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> Eutelsat Quantum is fitted with a suite of powerful operational software, which ensures that the payload resources are used as efficiently as possible. The so

by okl 8y ago

> Eutelsat Quantum is fitted with a suite of powerful operational software, which ensures that the payload resources are used as efficiently as possible. The software tool predicts, operates and manages the on-board configuration and reconfiguration of the satellite. [0] That makes it sounds like any other telco-satellite with beamforming. Edit: More information from [1] > Guilleux said the first Quantum satellite will have eight downlink beams that can range from a minimum diameter of 600 kilometers to a maximum of one-third of the Earth’s surface (the larger the beam, the more dispersed the signal power), and eight independent uplink beams. Customers can split any of those eight beams into smaller sub-beams and follow assets such as ships and planes, he said. O’Connor said the satellite will have a total of 3.5 GHz of capacity, from which any individual downlink beam could support up to 1 GHz. The first Eutelsat Quantum will function just in Ku-band, but Guilleux said future iterations could support other frequencies, including both military and civilian Ka-band. [0] - https://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Telecommunications_Integrated_Applications/Quantum https://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Telecommunications_Integr... [1] - https://spacenews.com/eutelsat-adding-two-more-quantum-satellites-to-fleet/ https://spacenews.com/eutelsat-adding-two-more-quantum-satel...

shaklee3 8y ago
What's the maximum number of beams? 8 beams at 3.5GHz is a very low capacity satellite, especially given that they likely cannot use all 3.5GHz everywhere.
- portillo 8y ago
  Seems that those 8 beams can be further subdivided in different spot beams (not sure how many subdivisions are possible though). Also, a previous article [1] mentions that they are actually limited to a maximum of 1 GHz/beam (I understand each of the 8 beams is limited to 1 GHz). My impression is that this is more of a tech demonstration satellite (to test the new payload, resource management software, etc) rather than an actual commercial satellite, as the total throughput seems to be much lower than state-of-the-art spacecraft from other companies. [1] https://spacenews.com/eutelsat-adding-two-more-quantum-satellites-to-fleet/ https://spacenews.com/eutelsat-adding-two-more-quantum-satel...
  - shaklee3 8y ago
    I just responded to your other comment, so thanks for the SN article. I didn't realize the capacity was almost two orders of magnitude off what current and upcoming satellites are doing. I wonder who their customers are, since GEO satellites have been fighting to get the $(satellite cost)/Gbps down for years. I think this was answered by your link: "Quantum was made possible by the British government, which is funding 90 percent of ESA’s commitment of 71 million euros in the Quantum program" It's the government wasting a tremendous amount of money.

by okl 8y ago

shaklee3 8y ago

What's the maximum number of beams? 8 beams at 3.5GHz is a very low capacity satellite, especially given that they likely cannot use all 3.5GHz everywhere.

portillo 8y ago
Seems that those 8 beams can be further subdivided in different spot beams (not sure how many subdivisions are possible though). Also, a previous article [1] mentions that they are actually limited to a maximum of 1 GHz/beam (I understand each of the 8 beams is limited to 1 GHz). My impression is that this is more of a tech demonstration satellite (to test the new payload, resource management software, etc) rather than an actual commercial satellite, as the total throughput seems to be much lower than state-of-the-art spacecraft from other companies. [1] https://spacenews.com/eutelsat-adding-two-more-quantum-satellites-to-fleet/ https://spacenews.com/eutelsat-adding-two-more-quantum-satel...
- shaklee3 8y ago
  I just responded to your other comment, so thanks for the SN article. I didn't realize the capacity was almost two orders of magnitude off what current and upcoming satellites are doing. I wonder who their customers are, since GEO satellites have been fighting to get the $(satellite cost)/Gbps down for years. I think this was answered by your link: "Quantum was made possible by the British government, which is funding 90 percent of ESA’s commitment of 71 million euros in the Quantum program" It's the government wasting a tremendous amount of money.