INTREPID 500-12 5.0m S/X-band ground station

INTREPID 500-12 5.0m ground station antenna system for S/X-band

INTREPID 500-12 is the new generation 5.0m ground station antenna system designed to revolutionise space communication applications since it provides advanced hardware features together with native integration with Radio2SpaceCom platform to let you easily create or expand your ground segment thanks to customizable APIs for easy integration, optional cloud services for remote management, and cross-platform software for direct control. This way academia, industry, research institutions or ground segment operators now have a ready-to-use solution to support LEO satellites and deep space missions.

Product Details

INTREPID 500-12 features a precise 5.0m solid dish antenna capable of recording frequencies up to 12 GHz, and GS-800II antenna tracking system with N-ACU Next generation Antenna Control Unit for high-precision tracking, remotely controlled with fast slew speeds (up to 19°/sec) and elevation axis flip to avoid any keyhole effect. INTREPID 500-12 can be used with third party frontends and backends or it can be equipped with S/X Dual-Band Coaxial Feed for L, LHC and RHC polarization.

Main Features

5 meter diameter prime focus full dish antenna, for frequencies up to 12 GHz.
High speed (up to 19°/s) GS-800II antenna tracking system with N-ACU Next generation Antenna Control Unit: connected to Control Room with a standard network cable up to 100 meters long, thanks to the optional MoF (Mount-over-Fiber) kit, you can position the antenna even further by replacing the network cable with a dedicated optical fiber that can be up to 2km long.
High load capacity C800-HEAVY pier for concrete base.
Automatic tracking based on TLE, also with target offset.
Elevation axis flip, no keyhole effect.
Automatic heating system of internal gears.
Gears sealed and humidity sensor.
Integrated safety system with emergency stop button (optional light and audio signals).
Industrial-Grade temperature working range: INTREPID 500-12 antenna and tracking system is able to work in environments with temperatures from -25°C to +55°C
Provided with Radio2SpaceCom APIs to easily integrate in Mission Control softwares.
Optional Radio2SpaceCom Cloud to remotely control INTREPID ground stations.
Optional Mount-over-Fiber kit for INTREPID ground station antenna system.
Optional Internal cooling system.
Optional Wind sensor for INTREPID ground station antenna system.
Optional Optical encoders and maintenance kit.
Optional S/X Dual-Band Coaxial Feed for L, LHC and RHC polarization.
Optional High accuracy panels, for frequencies up to 20 GHz.

INTREPID 500-12 5.0m S/X-band ground station

INTREPID 500-12 5.0m has been designed to avoid the keyhole effect of targets passing through zenith. In fact, not only INTREPID 500-12 provides very fast movements on its axes (it’s able to make a complete 0-360° azimuth rotation in just 24 seconds and 5-175° elevation in just 15 seconds) but it’s also able to flip in elevation allowing continuous tracking of satellites passing to the Zenith. This special feature makes the INTREPID 500-12 ground station antenna system the best choice for any space communication application.

5 meter diameter prime focus full dish antenna, for frequencies up to 12 GHz

INTREPID 500-12 5.0m ground station antenna system uses a 5 meter diameter full dish antenna that provides optimal performance for frequencies up to 12 GHz. This way it’s the best solution for space communication in S-band and X-band. Special rear supports maintain the rigidity of the whole parabolic antenna on the mount, avoiding any bending and ensuring the effectiveness of the pointing system. This also helps to maintain an optimal parabolic shape with a maximum error of less than lambda/20. The antenna is shipped divided in 12 parts so it can be shipped and installed all around the world.

If you need to operate the INTREPID radio telescope at higher frequencies, we can supply it with the optional high accuracy panels that allows the use with frequencies up to 20 GHz.

GS-800II: antenna tracking system with N-ACU

The INTREPID 500-12 ground station antenna system uses the professional GS-800II antenna tracking system that we have specially designed and built to move the large 5 meter diameter full dish with great speed (up to 19°/sec) and precision, in order to track even fast moving satellites in low Earth orbit. GS-800II antenna tracking system has 800 Kg load capacity with very high precision pointing and tracking (encoders with a read resolution of 0,0035°).

Thanks to the optional MoF (Mount-over-Fiber) kit, the GS-800II antenna tracking system can be remotely controlled from a long distance with a dedicated optical fiber that can be up to 2km long. INTREPID 500-12 can also be equipped with Optional optical encoders, maintenance kit, and a special electronic security system (optional) which “parks” the antenna pointed at the Zenith (the vertical position) when the wind exceeds 70 Km/h, offering the lowest resistance to the wind.

