Satellite in-orbit testing

In-orbit performance verification

Ensure the performance of your satellite network in-orbit

Satellite technology plays a key role in facilitating broadcast TV, GPS, mobile and general communication systems. As such, satellite manufacturers and operators are tasked with guaranteeing peak payload performance.

In-orbit testing serves as a critical step for maintaining the requisite performance levels across diverse systems. It typically covers:

Satellite system performance verification and monitoring
Checking satellite health and safety status
In-orbit calibration of parabolic and electronically steerable antennas
Link-quality monitoring

Automated in-orbit test systems perform fast and reliable post-launch payload testing. It is possible to automate all typical post-launch measurements, such as:

Overall link MER/EVM measurements
Long distance group delay measurements
Customer-specific test requirements

With an in-orbit test system, operators can be certain that their satellite communications systems operate at the highest level of performance.

Satellite in-orbit testing challenges

Commissioning and validating satellites in space is a challenging task that requires extensive in-orbit testing to ensure highest system performance. This is further complicated by the requirements of New Space, which primarily uses LEO and MEO constellations. LEO satellites are in sight for only a few minutes at a time, which means there is limited time to:

Ascertain the health and safety of the satellite
Download data
Manage a seamless handover to the next satellite

All tests must be conducted within this timeframe, and this requires automated in-orbit payload test systems and high-performance test and measurement equipment.

High-performance solutions for in-orbit payload performance verification

Rohde & Schwarz test and measurement instruments support a comprehensive set of measurements for satellite testing, for example:

Equivalent isotropic radiated power measurement (EIRP)
Uncoded bit error rate (BER)
Group delay measurement over long distances
Double illumination measurement
Doppler effect analysis
Coexistence testing
Measurement of up- and downlink attenuation
Monitoring satellite link quality using C/N method
Direct microwave remote sensing
Spectrum monitoring

At Rohde & Schwarz, we are a proven partner for system integrators, specializing in ground systems for in-orbit measurements. We also offer a variety of on-site field measurement equipment, such as handheld spectrum and network analyzers for cable and antenna measurements, interference analysis and spectrum measurements.