Feature: Components
Strategic sourcing for LEO - Ensuring quality and affordability in satellite components
L
Dr. Peter Krier, chief scientific officer at RF-to-mm-Wave components and subsystems, Filtronic.
42 September 2024
www.electronicsworld.co.uk
ow Earth Orbit (LEO) is rapidly becoming the most dynamic segment of the space industry, driven by the surge in satellite constellations designed
for applications ranging from global telecommunications to advanced Earth observation. Krier shares insights on the unique challenges of the LEO landscape and securing the right suppliers and partners.
The demand for reliable, cost-
effective LEO components and subsystems has never been higher. Euroconsult reported a fourfold increase in satellite numbers over the last decade and predicts a continuing increase year on year. For companies entering this burgeoning market, understanding the nuances of sourcing commercial off- the-shelf (COTS) components is crucial to ensuring mission success without sacrificing affordability.
In the geostationary orbit (GEO)
market, the need to source new suppliers and partners is rarely an issue. Heritage is extremely important in GEO projects, where it’s less about finding the most innovative and groundbreaking products, and more about ensuring that components and systems used are tried and tested in almost identical applications. However, LEO is a much more disruptive market, often referred to as ‘New Space’ and can involve hundreds or even thousands of satellites which requires a radically different approach. With this in mind, companies are
turning to commercial off-the-shelf components (COTS), to radically reduce cost whilst also improving availability and opening up newer, more capable parts. But what should companies moving into the LEO market be aware of when sourcing COTS for space?
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54
