DEFINITION:

Covering technologies and techniques related to the design of a ground station system and its constituent elements such as ground TT&C and payload data reception antenna systems using RF and optical techniques; transmit and receive radar and optical systems for ground based space surveillance; TT&C, radar and optical signal and data processing.

(Source: ESA TD 12A)

SUBDOMAINS:

1. Advanced Ground Station Design Concepts: Covers design concepts for RF and optical ground stations for space communication and space surveillance applications.
2. Ground TT&C and Payload Data Reception Antenna Systems: Includes RF design, optical design, mechanical structures, servomechanisms, and tracking processes.
3. Microwave and Optical Active/Passive Systems: Includes all active components such as LNAs, detectors, HPAs, lasers, frequency converters, microwave sources, all passive components such as filters, switches, isolators, waveguides.
4. TT&C, Radar and Optical Signal & Data Processing: Covers telemetry receivers, decoders and demodulators, tele-command modulators and encoders, telemetry data pre-processors, ranging subsystems and precise navigation techniques.
5. Frequency & Time Generation and Distribution: Covers all means of frequency generation such as atomic clocks, masers and crystal oscillators. Time reference generation and synchronisation.

   Note: Reference signals required for navigation, telecom and science applications are covered in 1-H-4 and 1-H-5