ETS-Lindgren will showcase innovative RF Shielding Products and services for satellite test and measurement applications at SATELLITE 2023. Held from March 13 to 16 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC, this year’s technical program features industry leaders from SpaceX, Northrop Grumman Space Systems, Eutelsat, and others in the satellite community presenting on a wide range of topics.
“We are seeing a tremendous growth in the demand for our RF shielding products and services for testing satellite components and full satellites as complete systems,” said Frans Stork, Regional Sales Director Americas West with ETS-Lindgren. “The satellite market is increasingly commercial, with many new companies joining the more traditional aerospace, military, and government organizations." Our customer base is very diverse, which is exciting. "We are happy to lend our expertise to working with customers in all industries to supply the optimal test solution for their satellite performance verification test requirements,” he added.
The Satellite 2023 Exhibition will be held from 14-16 March. Visitors to ETS-Lindgren’s exhibit booth 2748 will see examples of the latest RF shielding solutions for testing satellites and related components.
Products on display include Absorbers, Antennas, a representation of an antenna measurement system, and a passive intermodulation (PIM) “cutaway.” This cutaway model of a Passive Intermodulation (PIM) chamber provides an indication of the complexity of these test environments in terms of maintaining RF shielding performance. The model shows an example of penetrations used to bring air, water, power, and other necessities into and out of the chamber, which, if not designed and installed correctly, will adversely impact shielding integrity.
“Testing a satellite, whether as a complete system or as a sensitive satellite component, is quite complicated,” said Mr. Stork. “Not only do you need to provide a secure RF-shielded environment, but you may also need to address clean room requirements, depending upon the test applications." Satellites are expensive, delicate, and difficult to fix once launched, so great care must be taken when transporting the satellite as a device under test (DUT) into and out of the test chamber. To assist customers in creating a specification for a full satellite test chamber or a smaller chamber for testing satellite components, ETS-Lindgren has created the helpful brochure “Top 10 Considerations for Satellite Chamber Design and Testing.”
The content is based upon ETS-Lindgren’s decades of experience in the design, manufacture, and installation of RF shielded enclosures for testing full satellites and satellite components. Topics addressed include site planning using building information modeling (BIM), industry standards requirements, common types of test environments for specific satellite test applications, test positioner considerations, and more. A review of this “Top 10” at the initial planning stage for a satellite or related component test chamber will ensure customers are educated about the nuances inherent in this type of testing. The goal of providing the “Top 10” is to prepare customers ahead of time so there are no schedule delays or budget overruns after construction starts.
ETS-Lindgren offers service and maintenance programs to protect RF shielding investments and minimize downtime in test chambers. Speak with specialists in Booth 2748 during Satellite 2023 to hear about custom solutions designed to meet specific product needs. Know about engineering services, including BIM, which is especially helpful on large projects and allows customers to visualize the interface between the parent building and the RF Shielded Chamber. Oftentimes, planning the pathway for transporting the satellite into and out of the chamber is just as important as planning for the chamber itself. BIM helps ensure all considerations for satellite testing are reviewed in the planning stages to eliminate surprises on site, which may result in project completion delays and cost increases.
Stop by the exhibit booth 2748 at Satellite 2023 to learn about new products, maintenance and service programs, educational offerings, and more! Rest assured, ETS-Lindgren will provide continued support through its six manufacturing factories and team of more than 750 employees worldwide. ETS-Lindgren’s expertise, gained from over 50,000 global RF shielded installations, is committed to a smarter, more connected future.
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