Polish engineers have developed the SEXTANS receiver for micro- and nanosatellites. This device can determine satellite positions in space with 2-meter accuracy and monitor their trajectories.
Precision and Continuous Monitoring
Developed by GMV’s Warsaw branch, SEXTANS can precisely pinpoint a satellite’s orbit position and speed with an accuracy of 0.01 m/s. It also supports continuous measurement.
Key Component for Space Missions
“SEXTANS could be crucial for various space missions, such as formation flights, satellite servicing, space debris management, suborbital flights, and payload deployment to low Earth orbit,” reads a statement from GMV, which specializes in space, aviation, defense, and telecommunications technologies.
ESA Contract and Future Plans
The European Space Agency (ESA) has awarded GMV a €78.4 million contract to develop key technologies and demonstrate the benefits of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites for Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT). GMV will create a test receiver and demonstrate the LEO-PNT service.
Revolutionizing Satellite Navigation
Traditional satellite navigation relied on medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellites. The future will see orbiters at various altitudes, offering greater signal accuracy. GMV and ESA’s contract plans to launch five satellites by 2027, revolutionizing satellite navigation with advanced UHF, L, S, and C band signals.