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The WAVE Mission Payload

A. Jebril1, L. Scucchia1, M. Lucente1, M. Ruggieri1, P. Cambriani1, T. Rossi1, A. Bosisio2, A. Pisano3, A. Salomé3, L. Ronzitti4, M. Musso5, A. Iera6, S. Pulitanó6, S. Morosi7, V. Dainelli8, V. Speziale9

1 University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Dept. of Electronic Engineering, Via del Politecnico 1, 00133 Rome-Italy

Tel. +39 06 7259 7258; Fax. +39 06 7259 7455, e-mail: ruggieri@uniroma2.it, ahmed.jebril@uniroma2.it 2 Politecnico di Milano, Department of Electronics and Informations, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan-Italy

tel. +39 02 2399 9689/3586, fax +39 02 2399 3413, e-mail: bosisio@elet.polimi.it 3 Alenia Spazio, Via Saccomuro 24, 00131 Roma-Italy, Tel.: 06 41512535 , Fax:+39 06 4190675

4 Telespazio SPI-ST , Via Tiburtina 965, 00156 Rome-Italy, Tel.+39 06 40793886, e-mail: lorenzo_Ronzitti@telespazio.it 5 University of Genoa, Dept. of Biophysical and Electronic Engineering (DIBE), Via Opera Pia 11/A, I-16145, Genoa-Italy

Tel: +39 010 3532774, Fax: +39 010 3532134, e-mail: musso@dibe.unige.it, Web site: http://ginevra.dibe.unige.it/ISIP/ 6 University Mediterranea of Reggio Calabria, Dept. DIMET,Via Graziella, Loc. Feo di Vito 89100 Reggio Calabria-Italy

Tel.: +39 0965 875420/875286, Fax: +39 0965 875220, e-mail: iera@ing.unirc.it, pulitano@ing.unirc.it 7 Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario delle Telecomunicazioni CNIT, Unità di Ricerca di Firenze,

Via di S. Marta, 3, 50139 Firenze-Italy, Tel.: +39 0554796485 e-mail: morosi@lenst.det.unifi.it 8 Oerlikon Contraves spa, Via Affile 102, 00131Roma, Tel. +39 06 43612578, Fax: +39 06 43612877 e-mail: v.dainelli@oci.it

9 Space Engineering spa, Via del Berio 91, 00155 Rome-Italy, Tel. +39 06 22595208, Fax: +39 06 2280739, e-mail: speziale@space.it

Abstract—In this paper 1,2, an overview of the WAVE mission payload architecture is presented. WAVE (W-band Analysis and VErification) is the new project funded by the Italian Space Agency (ASI). The aim is to design and develop a W-band geostationary (GEO) payload to be deployed for scientific experimental studies of the W-band channel and possible utilization in satellite data communications. The large bandwidth availability in the W-band range allows conceiving and proposing advanced services for future scenarios in order to meet high-quality requirements for a large number of users. The major parameters of the payload architecture are discussed in addition to the different requirements and specifications of the on-board transmission and reception components and their dependence on the host platform.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION................................................................ 1 2. THE WAVE PAYLOAD ARCHITECTURE......................... 2 3. THE ON-BOARD............................................................... 4 4. PAYLOAD REQUIREMENTS.............................................. 6 5. CONCLUSIONS ............ ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. 6. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ..................................................... 7 REFERENCES ....................................................................... 7 BIOGRAPHY ......................................................................... 8

1. INTRODUCTION

The scope of WAVE mission is to deploy an experimental scientific payload placed onboard a host platform dedicated to other missions into a GEO orbit to perform the necessary 1 0-7803-8870-4/05/$20.00© 2005 IEEE. 2 IEEEAC paper #1229, Version 6, Updated December 9, 2004

scientific studies related to the propagation at W-band and various experiments concerning the use of the channel for data relay services (with various capacities). The proposed frequency range is 71-76 GHz for the downlink and 81-86 GHz for the uplink.

As far as the coverage is concerned, the payload will generate three different beams as shown in Figure 1. Beam A, a beacon in W-band, will have a diameter of about 2000 km covering a wide area of west and central Europe. This is chosen essentially to provide a wide coverage on the central parts of Europe (European Coverage), in order to perform the propagation experiment measurements upon the reception of the on-board generated beacon signal at different locations or sites within this coverage area. Beam B will have a diameter of about 700 km covering most of the Italian peninsula (Semi-National coverage). The third beam, C, will have a diameter of about 200 km and will be concentrated around the Spino D’Adda fixed station in order to carry out the characterization experiments of the transmission channel and the various experiments for data relay services [1].

