THEMES

Papers and presentations will cover different technical and technological elements related to the implementation of future flexible telecom payload/systems including:

THEME A: System level requirements for flexible telecom payloads and their applicationS

In-orbit reconfigurable satellites, software defined satellites, repurposable satellites
Ultra-High Throughput Satellites (UHTS)
Mega-constellations, small and micro communication satellites, cubesats, nanosats
Security and secure connectivity
New space products and solutions
Flexibility for interference management

THEME B: Flexible telecom payload and system architectures

Technologies enabling flexible coverage and capacity
Multi-orbit and multi-frequency enabling payload architectures and technologies
Multi-application/multi-domain payload architectures
VLEO/LEO payload architectures for low-latency/critical communications
Payload resource management and dynamic resource allocation techniques
Payload flexibility for dual-use and hosted payloads applications
Payload calibration

THEME C: Payload flexibility for satellite networks, servers, and services

Cloud computing and edge processing on satellite
Servers and data centres in space
Satellite as a Service (SaaS) payload architectures
Autonomous/self-organising satellite networks
Software Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Functions Virtualisation (NFV) enabling architecture
Optical and RF Inter Satellite Links

THEME D: Payload flexibility and Reconfigurability in 5G/B5G/6G Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs)

Repurposable payloads for Joint Communications & Sensing (JCAS)
Software Defined Payloads for 5G/6G Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs)
Regenerative payloads for Direct-To-HandHeld (DTHH) communications
LEO-based flexible payloads within constellations for Internet connectivity

THEME E: Reconfigurable antennas and beamforming

Active antenna arrays and related technologies (including deployability in space) for flexible coverage and capacity allocation
Beamforming networks and algorithms (digital, analog, hybrid, quasi-optical), techniques for highly integrated Beam Forming Networks
MIMO and Massive-MIMO for throughput increase and interference mitigation

THEME F: On-board signal processing for digitally configurable payloads

Software Defined Radio (SDR) payloads and agile digitally configurable transceiver/front-end technologies
Custom telecom processor ICs, ASICs, FPGAs, multi-core processors, RF SoC, GPUs, DSPs, Data Converters for software defined operations
Use of COTS
Signal processing techniques for payload flexibility for transparent and regenerative processing, including modems and router functions
Techniques based on Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML)

THEME G: RF and photonic repeater hardware enabling telecom payload flexibility and reconfigurability

Payload subsystem enabling flexibility
Flexible and reconfigurable frequency generation and conversion
Modular and flexible radiating front-end
Compact integrated RF front-end receivers for future telecom payloads
Payload input multi-band / multi-polarisation subsystems
Payload output multi-band / multi-polarisation subsystems
Payload microwave photonic technologies

THEME H: Flexible telecom payload/system analysis, simulation and optimisation tools

THEME I: Manufacturing and test approaches for flexible telecom satellites and payload equipment

Flexible / generic payloads from an industrial perspective
Assembly, Integration and Test (AIT) approaches for flexible and modular payloads
Smart manufacturing / high volume manufacturing
Co-bot/robot assisted manufacturing lines
High-speed Printed Circuit Board (PCB) design and test techniques
Design and manufacturing of high-power dissipation handling technology, embedded thermal management
Use of new advanced materials or manufacturing techniques
Use of digital twins to reduce development and test time