Abstract: A demosaicing method applied to an image having pixels each corresponding to an initial spectral band, to obtain a demosaiced image with several spectral bands having pixels each corresponding to the initial spectral band or to an interpolated spectral band. The method includes: on the basis of reference patches and for each reference patch: a determination of a set of patches similar to the reference patch, a determination of a covariance matrix for |the set of patches, and for each patch, a calculation of estimates of the interpolated spectral bands according to a block-based deconstruction of the covariance matrix, where the deconstruction into four blocks is according to phasing of each patch, and a determination of the interpolated spectral bands by an aggregation of estimates of the interpolated spectral bands, where the estimates of the interpolated spectral bands are aggregated for each pixel.

Abstract: A method (50) of acquiring images of a terrestrial region Z using a spacecraft (10) in non-geostationary orbit around the Earth (30), the spacecraft includes an observation instrument associated with a ground footprint of length L along the direction of travel, the method includes: a step (51) of observing a portion P1 of the terrestrial region Z, including a step of controlling the attitude of the spacecraft (10) during which the ground footprint is kept stationary during the entirety of the step of observing portion P1, and a step of acquiring an image of portion P1, a step (52) of modifying the pitch attitude of the spacecraft (10) so as to place the ground footprint over a portion P2 of the terrestrial region Z, and a step (53) of observing portion P2 of the terrestrial region.

Abstract: A method for estimating collision between a satellite in orbit and at least one piece of space debris having a time of closest approach to the satellite is disclosed including: obtaining the reference orbit of the satellite; determining an ephemeris of state transition data representative of the trajectory of the reference orbit; communicating the reference orbit and the ephemeris of state transition data to the satellite. The method includes the steps on board the satellite of: determining the true orbital position of the satellite; propagating the true orbit; calculating a probability of collision between the satellite and the piece of debris.

Abstract: A method and a receiver device for detecting the start of a frame of a satellite communication signal. A shaping filtering is applied directly after sampling of the signal, before a frequency correction is applied. During a first phase, an approximate frequency error and a candidate first sample for the start of the frame are estimated by performing several correlations respectively associated with different frequency hypotheses. The samples obtained after sampling or after shaping filtering are buffered during the execution of the first phase. Then, during a second phase, a final candidate sample for the start of the frame is determined from the memorised samples, using the approximate frequency error and the candidate first sample estimated during the first phase.

Abstract: A terminal (100) for optical communication by laser signals including a matrix image sensor used as a tracking and acquisition detector (2). The matrix image sensor is used simultaneously to check that a portion of the laser signals received by the terminal are injected into an optical fibre (1). A spectral filter element (22) is associated with the matrix image sensor to allow such a combination of functions.

Abstract: A method (50) for orbit control of a satellite (10) in Earth orbit and for desaturation of an angular momentum storage device of the satellite, the satellite (10) including an articulated arm (21) suitable for moving a propulsion unit (31) within a motion volume included in a half-space delimited by an orbital plane when the satellite is in a mission attitude, the method (50) including a single-arm control mode using only the propulsion unit (31) carried by the articulated arm (21), the single-arm control mode using a maneuvering plan including only thrust maneuvers to be executed when the satellite (10) is located within an angular range of at most 180° centered on a target node in the orbit of the satellite (10), including two thrust maneuvers to be performed respectively upstream and downstream of the target node.

Abstract: A device for the reception of ADS-B messages for a satellite is disclosed including an array of sources and a beamforming module, a ground footprint of a field of view defining a service area, different service areas being associated with different positions of the satellite, a ground footprint of a beam defining a spot in the service area, the beamforming module being configured to form each beam by applying combination coefficients, the reception device having a processing circuit configured to obtain information representative of a position of the satellite and to modify a set of combination coefficients so as to adapt the surface area and/or or the shape of the formed spots to a geographical distribution of the aircrafts within the service area associated with the position of the satellite.

Abstract: A radiator for a geostationary satellite is disclosed having a radiative panel perpendicular to a radiation axis, and pivoting relative to the radiation axis, a mounting foot for the panel, a motor which rotates the mounting foot about a rotation axis, the radiation axis and the rotation axis being tilted relative to each other by an angle corresponding to the angle of the satellite's orbital plane relative to the ecliptic plane of the planet, and a guidance system for the panel, limiting rotation of the panel about the rotation axis, including a connecting arm pivoting relative to the satellite about a first axis and relative to the panel about a second axis concurrent with the first axis at a point of intersection of all the axes.

Abstract: A system for injection of a useful radiation beam into an optical fiber is disclosed including a secondary radiation source, which is connected to the optical fiber such that a secondary radiation beam leaves by an end of the optical fiber. A variable deviation device, for deviating the useful radiation beam towards the end of the optical fiber, an optical detection assembly, identifying the direction of the secondary radiation beam, and an injection controller, for controlling the variable deviation device depending on the direction of the secondary radiation beam. The secondary radiation may be made up by an amplified spontaneous emission from a laser amplifier which is used for amplifying the useful radiation. The injection system may advantageously be used in a terminal for optical telecommunication by laser signals.