The WAVE payload is composed of two types of transponders: a transparent and a regenerative one. The transparent transponder will work on a variety of selectable channel bands used for transmission on beams B and C to carry out the channel experiments for variable-capacity data relay services and different signal patterns. The regenerative transponder will provide the propagation experiments and characterization of the channel Bit Error Rate (BER) for both beams B and C. This is done through an on-board processing of the uplink-transmitted signals. The measurements are then sent back to earth using a downlink-transmitted beacon.

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Figure 1. WAVE Coverage

2.THE WAVE PAYLOAD ARCHITECTURE

The definition of the payload architecture consists of the partitioning of the functions identified in the mission definition phase in physical units whose detailed definition -in terms of performances and interfaces- will take place in the next phase of the definition plan.

The guiding factors in the definition of the WAVE payload architecture are:

• the respect of requirements according to the given objects

• the feasibility of the equipment • the minimization of costs

The physical architecture of the payload is oriented in concentrating the new developments on both the front end and the antenna section.

Therefore, the Tx part as well as the Rx part will be integrated together in order to reduce the non-recurring relative costs, wherever thermal dissipation and electromagnetic isolation are required (for example, in

solutions of low power at RF frequencies). That allows the assumption of an integrated front-end/ antenna system, which aims at reducing the connection ohmic losses, which degrade significantly the system figure of merit (effective isotropic radiated power EIRP, and gain per noise ratio G/T) at such elevated frequency. In any case, the receiving section benefits of such a solution.

Contextually, the processing section (channel filtering and amplification) is realized at IF frequencies compatible with state of the art technologies that should be consolidated and have low non-recurrent costs.

The BER measuring section receives the signals in parallel to the transparent section. When it recognizes and couples a known pattern, it measures BER of the uncoded data at the maximum channel speed -hence, at high BER values- in order to reduce the time of measurement and/or the data transmission speed.

The erroneous bits will be summarized every second and then transmitted to earth by means of the telemetry beacon, or via telemetry and remote control standard links.

Such information can also be sent together with a series of measures that the demodulator can provide (Power, S/N,

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frequency and/or phase error) depending on the demodulator complexity and/or accuracy of the measures. The control of the payload is carried out through the host platform.

The antenna system has been preliminarily identified based on the service requirements that need three partially overlapped coverages, according the parameters shown below in Table 1. The achieved gain values are found to match the payload requirements.

The preliminary analysis shows that the gain levels are indubitably achievable by using three separate antennas: SPOT with an aperture dimension of approximately 880 mm, WIDE with an antenna of 410 mm, and EUROPEAN with an antenna of 220 mm.

The configuration of the SPOT antenna must be such as to reduce unnecessary paths in wave-guide to a minimum. Therefore, the choice of a double-reflector antenna appears to be suitable. The antenna to be used for the SPOT will be mainly influenced by gain losses due to pointing errors. Considering that such antenna is dedicated to the connection only on Spino D’Adda, the gain reduction with respect to peak values passes from -2dB (value required to obtain the specification gains) to -1dB if the Beam Pointing Error is reduced from 0.12° to 0.05°. If instead, the connection has to be realized inside the 200 km spot, the losses are -4 dB, reducing the antenna gain of about 2 dB less than the desired value, thus reducing the link quality and availability. The antennas used for WIDE and EUROPEAN coverage have enough margin.

At present, the possibility to integrate two antennas in only one unit introduces some difficulties due to the difference between the coverages. Such problems will be studied in the next phase of the WAVE project, taking also into consideration the individual management strategies. An

interesting alternative development is to realize the EUROPEAN coverage antenna using dielectric lenses.

For all three beams, the series of radio frequencies is achieved using smooth horns (Potter Horn) with an aperture of approximately 3λ and ortho mode transducer (OMT) or diplexer in order to separate the two linear polarizations. This is achieved by using wave-guide technology.

The basic architecture of the WAVE payload is shown in Figure 2 (the redundancies are introduced for illustrative purpose). The antenna system is equipped with a discrimination system between the transmitting and receiving sections as shown in. This can be achieved using either polarization/frequency diversity or through diplexers with notch-cut on the transmission frequency. It is also important to use a positioning mechanism that optimizes the performances maintaining the link within the maximum-gain area.

