ANTWERP, Belgium - Celestia Antwerp, a Belgian satellite communications provider, announced the launch the Virtual Integrated Baseband (V-IBB), a new system designed for satellite tracking, telemetry, and command. The V-IBB was developed as part of the European Space Agency’s Copernicus program.
The V-IBB is a virtual baseband modem that allows satellite control centers to communicate with satellites through ground station radio frequency (RF) systems. It handles the reception of satellite telemetry, transmission of telecommands, and testing of tracking and command functions before a satellite is launched into orbit.
A key feature of the modem is its built-in digitizer, which eliminates the need for a separate S-band converter. This capability automatically converts analog signals to digital, allowing data to be sampled and stored either locally or in the cloud.
The V-IBB can connect two S-band antennas to a single modem, cutting infrastructure costs for facilities with multiple antennas. It also supports multiple samplers linked to one software-defined radio server, operates at speeds up to 20 Mbps, and maintains functionality even in low signal or Doppler-shifted conditions.
Celesta says its modem's modular design, combined with a real-time spectrum analyzer, helps reduce both capital and operational expenses. By minimizing hardware requirements and utilizing software for modulation and demodulation, the system aims to offer reliability and cost-efficiency.
“More than 60 years of Celestia Antwerp know-how in advanced ground modems for the space industry have gone into the design and development of this new, leading-edge solution for satellite tracking, telemetry, and command,” said Guy Van Dijck, managing director of Celestia Antwerp.
“The V-IBB uses the new digital technology to bring a fast, flexible, and reliable solution to the market that also offers operators significant savings in set-up and running costs. It truly is a versatile and powerful tool for solving satellite communication and testing challenges,” he added.
