Satellite Constellations for Aviation Safety
The ADS-B system (Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast) is currently being adopted by aviation authorities around the World as the standard method for tracking aircrafts. ADS-B coverage is available on most of the landmass in Europe, America, Australia and Asia, but in remote areas there are significant shaded zones where contact with aircrafts is lost. Over 70% of the World remains unsurveilled. Here, a small satellite constellation can play an important role.
Gaps in coverage exist over regions where installing ADS-B receiver stations is not economically viable or feasible, such as over oceans and poles. Using a constellation of small satellites provides a more economical solution, with lower production, launch and satellite replacement costs.
Our ADS-B Space Solution
Alén Space provides an end-to-end solution to orbit our clients’ ADS-B services. We can help companies interested in supporting airlines, states and rescue coordination centers to track aircrafts for more predictable airline operations planning, search and rescue services, and a significant reduction of gross navigation errors.
Alén Space’s ready-to-launch solution has already been developed, tested, and prepared for use for ADS-B, which consists of:
TOTEM ADS-B. A high performance SDR (Software Defined Radio) for small satellites, designed and manufactured by Alén Space with flight heritage. You can also add a second application for your TOTEM hardware: AIS, Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) or IoT.
L-Band interface. Equipment at 1090 MHz to receive position information from aircrafts.
Dedicated software for ADS-B, developed by Alén Space for use in space projects, to receive and transmit ADS-B data.
Mission management. Focus on your ADS-B service. Alén Space can handle all the phases involved in getting your project into space. Our turnkey solution for ADS-B includes mission design and system engineering, payload integration, AIV (Assembly, Integration and Verification), insurance and launch management, frequency coordination and registration, ground station network management and operation preparation and execution.
Today, several small satellite projects already exist to improve ADS-B system coverage and aircraft control.
Why Alén Space?
A team forged with the United Nations, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB)
12 years of small satellite projects
CubeSats missions: 100% success
- Experienced with space institutions and R&D partners
Advantages of ADS-B Space Tracking
Cost-effective. Real-time flight tracking without new avionics. Space-based ADS-B can reduce restricted altitudes, air speeds or routes for aircraft operations.
Sole-source Surveillance. Space-based ADS-B where no surveillance currently exists.
Augmented Surveillance. Filling gaps in or providing an additional layer for existing ADS-B ground station or radar systems.
Contingency Surveillance. Space-based ADS-B as back-up solution to ground systems.
Accuracy. Position update available every few seconds in the event of a distress or alert phase.
Learn more about our Small Satellite Solution for Aircraft Surveillance
Blog post. How to Use Small Satellites for ADS-B and Asset Tracking
>> Learn moreCase Study. Lume-1 Nanosatellite
>> Learn more
Get in Touch
Interested in learning more about our ADS-B small satellite solution?
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Looking for a Tailor-made Solution?
If this ADS-B solution doesn’t fit you, try our tailor-made services. We can develop made-to-measure project for your requirements.