The reception front-end should be implemented in an integrated antenna system, considering the requirements of high G/T for both SPOT and semi-national coverages and high wave-guide losses in W-band.

The transmission front-end is based on a high-power amplification system instead of solid-state devices, given the high transmission power requirements. However, it should not be installed near the antenna, due to the negative effects that would have on the noise-figure of the reception front-end (the feedback noise, dissipation and therefore high temperature on the Rx).

Furthermore, noise coupling and required isolation between the transmission and reception sections are to be considered in the next phases of the WAVE project.

Table 1. Requirements of the antennas

Coverage Spot Wide (Seminational) European Coomments

Beam Center 9.29°E, 45.23° N (Spino d'Adda) 10.50°E, 43.46°N 10.50°E, 48.88° N Coverage centers to be

confirmed

Beam Width 200 km 700 km 2000 km

Beam Width from Satellite 0.3 ° x 0.3° 0.68° x 1.05° 1.64° x 3.00°

Area 0.07° (0.043°) 0.56° 3.86° For both Spot coverages a circular beam is considered

Receiving Band 81-86 GHz 81-86 GHz N. A.

Transmitting Band 71-76 GHz 71-76 GHz 71-76 GHz

Rx Gain > 52.9 dBi > 43.1 dBi N. A.

Tx Gain > 51.9 dBi > 42.1 dBi > 33 dBi (35 goal)

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To Demod

COPERTURASPOT

COPERTURALARGA

COPERTURA From IF SectionEUROPEA

DPLX

LNA

LNA

Ch.Amplifier

Ch.Amplifier TWTA

TWTA

DPLX

LNA

LNA

Ch.Amplifier

Ch.Amplifier TWTA

TWTA

BEACONGENERATOR

TWTA

TWTA

DEMOD(BER

ESTIMATION)

Figure 2. Basic Architecture of the WAVE Payload

An investigation of the actual availability of amplifiers providing high power in W-band that can be used in wide-band applications, identified gyrotronic Traveling Wave Tube (TWT) technologies that could be considered suitable for WAVE[2][3]. Such solutions even if they exist as prototypes give a positive answer to the feasibility requirements of the system in the future.

Prototypes working at 90 GHz were actually developed in 2000, with a power of 50 W and efficiency up to about 30% in a technological study of the American Department of Defense (DOD) and were presented to the public in 2002.

The IF section can be designed either in the transparent version (where a suitable channel filter is associated to linear amplification), or in the regenerative version (where the signal is demodulated, processed extracting the information that will be elaborated and the resulting information will be re-modulated and re-transmitted to earth).

3. THE ON-BOARD PROCESSING

The analysis of the structures introduced earlier shows −with reference to the available hardware resources and microelectronics technologies− that it is possible to consider a discreet number of different approaches for the realization of an on-board processor that can be suitable for WAVE. The analysis was carried out with two different results: First, the available techniques for the single elements composing the series of on-board processors have been identified. Second, their complexity and re-configurability level were estimated.

Actually, previous experience related to the development of platforms for scientific satellites implied the necessity to anticipate a certain level of flexibility in defining the required characteristics in which the details of the mission become defined more precisely during the project development (for example, the detailed allocation of the band, permitted BER, transmission and reception power, the permitted redundancy, etc…). Since the characteristics of the on-board processing depend on such details in order to reduce the uncertainties in time schedule, it is necessary to follow a flexible approach that can be adapted according to the variation in requirements. This will offer a number of solutions that can be integrated together on one hardware platform although not defining the series of processing in a unique way [4][5][6]. Obviously, the choice of a specific solution depends on the performance to be obtained using the system.

The analysis carried out earlier shows that with respect to the currently available specifications, the demodulators for the uplink BER characterization, with data rates of 10Mbps are compatible with the available technologies. This means that the demodulator design will depend on system constraints rather than on technological constraints. Therefore, it will be possible to consider heterogeneous elements, such as dissipated power, eventual re-configurability during the mission (for example to adapt the type of experiment according to the gradually obtained results), availability of error free channels (with performances near the Shannon limits for various bit-rates). One first architectural assumption can be identified fundamentally concerning the adaptability criteria and reduction of hardware complexity. Concerning the input stage, and referring to the various techniques and earlier illustrated architectures, it is possible to select a single conversion demodulation scheme, as shown in Figure 3.