Abstract: A method for attitude control of a satellite in inclined low orbit in survival mode is disclosed, the satellite including at least one solar generator, at least one solar sensor, magnetic torquers capable of forming internal magnetic moments in a satellite reference frame having three orthogonal axes X, Y, and Z, and inertial actuators capable of forming internal angular momentums in the satellite reference frame. The at least one solar sensor has a field of view at least 180° wide within the XZ plane around the Z axis, the method including a step of attitude control using a first control law, a step of searching for the sun by means of the at least one solar sensor, when a first phase of visibility of the sun is detected, and a step of attitude control using a second control law.

Abstract: The method and system for merging information aimed at merging the instances of individuals, a data-processing system performs the following steps: generating the instances of individuals using an ontology which defines, for each property of each instance of an individual, an evolution model to be applied to the property, evolution model representing the evolution of reliability of the property over time in relation to variability of the property over time; preforming the merging of information by comparing, two-by-two, the generated instances of individuals with instances of individuals stored in a knowledge base, performing, for each shared property, a calculation of similarity distance by applying at least evolution model defined for the property, so as to define a coefficient of confidence for each property in order to decide whether or not to merge the instances of individuals; and updating the knowledge base with the instances of individuals resulting from information merging.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing in space a rigid structure having a lattice is disclosed. The method includes creating of at least two framework elements from a coil of metal strip or wire, and creating of the lattice by cold-connecting the framework elements.

Abstract: A device for determining an attitude of a satellite is disclosed, the satellite having an attitude control system comprising a gyroscopic actuator including a flywheel mounted so as to be rotatable around an axis of rotation and carried by a gimbal articulated to rotate around an axis of rotation. The device includes an attitude sensor configured to measure the attitude of the satellite, a position sensor configured to measure the angular position of the gimbal around its axis of rotation, a speed sensor configured to measure the rotational speed of the flywheel, and a processing circuit configured to determine the attitude of the satellite by using the measurement of the angular position of the gimbal, the measurement of the rotational speed of the flywheel, and the measurement of the attitude of the satellite.

Abstract: A method for estimating a direction of a satellite in the transfer phase. The direction of the satellite is estimated relative to a measurement antenna by executing steps for measuring the reception power, by the measurement antenna, of a target signal emitted by the satellite, for different pointing directions of the measurement antenna. The target signal has a substantially sinusoidal component referred to as a single-frequency component. Each power measurement step includes a transposition in the frequency domain of a digital signal, obtained from a signal supplied by the measurement antenna, to obtain a frequency spectrum of the digital signal over a predetermined frequency band having the single-frequency component. The power measurement for the pointing direction being considered is determined based on a maximum value of the frequency spectrum.

Abstract: A method for receiving an ADS-B message is disclosed including a synchronisation phase for detecting the start of the message and a decoding phase for recovering a bit stream corresponding to a block of data in the message. The synchronisation phase is based on determining a sequence of log-likelihood ratios having the greatest likelihood of corresponding to a sequence of symbols expected from a preamble of the message. Each log-likelihood ratio corresponds to a ratio between the respective probabilities that a symbol of the signal received corresponds to one of two possible values for a symbol. The decoding phase applies a belief propagation algorithm to a sequence of log-likelihood ratios respectively associated with the symbols in the block of data in the message, with an optimised parity matrix of the cyclic redundancy code of the message.

Abstract: A method for locating a target relative to a vehicle is disclosed. The target includes at least one three-dimensional external component presenting a quadratic surface. The method includes the steps of capturing an image of the target having an area of interest in which the external component of the target is visible in the form of an elliptical contour, for each of the pixels of the area of interest in the image, calculating an intensity gradient of the image around the pixel, and determining, based on the intensity gradient, the parameters of a line presenting a direction normal to the gradient at the pixel, selecting, among the set of determined lines, a set of lines that are tangents to the elliptical contour, and estimating the parameters of the elliptical contour on the image based on the parameters of the tangents to the elliptical contour.

Abstract: A method for attaching a heat-emitting device and a capillary heat pipe to a panel of a spacecraft wall is disclosed including the steps of: a) positioning a capillary heat pipe on a portion of the panel; attaching female attachment bodies to the panel, the female attachment bodies protruding relative to the capillary heat pipe; c) placing a thermally-conductive and self-curing paste over a portion of the capillary heat pipe or over a heat-emitting device; d) placing a heat-emitting device on the thermally-conductive and self-curing paste and on the female attachment bodies, said heat-emitting device bearing against and being in direct contact with the female attachment bodies, and e) attaching the heat-emitting device and said capillary heat pipe to the panel by attaching male attachment members to the female attachment bodies.

Abstract: A method for federating at least two communication networks for mobile terminals by establishing a dedicated link between the two networks and then configuring one of the networks to use elements of the other network, in particular the user database and the communication policy manager.

Abstract: A payload module of a stratospheric drone including a casing (10), and payload equipment contained in the casing (10), wherein the casing includes a support structure (12) and a cover (15), the support structure being suitable for attachment to the drone at the front end thereof, relative to the direction of movement of the drone, and for extending forward from said front end, and in that the cover (15) and the payload equipment are supported by the support structure (12).

Abstract: A system and a method for assisting with troubleshooting a complex system is disclosed in which the troubleshooting procedure can be modeled by a Markov decision process. Combining the fault tree technique with a Markov decision process, in order to determine in an optimal manner the sequence of troubleshooting actions will quickly address the consequences of a failure and ensure maintainability of the complex system.