite program," outlines François Biltgen, member of the Luxembourg government and Minister for Higher Education and Research.
About HITEC Luxembourg S.A. www.hitec.lu
HITEC Luxembourg S.A., a 100%-owned Luxembourg company, has developed its business activities in the field of innovative and quality products and services. The company is ISO 9001 certified for engineering, analysis, consulting, manufacturing, maintenance and sales of systems in mechanics, electronics, physical measuring techniques as well as information and communication technologies. The Luxembourg ESR label for corporate social responsibility (CSR) certifies the commitment by HITEC Luxembourg to monitor and promote an approach to CSR with respect to economic, social and environmental dimensions of its stakeholders. The company has been awarded with the SuperDrecksKëscht fir Betriber label for its contribution to an environmental friendly waste management. The label is certified in accordance with the ISO 14024:2000 standard.
HITEC Luxembourg offers high technology solutions covering different business areas: satellite ground segment technology; customer specific and standard equipment for testing and measuring of physical properties; engineering; consulting; software & ICT development and project management. HITEC Luxembourg serves private and public sector customers at a national and international level. Its business objectives, as a specialized high technology provider are to achieve a strong sustainable market position; to expand its activities at an international level as well as to promote the Luxembourg site through the realization of innovative high quality value-added products and services.
(http://www.hitec.lu - http://www.hitec-luxembourg.com "´ www.disp-solution.com)
About SES www.ses.com
SES is a world-leading satellite operator with a fleet of 50 geostationary satellites. The company provides satellite communications services to broadcasters, content and internet service providers, mobile and fixed network operators and business and governmental organisations worldwide.
SES stands for long-lasting business relationships, high-quality service and excellence in the broadcasting industry. The culturally diverse regional teams of SES are located around the globe and work closely with customers to meet their specific satellite bandwidth and service requirements.
SES (Paris:SESG) (LuxX:SESG) holds participations in Ciel in Canada and QuetzSat in Mexico, as well as a strategic participation in satellite infrastructure start-up O3b Networks.
About DLR www.dlr.de
German Aerospace Center (DLR) is Germany´s national research centre for aeronautics and space. Its extensive research and development work in aeronautics, space, transportation and energy is integrated into national and international cooperative ventures. As Germany´s Space Agency, the German federal government has given DLR responsibility for the forward planning and implementation of the German space programme as well as international representation of Germany´s interests.
Aeronautics and space make substantial contributions to the way we live today. Aviation guarantees our global mobility and satellites enable worldwide communication. Remote sensing generates data about our environment, while the exploration of space leads to new knowledge about the origin and development of the solar system, its planets, and, hence, about the creation of life.
Moreover, key industries, including materials technology, medicine and software engineering, all profit from innovations made by DLR in the fields of aeronautics and space.
DLR´s mission thus comprises:
- Exploration of the Earth and the solar system
- Research aimed at protecting the environment
- Development of environmentally-friendly technologies to promote mobility, communication and security.
DLR´s research portfolio ranges from fundamental research to innovative development of the applications and products of tomorrow. In this way, DLR contributes the scientific and technical know-how that has gained, thus enhancing Germany´s industrial and technological reputation. DLR operates large-scale research facilities for the center´s own projects and as a service provider for clients and partners. It also promotes the next generation of scientists, provides advisory services to the German government and is a driving force in the regions centred on its various locations.
Approximately 7000 people work for DLR; the center has 32 institutes and facilities at 16 locations in Germany: Augsburg, Berlin, Bonn, Braunschweig, Bremen, Cologne (headquarters), Goettingen, Hamburg, Jülich, Lampoldshausen, Neustrelitz, Oberpfaffenhofen, Stade, Stuttgart, Trauen and Weilheim. DLR also has offices in Brussels, Paris and Washington, D.C.
The DLR budget for in-house research and development work and other internal operations amounts to approximately €770 million, of which approximately half comes from revenues earned by DLR. DLR also administers the space budget of the German government, which totals some €1047 million (2009).
About EDRS http://www.esa.int/
The European Data Relay Satellite (EDRS) system, which is being developed under ARTES 7, will be an independent, European satellite system designed to reduce time delays in the transmission of large quantities of data.
To add to Europe´s independence, the EDRS system will provide a telecommunications network that is fast, reliable and seamless. It will make on-demand data available at the right place at the right time, and will ultimately save lives in search and rescue operations.
Data relay satellites are satellites placed in geostationary orbit to relay information to and from non-geostationary satellites, spacecraft, other vehicles and fixed Earth stations, which otherwise are not able to permanently communicate.
(http://www.esa.int/esaTE/SEM5GGKTYRF_index_0.html)