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Figure 3. Front-end with single conversion

Such technique permits to obtain an extremely adaptable stage to the various allocations of input signal frequency and permits to reduce the complexity of the analog circuitry of the front-end circuit. The only additional constraint is the requirement of an analog to digital converter (ADC) with a wide analog bandwidth and a sampling frequency of some tens of MHz. (A/D converters specialized in analog devices that have a frequency of 40 MHz, can be good for this use.) Moreover, the local oscillator (LO) could be realized through generated pulses of fixed frequency made of quartz (that provides frequency offset) and a variable frequency generated by a Direct Digital Frequency Synthesizer (DDFS) that offers high frequency resolution and high commutation speed between various frequencies. In this case, the feedback loop of the local oscillator coupling, which is a loop that substantially corresponds to a Phased Locked Loop (PLL), could be realized in digital form with great advantages in stability, efficiency and operation reliability.

Given the presumably used frequencies, it is possible to use space qualified ADC like those produced by analog devices that provide frequencies until 40 MHz. Signal elaboration will be carried out right after the programmable digital down conversion of the received signal, which performs the selection and base band conversion of the interested channel using digital oscillation (Numerically Controlled Oscillators or NCO).

Many solutions could be assumed such as the space qualified Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or Digital Signal Processing (DSP) that offer a wide flexibility and re-configurability via software, of the functions that should be carried out, such as the implementation of data decoding, the de-multiplexing, measuring BER, and much more. An example of FPGA radhard is the QPro Virtex 2.5V of the Xilinx available up to 1 million gates and supports a frequency up to 200 MHz, built in complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology having 0.22 µm and five layers. However, the eventual use of space-qualified Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) should be limited to the processing elements having critical speed and/or dissipated power values, not realizable with the reprogrammable devices previously described. The general block diagram shown below describes in a more detailed manner the transmitter mentioned above in the previous sections. Figure 4 illustrates the transmitter scheme with analog and digital sections. Obviously, for this scheme, the baseband processing characteristics are similar to those discussed in the demodulation section. Specific considerations apply to the selection of various modulation/demodulation architectures introduced by the system specifications. For example, from the initial WAVE-mission system specifications, it is possible to assume modulation techniques not having the highest spectral efficiency but rather a robustness that can allow obtaining a good channel characterization. Therefore, it is possible to apply modulation techniques with a constant

Figure 4. General Scheme of the transmitter including both analog and digital sections

ModulatedSignal

DACDigitalSection

Band Pass Filter

mixer

Offset Carrier

PLL

Input Data

Band Pass Filter

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carrier envelope. In this case, the QPSK modulation scheme appears to be the best choice. In fact, such a scheme, although of reduced spectral efficiency, has an extremely simple structure that relatively allows a major transparency and simplicity in the analysis related to the different phenomena effects present in the transmission channel.

Concerning the coding and decoding process of the transmitted data, all the above-described techniques can be applied to the WAVE experiment. Obviously since the scope of the experiment is to verify the channel characteristics, the transmitted data should be uncoded. However, coding schemes could be introduced with two various goals:

• To supply a reference data traffic, or more precisely “error-free”;

• To verify the ability of the different single coding schemes to work with the error types produced by the channel.

In the first case, it is possible to apply an extremely efficient coding, such as the Turbo Coding, which allows the system performances to approach those expected from the limit of Shannon, even if their interactive nature introduces latency (delay) in data availability at the receiving side. Thus, it is necessary to take it into consideration in the definition of the system. (Such latency is not always acceptable, for example in systems in which an acknowledgement is expected after verifying that certain events have taken place.) For the verification of the particular code properties on the WAVE channel, it would be suitable to try different coding schemes related to the various error typologies that are noticed. In this case, such coding processes must be applied directly on the test channel and not on the service channel. In addition to the scheme based on turbo coding, various schemes could be introduced, such as those based on production coding or on more traditional coding (such as Reed-Solomon code and convolutional code).

In conclusion, the approach defined in this paper, should allow a large flexibility in adapting the series of on-board processing to the requirements that can arise from the WAVE mission definition. The idea is to identify a hardware platform where it is possible to program various types of processing architectures. Such a platform could represent, together with the processing developed architectures, a first step towards the application of the “radio software” technology on satellite systems, as also recently prospected in a number of studies financed by the European Space Agency (ESA).

