Abstract: A honeycomb core for dimensionally stable components (e.g., a reflector) in sandwich construction with a plurality of cells with a triangular cell cross section made from carbon fiber reinforced plastic. The honeycomb core is assembled from flat laminate strips by plugging, wherein the laminate strips have slots running transversely to the extension direction respectively on their longitudinal side. The laminate strips are connected to one another in such a way that the slots of three laminate strips engage in a positive-locking manner in one another at a respective intersection point to form the corners of the cells of the honeycomb core.

Abstract: A method for determining a position of a receiver via use of encrypted signals of a public regulated service. The method comprises transmitting PRN code chips to the receiver by an assistance server. The method further comprises storing the transmitted PRN code chips to be used before a designated time interval by the receiver. The method further comprises receiving the encrypted signals during the designated time interval by the receiver from satellites in line-of-sight to the receiver. The method further comprises determining the position of the receiver via use of the encrypted signals and the stored PRN code chips by the receiver.

Abstract: A modular satellite having a plurality of electronics boxes that accommodate electrical and/or electronic modules. The electronics boxes are or can be electrically connected with one another. The satellite is provided with a basis structural panel, a docking structure disposed on the basis structural panel, and a plurality of device carrier panels that are or can be connected with the docking structure. The docking structure has first electrical connection elements for an electrical connection with the electronics boxes. The device carrier panels have mechanical connection elements for holding the electronics boxes. The respective device carrier panel is configured, at least in certain regions, so that it can be tempered by means of integrated heat sources and/or heat sinks.

Abstract: A waveguide radiator includes a slotted waveguide with a plurality of transverse or longitudinal slots provided in the waveguide and an additional inner conductor provided in the waveguide. The inner conductor is formed, depending on the alignment of the slots in such a manner that the result is a feed according to the traveling wave principle, wherein all slots of the waveguide can be excited with identical phase.

Abstract: A method for computing self-contamination processes of a spacecraft involves receiving a first set of input parameters comprising general definitions of the spacecraft, and a second set of input parameters comprising control parameters for the spacecraft orbital data, physics, numeric. A self-contamination process of the spacecraft is calculated based on the received first and second sets of input data by calculating an analytical solution of a basic equation for calculating a deposit of molecules outgassed from surfaces of the spacecraft in a single computation step with the data processing device. The calculated deposit of molecules is then output.

Abstract: A container for effecting at least one non-lethal change in inherent properties of a non-human biological system, such as a plant or a fungus, under the influence of zero gravity, comprising a carrier plate configured to receive two capacitor plates of a plate capacitor, wherein the plates are situated parallel to one another and in each case perpendicularly on the carrier plate, at least one sample container arranged horizontally on the carrier plate, adjacent to each of the two capacitor plates and configured to receive the biological system, and an electromagnet arranged substantially half way between the capacitor plates and, when seen from the carrier plate, arranged horizontally above the at least one sample container. Additionally, a European modular cultivation system for use in the International Space Station comprises a centrifuge, wherein the container is received in the centrifuge.

Abstract: A hinge assembly comprises first and second tape spring elements, wherein each of the spring elements is configured to connect a first element of a space structure to a second element of the space structure. Each of the first and the second tape spring elements is movable from a folded state into an unfolded state by releasing stored strain energy, to deploy the first and the second element of the space structure. The first tape spring element is connected to a first direct current source and configured to conduct direct current of a first polarity supplied to the first tape spring element from the first direct current source. The second tape spring element is connected to a second direct current source and configured to conduct direct current of a second polarity, opposite to the first polarity, supplied to the second tape spring element from the second direct current source.

Abstract: A wireless communication unit for compensating for Ionospheric group delay in a satellite communication system. The wireless communication unit comprises: a receiver configured to receive a multi-carrier signal from a satellite; and a processor coupled to the receiver. The processor is configured to: process the multi-carrier signal to produce a plurality of digital representations of individual carriers of the multi-carrier signal; estimate, from the plurality of digital representations of individual carriers of the multi-carrier signal, a Total Electron Content, TEC, value associated with a communication path between the satellite and the wireless communication unit through Earth's Ionosphere; and apply compensation for Ionospheric group delay subjected to the multi-carrier signal based on the determined TEC value.

Abstract: An electrically powered propulsion system for a spacecraft includes a first center of gravity at a first time of operation and a second center of gravity at a second time of operation, where the second center of gravity is different from the first center of gravity. The electrically powered propulsion system includes a thruster realignment mechanism and at least two thrusters coupled to the thruster realignment mechanism. Each of the at least two thrusters has an individual thrust vector. The thruster realignment mechanism is adapted such that, in a first position, the individual thrust vectors of the at least two thrusters pass through the first center of gravity and that, in a second position, the individual thrust vectors of the at least two thrusters pass through the second center of gravity. The thruster realignment mechanism holds the first position in the event all of the at least two thrusters are without any failure.

Abstract: A fastening device for use in a spacecraft comprises a shaft and a head, which is connected by a first solder to the shaft. The first solder comprises a material of which the melting point is lower than the temperature acting on the fastening device on re-entry of a spacecraft equipped with fastening device into the earth's atmosphere.

