SPAN

SPAce Navigation using signals of opportunity

Serviços

EXPERIENCE

The REXUS projects within the REXUS/BEXUS programme allow students from universities and higher education colleges across Europe to carry out scientific and technological experiments on sounding rockets. Each year, two rockets are launched, carrying up to 10 experiments designed and built by student teams.

IDEA

We are developing a navigation system as an alternative to GPS for LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellites.

SIGNALS

The system is based on the usage of already available signals such as GSM, LTE (4G) and DTTV. These are signals that are mainly used for other purposes such as mobile communications and television transmission.

ROCKET

With these signals and with a precise time reference, it is possible to measure relative distances, and therefore instantly track the position and predict the trajectory of the rocket.

We are the SPAN team and we're taking part in the REXUS/BEXUS 2016/17 programme (Rocket and Ballon Experiments for University Students), specifically developing a REXUS experiment.

The REXUS/BEXUS programme is realised under a bilateral Agency Agreement between the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the Swedish National Space Board (SNSB). The Swedish share of the payload has been made available to students from other European countries through the collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA).

Experts from DLR, SSC, ZARM and ESA provide technical support to the student teams throughout the project. EuroLaunch, the cooperation between the Esrange Space Center of SSC and the Mobile Rocket Base (MORABA) of DLR, is responsible for the campaign management and operations of the launch vehicles.