4. PAYLOAD REQUIREMENTS

The Front End Parameters

The minimal characteristics of the front end, including the pointing errors of the antennas, are introduced in Table 2.

Table 2. Parameters RF of the Front End

Parameter Spot Area

Wide Area

European Area

G / T (dB / K) 23.5 13.5 - IPFD (dBW/m2) -83/-100 -89/-108 -

EIRP (dBW) 64.7 54.7 45

Gain

The payload will operate and will be remotely controlled to perform both:

• automatic gain control. • fixed gain.

Characterization of the up link BER

The characterization of the uplink will be operated in the following modalities:

• capture of the uplink signals through a coupler. • demodulation of the uplink signal at variable date rates

(2-10 Mbps) equipped with an errors corrector of type. • verification of the BER against on-board distorted data

sequences. • sending the resulting measurement (discovered errors

per second) out towards the beacon generator to be sent to earth on a carrier.

Changeover between Operation Modes

The uplink characterization during the propagation experiment and the experimentation of the channel with functionality of variable-capacity date relay are mutually exclusive, in which the Bit Error Rate (BER) measures can only happen at given known sequences. The changeover between the "experimentation" and "propagation" modes may happen according one of the following conditions:

• for predefined intervals of time • to be activated from the level of the beacon of

Propagation.

The changeover between the two payload operation modes will take place under the control of the Mission Control Center that will inform the "Satellite Control Centre" of eventual requests for access from the BER measurements onboard subsystem.

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If the station that operates in the experimentation mode is the same that will operate in the propagation mode (case of the Spino D’Adda Station), the changeover will take place at this point without further coordination with the payload. The onboard BER measuring subsystem will be synchronized automatically as soon as it recognizes the known data sequences and can therefore carry out BER measurements.

The measurements of erroneous received data is summarized within a 1-second period and maintained onboard. At the end of the propagation event, they will be inserted on a carrier that will modulate the beacon in W-band in standard mode and then transmitted to earth. Alternatively, they can reach the Spino D’Adda station through the telemetry system of the host platform and the terrestrial connection.

In the case of activating the BER measurement mode using the Propagation beacon level, it is not foreseen to inform the receiving station of the changeover of the operation mode where this latter will interrupt the data transmission and begin transmission at fixed date rates (10 Mbps).

Additional Payload Requirements

In order to make it possible for the WAVE payload to be inserted onboard a satellite platform dedicated to other missions, it is necessary to reduce to a minimum its size, reducing also mass and power supply requirements. If possible, the WAVE payload should be equipped with antenna systems that can be used onboard host platforms with a pointing accuracy ≤ ± 0.1 on each axis. The WAVE payload general requirements are summarized as shown below:

• the preferred orbital position will be comprised between 0° and 20°

• the pointing accuracy of the considered host platform should be no less than ±0.1 on all three axes

• the payload will have the storage capability for at least 2 years

• the payload should have an operating life of at least 5 years after the launch.

The payload should also realize the following connections, singularly or both at the same time:

• from SPOT area to WIDE area • from WIDE area to SPOT area.

The band of the links should be set upon remote control between:

• WIDE (no filtering) • 250 MHz (using a channel filter)

• 50 MHz (using a channel filter) • 20 MHz (using a channel filter) • 10 MHz (using a channel filter).

The power and electrical requirements envisage a maximum DC payload power of 300 W.

Moreover, in order to be inserted into a host platform, the payload should have small size and a maximum weight of about 30 kg.

5. CONCLUSIONS

In this paper, an overall description of the WAVE payload was provided. The different system requirements were also introduced, in addition to the different assumed front-end specifications and modulation techniques that can be applied according to the available technologies that would be compatible to future design and development.

6. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The work was performed in the frame of the ASI contract number (I/032/2003/0). That is gratefully acknowledged.

The authors also would like to thank Carlo Fragale for his contribution.

REFERENCES

[1] M.Ruggeri, S. De Fina, A. V. Bosisio, “Exploitation of the W-band for High Capacity Satellite Communication”, IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic System Vol. 39, No.1, Jan 2003.

[2] G.I. Haddad, R.J.Trew, “Microwave solid-state active devices”, IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, Vol. 50, Iss. 3, March 2002, pp. 760-779.