Abstract: Noise distribution shaping for signals, particularly for the application in receivers for CDMA signals. A method for noise distribution shaping for signals comprises the acts of receiving a signal of interest from a signal transmitter, detecting whether the received signal of interest is present, and if the received signal of interest is present iteratively performing the following acts of adapting at least one blanking threshold or the received signal of interest according to an offset value depending on the amplitude of the received signal of interest, and generating a blanking control signal by comparing the received signal of interest with the at least one blanking threshold, modifying the noise distribution of the received signal of interest by applying blanking of the received signal of interest under control of the blanking control signal.

Abstract: A flexible, thermal bridge element, particularly for a space flight instrument, a satellite, a transportation device, or a machine component, includes a number of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFK) layers stacked on top of one another. Each of the CFK layers is composed of a plurality of heat-conductive carbon fibers embedded in a matrix. In at least two segments, particularly opposing end segments, the CFK layers are freed of the material of the matrix so that the carbon fibers of a respective CFK layer are exposed in the at least two segments. The exposed segments of the carbon fibers are provided with an associated metallization, by way of which within the framework of a thermally assisted joining process, the bridge element is connected to a thermally conductive connector element.

Abstract: A method is provided for noise distribution shaping of signals, particularly for the application in receivers for CDMA signals. The method includes the acts of generating a blanking control signal by comparing a received signal with at least one blanking threshold, adapting the at least one blanking threshold or the received signal according to an offset value depending on the amplitude of the received signal, and modifying the noise distribution of the received signal by applying blanking of the received signal under control of the blanking control signal.

Abstract: A method for the reduction of receive data of a radar includes receiving a radar echo signal emanating from a chirp-like transmit signal and specifying a temporal receive window of the radar echo signal as a function of an area to be detected by a radar. The method also includes dividing the received radar echo signal into a plurality of spectral sub-bands, determining sub-band windows for each of the plurality of spectral sub-bands, activating the sub-band windows within the temporal receive window of the radar echo signal as a function of a receive time of the radar echo signal, and then sampling the radar echo signal using a sampling rate that is adjusted as a function of a number of sub-band windows active at a respective sampling instance.

Abstract: This relates to a method for disseminating data in a navigation or communication system comprising several transmitters for signals, wherein a common frame structure is provided for the signals and each transmitter disseminates common data and transmitter-dedicated data with its transmitted signal, and wherein the method comprises the following acts to be executed by each one of the transmitters: receiving the common data encoded with a first encoding scheme; encoding transmitter-dedicated data onboard the transmitter with a second encoding scheme; assigning the encoded common data to a number of first frames of the frame structure provided for the signals and assigning the encoded transmitter-dedicated data to a number of second frames of the frame structure provided for the signals, wherein the second frames differ from the first frames; assembling a signal to be transmitted from the number of first and second frames; and transmitting the assembled signal.

Abstract: A high electrical conductive, high temperature stable foil material, a process for the preparation of such a high electrical conductive, high temperature stable foil material, a solar cell interconnector including the high electrical conductive, high temperature stable foil material as well as the use of the high electrical conductive, high temperature stable foil material and/or the solar cell interconnector in solar power, aircraft or space applications. The high electrical conductive, high temperature stable foil material includes an aluminum alloy that has at least two elements selected from the group of scandium (Sc), magnesium (Mg), zirconium (Zr), ytterbium (Yb) and manganese (Mn).

Abstract: A method for detecting a defect in a multi-junction solar cell is presented. The multi-junction solar cell comprises at least two vertically stacked p-n junctions. The method comprises exciting a first p-n junction of the at least two vertically stacked p-n junctions by illuminating the solar cell with excitation light in a first excitation wavelength range, detecting photoluminescence light emitted by photoluminescence of the first p-n junction, and generating a spatially resolved first photoluminescence image of the photoluminescence light emitted by the first p-n junction. Further, a computer program product and an apparatus for detecting a defect in a multi-junction solar cell are presented.

Abstract: A receiver for spread spectrum signals comprising a first part for preprocessing and digitizing a received signal, and a second part for tracking the digitized signal comprising a carrier loop and a code loop. The code loop comprises a generator for a reference receiver signal for correlation with the received signal and the code loop is configured to modify the reference signal to shape a correlation function between the received signal and the reference receiver signal. The first part is adapted to multiply the received spread spectrum signal with a first analog spectral offsetting signal provided for down-converting the received signal to an intermediate frequency and a sub-carrier frequency, selected from a set of sub-carrier frequencies, such that the received signal is down-converted and spectrally offset in the analog domain during a time interval covering at least one chip of a spreading code of the received signal.

Abstract: A signal coupling device associating a first frequency band signal and a second, different frequency band, signal in a common waveguide and distributing the signals to two separate waveguides. The device comprises first and second circular waveguides. The second waveguide is coaxially arranged inside a cylindrical interior of the first waveguide. The first waveguide comprises inwardly projecting inner circumference projections in a region occupied only by the first waveguide. The projections activate higher modes from a fundamental mode. The first and second waveguides and the projections cause the superposition of the fundamental and higher modes to produce a wave front having field components in the first frequency band only in a cylindrical ring region between the second waveguide outer circumference and the first waveguide inner circumference, and having field components in the second frequency band only in a cylindrical interior of the second waveguide.

Abstract: A redox device, in particular a hydrogen-oxygen redox device, has at least one redox unit, in particular a hydrogen-oxygen redox unit, which is intended for carrying out at least one redox reaction with consumption and/or production of a first gas, in particular hydrogen gas, and/or of a second gas, in particular oxygen gas. The redox device includes at least one residual gas purification unit which frees at least one residual gas in the redox unit of at least one gas impurity at least in at least one rest mode of the redox unit.