C800-HEAVY: the high load capacity pier

The 5 meter diameter antenna, for its large diameter, can generate a lot of force on the ground – When combined with the weight of the GS-800II tracking system, a very stable and robust anchoring system is required. The C800-HEAVY pier offers all of these features, and is designed to keep the INTREPID 500-12 ground station antenna system permanently installed in the field. The INTREPID 500-12 and the C800-HEAVY pier are designed to be installed on a reinforced concrete base, fixed by means of special high strength bolts. Along with the installation and operation manuals for the ground station antenna system, an example of concrete base design (that the user has to prepare to install the INTREPID 500-12 and that he has to verify based on terrain type of the ground station antenna system installation location) is supplied.

INTREPID 500-12 5.0m ground station antenna system for S/X-band: specifications

Antenna diameter (m): 5.0
Antenna type: Prime focus
Feed: not included
Working frequency: up to 12 GHz
Azimuth max Velocity: 15 deg/s
Azimuth max Acceleration: 25 deg/s2
Azimuth max Torque: 13320 Nm
Azimuth max Travel: 360±90°
Elevation max Velocity: 12 deg/s
Elevation max Acceleration: 25 deg/s2
Elevation max Torque: 26610 Nm
Minimum Tracking Elevation : 5°

Brake Holding Torque: ~30000 Nm
Encoders read resolution: 0,00002°
Operating Altitude: 3000m max, above 1000m derating of 1%/100m
Operating Temperature: -25°C to +55°c (optional extended -40°C +55°C)
Continuous wind speed for operational tracking: 70 km/h
Maximum wind speed in stow position: 200 km/h
Maximum ice load: 4mm (optional De-Icing System available)
Weight: 2160 kg
Supply voltage: 1×100-240VAC, 3×200-380VAC
Emergency stop switch
Visual and Audible warning indicator

INTREPID 500-12: easy to control and integrate with Radio2SpaceCom mission control platform

INTREPID 500-12 5.0m ground station antenna system is natively integrated with the Radio2SpaceCom mission control platform that we specifically designed in order to provide you with the easy way to create or expand your ground segment. In fact INTREPID 500-12 is already provided with the Radio2SpaceCom APIs to allow developers to effortlessly integrate the operation of INTREPID ground stations into their existing antenna networks or mission control software systems. And it can be used also with the optional Radio2SpaceCom Cloud to let users manage one or multiple INTREPID ground stations remotely.

INTREPID 500-12 5.0m ground station antenna system for S/X-band: site preparations

INTREPID 500-12 ground station antenna system is designed to be installed on a concrete base with an underground duct connecting the antenna to control room or to the outdoor rack enclosure that the customer has to prepare before the installation. The image below shows cables and connections that are needed to connect antenna external unit to the control room or outdoor rack enclosure. Power and grounding systems are needed and they have to be provided by the customer.

INTREPID 500-12 5.0m ground station antenna system for S/X-band: optional accessories

Mount-over-Fiber kit for INTREPID: it allows to remotely control the antenna tracking system from very long distances by replacing the network cable with a dedicated optical fiber that can be up to 2km long.
Internal cooling system: suggested in case of climatic conditions with very high temperatures, if the internal temperature in the antenna tracking system head exceeds +55°C (can be installed only when ordering, it is not possible to add it later).
Wind sensor for INTREPID: it allows to continuously read the speed and direction of the wind for safety reasons: this way, if the wind speed exceeds the safety speed, the antenna system is automatically moved in a safe position with the antenna pointing the Zenith, thus reducing the wind load on the antenna.
Absolute encoders and maintenance kit.
S/X Dual-Band Coaxial Feed for L, LHC and RHC polarization.
High accuracy panels , for frequencies up to 20 GHz.
Radio2SpaceCom Cloud to remotely control INTREPID ground stations.

INTREPID ground station antenna system: much more than an antenna

INTREPID ground station antenna system is the result of many years in research by PrimaLuceLab engineering team that designs, develops, assembles and tests in-house all our antenna systems. This way INTREPID ground station antenna system provide unmatched performance by standard off-the-shelf antennas that are not designed for space communication: better tracking and pointing precision, higher sensitivity, better engineering quality and great italian design!

Since we create INTREPID ground station antenna systems in our factory in Italy, you can take advantage of the direct relation with the us that are the real antenna system manufacturer. Our pre-sale service can help you in everything you may need before your antenna system order. Our post-sale support can provide you with updates for hardware and software products that we specifically develop for our antenna systems. Our internal team of trained technicians is also able to install INTREPID at your location, all around the World!