Spacewalk to install the Antwerp Space ARGO modem onto The International Space Station
Spacewalk to install the Antwerp Space ARGO modem onto The International Space Station
The advanced ARGO modem designed and developed by Antwerp Space will be shortly operational. “My team and I are really thrilled to see the result of several years of passionate work now being mounted on the outside of the Space Station for the European astronauts to use it shortly after” said Bart Desoete, ARGO Project Manager at Antwerp Space.
Two NASA astronauts are scheduled to make a spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS) on Wednesday 27 January 2021 for installing the Antwerp Space ARGO modem, after it was delivered to the ISS with an Antares rocket of Northrop Grumman from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia in February last year. The Americans Hopkins and Glover will be the extravehicular crew members, wearing a spacesuit, to fulfill this delicate job, amongst other tasks. Live streaming of their exciting spacewalk will be available on NASA website.
The ARGO modem uses high-performing encoding technology for the very first time in Europe. The modem will enable faster communication from the ISS to Earth via the new European Data Relay Satellite system (EDRS). The modem has been integrated within the MDA corporation Ka-band Data Relay terminal (ColKa terminal).
The European Space Agency (ESA) runs 40 experiments every six months in the ISS. The new terminal enables European astronauts to soon have their own, independent communication channel to the earth. The device will make it faster and easier to send high-definition scientific video and data to Earth, allowing researchers to see the results of their experiments in near real time.
For Antwerp Space, the use of the ARGO modem will mark an additional success as a manufacturer of leading edge satellite communication equipment. “We look forward to applying this new modem technology on a global scale in the future, addressing the institutional and commercial market”, said Koen Puimège, Managing Director of Antwerp Space.
About Antwerp Space:
Antwerp Space, a member of the OHB Group and belonging to OHB’s Space Systems Business Unit, develops systems and equipment for European space programs and commercial space applications worldwide. Antwerp Space provides expertise and system solutions for broadband access systems via satellites, navigation, RF interference and radar solutions, and products for scientific, exploration, navigation and telecommunication missions.
Contact Antwerp Space:
Bart Desoete
ARGO Project Manager
phone: +32 (0) 3 829 51 31
E-Mail: bart.desoete@antwerpspace.be