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Callisto moves to new offices

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We are pleased to announce our move to larger premises from the 8th of August 2011, in Villefranche-de-Lauragais (Midi-Pyrené es), 30 min East of Toulouse. The new location will more than double our workshop and laboratory areas.

The move marks continued investment by Callisto for our growth in the satellite communication, radioastronomy and cryo-engineering markets.


This move symbolises an exciting new phase of development for Callisto, explains Steve Rawson, Director. The new premises will enable us to take full advantage of our investments in R+D over the past 2 years as new products come on-line. The additional office, laboratory and workshop areas will allow us to fulfill future production needs, recruit additional engineering staff whilst maintaining the highest practices in  support and service provision for our existing clients.



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New contract with BKG for supply a Multi-Band Cryogenic Dewar

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Callisto is pleased to announce that it has recently been awarded a new contract to provide a Multi-Band cryogenic Dewar for installation on a VLBI telescope located at Bundesamt fuer Kartographie und Geodaesie (BKG), Fundamentalstation, Wettzell. This contract is a continuation of a preceding collaboration with the Geodetic Observatory Wettzell (GOW) for building a new cryogenic Test Dewar.


 


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New Frame Contract with ESOC for Supply & Support of Cryogenically Cooled Amplifiers

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Callisto is pleased to announce that it has recently been awarded a new frame contract by the European Space Agency for the supply and maintenance support of cryogenically cooled amplifiers which are used in ESA's Deep Space ground stations.  This contract is a continuation of two preceding frame contracts dating back to 1999.  Since this date Callisto has been supply and providing maintenance support for all the cryogenic low noise amplifiers used in the ESA Deep Space ground stations.   To date Callisto has supplied a total of 16 operational cryo-LNAs and is currently working on and order for another 5 for the new DS3 station in Argentina.    ESA has also confirmed an order for 6 new X-band cryo-LNAs to replace the older units in New Norcia (DSA1) and Cebreros (DSA2) ground stations.  The new X-Band units will be delivered in batches over the next three years.

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Callisto and ESA TTC2010 Workshop

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Callisto will be represented in strength at the 5th ESA Workshop on Tracking, Telemetry and Command Systems for Space Applications which will take place in the 3rd week of September.  Callisto staff will be presenting 4 oral papers during the 3 day conference and 1 poster presentation.  In addition to the papers Callisto will also be participating in the exhibition and will be displaying the newly developed K-band dual mode LNA.    The size of the Callisto delegation at TTC2010 is a demonstration of our deep involvement in ESA Ground Systems developments.  The Callisto team is heavily involved in a number of important ESA projects including the 3rd Deep Space Antenna, ESTRACK upgrades and the Space Surveillance Awareness project.

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Callisto to Supply Cryo LNAs for ESA's Third Deep Space Ground Station

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Callisto has been awarded a sub-contract by SED Systems of Saskatoon, Canada to supply cryogenic LNAs for ESA's third deep space ground station, which will be built in Argentina.   SED Systems are the prime contractor for the project and Callisto will supply the critical cryo LNA sub-system comprising three X-Band amplifiers, with an option for an addition set of Ka-Band amplifiers.  


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New Cryogenic Test Dewar

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Callisto is building a new cryogenic Test Dewar for the Geodetic Observatory Wettzell (GOW) of the Bundesamt für Kartographie und Geodäsie (BKG) in Germany. 


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Callisto's participation in the LEOP* of ESA's Herschel and Planck Mission

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"For any space mission, the ground segment is vital for operating a spacecraft and processing data received from its instrument. Planck is no different, with hardware, software, telecommunication and other operations reaching from Spain to Australia" said Damien Texier, Directorate of Science and Robotic Exploration , at ESAC, Spain.**


 


The first acquisition and tracking of signals from the Herschel and Planck satellites after launch, was achieved at New Norcia ground station using a new antenna control technique called Conscan.  A problem for finding a satellite in its first orbit after launch is that its trajectory is not known precisely.  The Conscan tracking technique allows to correct for uncertainties in trajectory by making the ground station antenna beam make small circles around the expected satellite path.  The tracked signal level is processed by "curvefit" software and the results obtained can be used to find the exact satellite trajectory. The Conscan routine has been integrated as a functional module into the Front End Controllers (FEC) at two ESA ground stations (New Norcia and Masplaomas). Callisto engineering staff at ESOC provide support for the development and testing of the FEC and have also participated in the design of the curvefit process and the implementation of the Conscan module.


 


*Launch and Early Orbit Phase                                **ESA Bulletin 139.


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Design of a New X-Band Cryogenic LNA for ESAs Deep Space Network

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ESA uses cryogenic LNAs for its deep space telecommunications network  and has decided to upgrade the design of its X-Band cryogenic LNAs with new thermal and RF components to improve performance and long-term reliability.


 


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Ka band LNAs for SATCOM ground terminals

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Callisto has launched a program of development of LNAs to serve the emerging Ka Band SATCOM market.  "A number of Ka band communications satellites are ear marked for launch in the coming years to serve European users including HYLAS, KA-SAT and Athena-Fidus" says Steve Rawson     Callisto's CEO. "Callisto is aiming to position itself as a supplier for the ground terminal component market in Ka Band with low noise front end products.  We are studying designs of both cooled and uncooled LNAs."


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