[3] W.Gerum, “94-GHz TWT for military Radar Applications”, IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices, vol. 48 No 1, January 2001, pp.72-73.

[4] W. Namgoong, T.H. Meng, “Direct-Conversion RF Receiver Design”, IEEE Transactions on Communications, Vol. 49, No. 2, March 2001.

[5] C.C. Wang, T.M. Nguyen, G.W. Goo, “Satellite Payload Architectures for Wideband Communications Systems”, The Aerospace Corporation, IEEE 1999.

[6] J.A. Wepman, “Analog-to-Digital Converters and Their Applications in Radio Receivers”, IEEE Communications Magazine, May 1995.

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BIOGRAPHY

Ada V. Bosisio received her M.Sc. degree in Electronic Engineering in March 1991 and Ph.D. in Applied Electromagnetism in 1995, both from the Politecnico di Milano. Her research activities concern the interaction mechanisms between signal and complex media. From 1995 to 1997, she joined as research associate the

Cetp/CNRS Laboratory (Vélizy, France), where she has been active in forest attenuation and scattering at 2 and 6 GHz. From 1997 to 1998, she joined CNET/France Telecom (Issy Les Mx., France) as ingenieur de recherche, working on radio wave effects induced by GSM on the environment and on individuals. From 1999 to 2001, she was with the Propagation Group at the Politecnico (Milano, Italy) as research associate working on satellite links at low elevation angle in Ka and W band and on propagation of TV Broadcast and digital radio links over mountains through ray techniques. Since 2001, she is researcher with the Italian National Research Council (IEIIT Institute, in Milano) working in remote sensing applications related to atmospheric science and indoor propagation.

Ahmed Jebril: Received his B.Sc. degree in Communications engineering in 1994 from Alfateh University, Tripoli-Libya, and M.Sc. degree in “Information Technology” in 2003 from the University of Rome “Tor Vergata”. During 1995-1999, he joined the High Center for Industrial Technology-Tripoli, where he worked as a laboratory instructor and project coordinator working

on a number of projects concerning the design and development of Printed Circuit Boards (PCB) in collaboration with General Electronics Company-Libya (1995-1997), then as the chief of the admission and examination department (1997-1999). Since 1999, he a senior Telecom engineer at Agip Oil Company Ltd.-Libyan Branch. Currently, he is pursuing his PhD. Studies at the University of Rome-Tor Vergata where he is a team member of the WAVE project carried out for ASI. His main field of research is in Satellite Communications and Navigation Systems, and Internetworking.

Marco Lucente: Marco Lucente received his University Degree “Laurea” in 2002 in Physics, specialization of Astrophysics and Space Physics, from the University of Rome “La Sapienza”. His thesis concerned the measure of the cosmic microwave background polarization with the polarimeter of the experiment BOOMERanG (Balloon Observation of

Millimetric Extragalactic Radiation and Geophysics). He

attended the conference “2K1BC Workshop: Experimental Cosmology at Millimeter Wavelengths” at Breuil-Cervinia (Aosta - Italy) in 2001. He is currently pursuing his M.Sc. studies in “Advanced Communication and Navigation Satellite Systems” at the University of Rome “Tor Vergata”. Moreover, he is involved, as a member of the project office, in WAVE (W-band Analysis and VErification), a feasibility study for a telecommunication payload in W-band (ASI project).

Marina Ruggieri: graduated in Electronics engineering in 1984 at the University of Roma. She was: with FACE-ITT and GTC-ITT (Roanoke, VA) in the High Frequency Division (1985-1986); Research and Teaching Assistant at the University of Roma Tor Vergata (RTV) (1986-1991); Associate Professor in Telecommunications at Univ. of L'Aquila (1991-1994).Since November 2000 she is Full Professor in

