W band communication link, design and on ground experimentation

The work aims at demonstrating the applicability of W band for the provision of an experimental service founded on the point-to-point communication and transfer of high data volumes between ISS or LEO satellites to ground and for scientific purposes related to the acquisition of propagation data in this unexplored range of frequency. Based on the experience of Oerlikon Contraves in the development of W band radar sensors operating at 95 GHz for Airport Surface Movement Control and Guidance, on the availability of parts and specific instrumentations and on the experience of the University of Tor Vergata gained during the phase A and B of DAVID mission, an industrial/scientific team has been created with the scope of demonstrating on ground the feasibility of a W band communication link and its validation in terms of mathematical propagation models.