SCT selected Airbus Defence and Space to deliver OmanSat-1, a fully reconfigurable high-throughput OneSat satellite and its associated ground system, to meet growing demand for mission flexibility and high-throughput services. Airbus in turn selected Kratos to deliver the integrated ground system required to operate the software-defined satellite.
Elodie Viau, Senior Vice President of Telecommunication and Navigation for Airbus Defence and Space, said, “The OmanSat-1 satellite uses a flexible OneSat payload architecture that needs a ground system that is just as dynamic to support the reconfiguration of the satellite and the monitoring of the signals to enable troubleshooting and performance reporting. Building on our successful collaboration across multiple OneSat programs, Kratos will deliver the ground system that works in tandem with the OmanSat-1 satellite, enabling SCT to provide high-throughput services while providing extensive flexibility, serving Oman and the region and expanding to access East African and East Asian markets.”
Industry analysis underscores the importance of integrating space and ground segments for software-defined satellites. Luke Wyles, an analyst with Analysys Mason, wrote in a recent white paper that “in order to optimize the resource allocation on the Software-Defined Satellite (SDS), the network must be orchestrated, reconfiguring the space and ground segment in unison to meet changing demands.”
Bruno Dupas, Vice President of Kratos Space, said, “Kratos is integrating the ground system with Airbus’ mission and control platform to manage and monitor the satellite payload while intelligently orchestrating ground resources. This will enable SCT to dynamically plan spectrum, seamlessly coordinate payload configurations with ground assets, and do so far faster and in a more automated fashion than ever before.”
Under the contract, Kratos will deliver a ground segment capable of configuring and monitoring the satellite, optimizing and setting up the payload using integrated Airbus components, and overseeing performance across the full satellite-to-ground system. The implementation includes Ka-Band telemetry, tracking and command antennas, monitor and control and carrier monitoring software, command, control and flight dynamics capabilities, and an orchestration system.
Leveraging its office in Oman, Kratos will also conduct site surveys, install and commission equipment, provide training, and support system delivery. The company stated that it brings extensive experience across satellite command and control, telemetry, tracking and command, payload operations, network management and spectrum monitoring to support integrated satellite and ground system solutions.
Kratos also highlighted its recent completion of the first factory acceptance test of its Epoch command and control system with Airbus’ OneSat software-defined satellite. The company said its track record in advanced ground solutions positions it to support the evolving requirements of software-defined satellite missions such as OmanSat-1.