Telecommunications at the RTV (Dept. of Electronics Engineering), teaching DSP, Information and Coding. In 1999 she has been appointed member of the Board of Governors of the IEEE AES Society (2000-2002) and re-elected for the period 2003-2005. Her research mainly concerns space communications and navigation systems (in particular satellites) as well as mobile and multimedia networks. She is the Principal Investigator of: the satellite scientific communications missions (DAVID, WAVE) of ASI; a national research programs (CABIS) on CDMA integrated mobile systems (2000-2002) and on satellite-HAP integrated networks for multimedia applications (SHINES), co-financed by MIUR (2002-2004). She co-ordinates RTV Unit in various European Projects: EU FP6 IP MAGNET (My personal Adaptive Global NET); EU ASIA LINK EAGER-NetWIC (Euro-Asian Network for Strengthening Graduate Education and Research in Wireless Communications); EU Network NEXWAY; GALILEO JU 1st Call – July 2003: VERT (VEhicular Remote Tolling); and in the ASI program on V-band payloads (TRANSPONDERS). She is member of the Editorial Board of Wireless Personal Communications - an International Journal (Kluwer). She was awarded the 1990 Piero Fanti International Prize and she had a nomination for the Harry M. Mimmo Award in 1996 and the Cristoforo Colombo Award in 2002. She is an author of about 170 papers, on a number of international journals/transactions and proceedings of international conferences, book chapters and books.

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Tommaso Rossi: Received his University Degree in 2002 in Telecommunications Engineering from the University of Rome “Tor Vergata”; dissertation: “Impact of power control imperfections on performances of the S-UMTS (Satellite – Universal Mobile Telecommunications System)”. He is currently pursuing his M.Sc. studies in “Advanced Communications and

Navigation Satellite Systems” at the University of Rome Tor Vergata He is also involved in the WAVE (W-band Analysis and VErification) project, a feasibility study for a W-band telecommunication payload (ASI project), as a member of the technical team.

Antonio Salomè was born in Pozzuoli near Naples, Italy. .He graduated with an advanced engineering degree "Laurea" in Aeronautical engineering from the University of Naples “Federico II” and in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Rome “La Sapienza”. He joined several major Italian aerospace firms like SNIA-BPD, AERITALIA, and Alenia Spazio.

His experience ranges from project study and design to study/program management in the field of design and thermo structural analyses of solid propellant rockets (SAM 80, ASPIDE, ARIANE STRAP ON BOOSTER) to strategic marketing analyses for renewable energy and satellite/airborne remote sensing and to proposal management of scientific and telecommunication satellite payloads. In AERITALIA, he was program manger of TELAER, the first airborne remote sensing program developed by AERITALIA and TELESPAZIO. In Alenia Spazio he is the program manager of the David Program(Data and Video Interactive Distribution), a communication (W-band) new satellite that is developed in the framework of the ASI (Italian Space Agency) Small Mission for Science and Technology Program. In parallel to the work at Alenia Spazio, he also managed ARCHEO, project for research in the field of remote sensing of archeological sites by airborne and ground penetrating radar that has been carried out by CO.RI.S.T.A, a research consortium located in Naples and formed by the Universities of Naples and Bari, and by the industries Alenia Spazio and Laben.

Lorenzo Ronzitti Born in Pescara Italy, on August 31st 1961, obtained his doctorate degree in Electronic Engineering at University of Ancona in 1988, specializing in both Information technology and Telecommunications. After one and half year in the Navy Corps as Lieutenant he joins Telespazio in the beginning of 1990. Within Telespazio he specializes in satellite telecommunication and

technology, participating as engineer in the following projects: Italsat, Iris-Lageos and Tethered. In 1993 he is appointed project responsible working for the upgrade of the telemetry tracking stations of the Ariane Launcher whose customer was CNES, the French Space Agency Then, he is appointed Program Manager for integration and test in the frame of the Iridium Project. He spends 2 years in the USA for the iridium project working for Telespazio at Motorola premises, coordinating a team of up to 10 specialists. Back in Italy he continues working as program manager in the frame of the Iridium Gateway contracts and after one year, in 1999, is appointed technical responsible of the venture that Telespazio has established in Brazil for the provisioning of telecommunication services. He keeps this role for more than three years, coordinating a team of more up to 20 specialists, assessing from technical and operational point of view the narrowband Orbcomm services for south America and deploying and putting into full operational service the DVB-RCS broadband platform Evolv-e. In 2002 he joined back Telespazio Italy in the research and study department. He participates to several proposal, studies, contracts and projects for the Italian space agency (Transponders, Wave, and Ties), the European Community, the European Space Agency and the other Italian institutional organizations.

Lucio Scucchia was born in Rome, Italy, in 1957. He received the degree in electronics engineering, from the University of Roma "La Sapienza", Italy, in 1987. Currently he is researcher at the Department of Electronic Engineering of the University of Rome “Tor Vergata”. Currently, his main research activities are directed to

the study of design strategies regarding passive structures as matching circuits or couplers.

