The Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre of the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Institute of Engineering (VUAS IE VIRAC) as a leading partner and a Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) as a cooperation partner in July 2020 began to implement the project of the European Space Agency PECS (Programme for European Cooperating States) program “Establishing RT-16 S-band uplink and downlink RF to IF chain for TT&C service”).

The total approved cost of the project is 199,053.00 EUR (part of VUAS: 166 181.00 EUR, part of SSC: 32,872.00 EUR), funded by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Latvia within the framework of the European Space Agency program “Programme for European Cooperating States”. The planned duration of the project is 16 months (07.2020-11.2021).

VUAS IE VIRAC, in cooperation with the European Space Agency (ESA), carried out a research project in 2018/2019 (ESA contract number 4000124380/18 / NL / SC) on the adaptation of the RT-16 radio telescope to provide communication for spacecraft. As a result of this project, it was concluded that the antennas of the radio telescopes of the Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Institute of Engineering “Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre” could be adapted for satellite telemetry, tracking and control to support ESA, other space agencies or private sector missions, especially in the S and X bands. However, to achieve this, it is necessary to develop a radio frequency (RF) -inter-frequency (IF) hardware scheme appropriate to these frequency bands and suitable for VIRAC antennas, as well as work with an existing global service provider of this type.

In order to continue inclusion in the space industry, find an opportunity to support the scientific missions of ESA and other structures, thus creating a new direction of VUAS IE VIRAC activities, as well as increase the competence and competitiveness of the VIRAC engineering experts in the said industry, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences at the beginning of this year has entered into a cooperation agreement with SSC - globally the largest operator of the network of Earth base stations, and this cooperation is already associated with the RTGS project, which is the first step towards the involvement of VUAS IE VIRAC radio telescope antennas in the provision of telemetry, traction and command (TT&C) services.

This project envisages that VUAS IE VIRAC experts will develop an S-/X-band irradiator suitable for the RT-16 radio telescope, a cryogenically cooled S-band receiver, an S-band transmitter suitable for satellite communications, and a frequency up and down conversion unit in accordance with SSC technical requirements, which will be the beginning of cooperation between VIRAC and SSC and the possibility to offer joint TT&C services, also developing VUAS IE VIRAC and Latvia's cooperation with the European Space Agency and demonstrating, how the PECS program can be used as a starting point for further cooperation with EKA already in the status of an associated member state.