architecture for a Future C-band / L-band GnSS mission Part 1 : C-band Services , Space-and Ground Segment , Overall Performance

m a y / j u n e 2 0 0 9 InsideGNSS 47 W ithin the European Space Agency (ESA) GNSS Evolution program, EADS Astrium has led a team analyzing the potential benefits, performance, and technical requirements for adding a Cband navigation capability to existing L-band services on a second-generation Galileo. The C-band issue is not new. Between 1998 and 2004, U.S. and European researchers undertook significant work on this subject. One of the factors that led to the decision at that time not to choose C-band for Galileo was that the required satellite payload power would have been difficult to provide. However, C-band has returned as a candidate for GNSS systems. Among the main reasons for renewed interest in Cband is that its frequency (5010 5030 MHz) is rather untouched compared to the L-band, where existing and new navigation satellite systems have proliferated. Moreover, C-band offers a variety of technical characteristics compared to L-band that make it particularly attractive for regulated and safety-critical applications. The provision of a C-band navigation signal on a future GNSS would make sense if a new set of services can be offered (with markets behind them) and the satellite power requirements working papers