Piero Cambriani was born in Rome, Italy, in 1963 and received the degree in Electronic Engineering from the University of Rome "La Sapienza" in May 2000. He has been a collaborator since June 2000 and an employee since April 2001 of the “ULISSE Consortium” as researcher and digital designer. Since April 2001 he has been a collaborator of the Department of

Electronic Engineering fromf the University of Tor Vergata, and since November 2003 he is also Ph.D. student in “Telecommunication and Microelectronic Engineering”. He worked in European community project TRIDENT consist in digital three-dimensional cartography restitution though aero-stereographic image acquisition for urban monitoring and urban planning, project SSMM for space application with high reliability and errors correction in collaboration with Italian Space Agency (ASI).He also worked on implementation of serial interfaces and in specific the Spacewire standard.

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At present, he works on RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) system. His main interests and activities are in the area of Hardware design, low power design methodologies.

Maristella Musso was born in Genoa (Italy) in 1977. She obtained the Laurea degree in Telecommunications Engineering in January 2003, University of Genoa, with a thesis concerning the study of integration architecture, based on Software Defined Radio, of satellite positioning systems (GALILEO) and broadband communication

systems (S-UMTS). From March 2003 she cooperates with the ISIP40 group, where she worked on software defined radio techniques and location systems. Since March 2003 she is a PhD student in Information Communication Science and Technology - Science and Space Engineering, her research topics are: satellite multimedia communications and advanced positioning systems. She is an author and co-author of a book contribution, and some papers presented at international conferences.

Antonio Iera: graduated in Computer engineering at the University of Calabria, Italy, in 1991 and received a Master Diploma in Information Technology from CEFRIEL, Italy, in 1992 and a Ph.D. degree from the University of Calabria, Italy, in 1996. From 1997 to 2000 he has been with the University of Reggio Calabria, Italy, as Assistant

Professor. Currently, he is Associate Professor at the same University. His research interests include Personal Communications Systems, Enhanced Wireless and Satellite Systems.

Salvatore Pulitanó graduated in electronic engineering in 2002 from the University “Mediterranea” of Reggio Calabria, Italy. He is currently working toward a Ph.D. degree with the same University. His major areas of research are all IP satellite platforms and next-generation wireless-wired communications systems.

Simone Morosi was born in Firenze, Italia, in 1968. He received the Dr. Ing. Degree in Electronics Engineering in 1996 and the Ph. D. Degree in Information and Telecommunication Engineering in 2000 from the University of Firenze, Firenze. Since 1999, he has been a researcher of the Italian Interuniversity Consortium for Telecommunications (CNIT). Since 2000, he is a Research Assistant at the

Department of Electronics and Telecommunications of the

University of Firenze. His present research interests include Code Division Multiple Access Communications, Multi-user Detection and Turbo MUD Techniques, Satellite communications. He has participated to several National Research Programs and to European Projects COST 252; he is currently participating to the EU COST Action 273 “Towards Mobile Broadband Multimedia Networks”. He is currently participating in the European Network of Excellence SATNEX (Network of EXcellence in SATellite communications, 6th European Framework Program)

Vittorio Dainelli received his Degree with honors in Electronic Engineering and his Ph.D. in Automatic control

systems. He has a 28 years’ experience in design/development of microwave/mm wave systems/subsystems including MMICs, MEMS, and Quasioptic devices for ground/space and subsystem/systems for shipborne, ground military, and civil radars. Presently ,he is a manager of new technologies R&D and head of

microwave/mm wave developments at Oerlikon-Contraves. Victor Speziale graduated cum laude in Electronics

engineering in 1975. In 1976, he attended the Post-University telecommunication course at the Telecommunication Advanced School in Rome. In 1976, he joined the Italian Post Office Telecommunication Institute, working in the Satellite Department. In 1978, he joined Telespazio taking part to several live testing activities and satellite

systems definition studies. Since 1985, he was head of the RF Measurements and Data Analysis Group. He played a leading role in defining and implementing the testing activities (IOT test bed, facilities) for ITALSAT, the Italian 20/30 GHz communication satellite. In 1989, he joined Space Engineering S.p.A. Since 1990, he is the Head of the RF measurement and Payload Engineering Group of the Company. Since then he has been deeply involved in the design, engineering and testing activities of a number of Italian and European satellites.