THESE - Dimensioning of Multimission Ground segment -F/H

This PhD thesis project focuses on dimensioning multimission ground segments for Earth observation and monitoring satellites. It involves developing advanced real-time scheduling solutions and optimization frameworks to manage increasing data traffic demands while incorporating various ground antenna technologies and evaluating MIMO technology. The project aims to ensure resilient operations and efficient resource allocation for LEO/MEO systems.

Must Have

• Definition of representative scenarios for multi-mission ground segments operating in S-, X-, and/or Ka-bands.
• Development of optimization methods for efficient dimensioning of multi-mission ground segments.
• Proficiency in optimization tools.
• Knowledge of wireless communication systems.
• Experience in numerical simulation programming (e.g., Python, Matlab, C++).

Perks & Benefits

• Success driven by technological excellence, experience, and shared ambition.
• Attractive compensation package.
• Continuous skill development through training courses, academies, and internal communities.
• Inclusive, benevolent environment respecting employee balance.
• Recognized societal and environmental commitment.

Let's build a future of trust together

Thales is a global leader in high technologies specializing in three sectors of activity: Defense & Security, Aeronautics & Space, and Cyber & Digital. It develops products and solutions that contribute to a safer, more environmentally friendly, and more inclusive world. The Group invests nearly 4 billion euros per year in Research & Development, particularly in key areas of innovation such as AI, cybersecurity, quantum, cloud technologies, and 6G. Thales has nearly 81,000 employees in 68 countries.

Our commitments, your benefits

• Success driven by our technological excellence, your experience, and our shared ambition
• An attractive compensation package
• Continuous skill development: training courses, academies, and internal communities
• An inclusive, benevolent environment respecting employee balance
• A recognized societal and environmental commitment

Your daily life

The Toulouse Champollion site brings together activities in satellite systems engineering, the design and production of payloads, the development and qualification of ground segments. It integrates a research center and an industrial accelerator for start-ups and ventures, as well as activities dedicated to low-temperature science, more precisely to the development and production of micromechanical coolers for demanding markets.

Earth observation and monitoring satellites have become strategic assets for many key areas such as agriculture and environmental public policy. The observation data are handled on board the satellites by the so-called payload data handling and transmission (PDHT) subsystems, which are responsible for storing and forwarding the information to ground data centres for further processing and evaluation. The growing number of missions launched to provide Earth observation and monitoring services, together with the time-critical nature of data access, calls for a fundamental rethinking of the ground segment infrastructure.

Whereas past missions were generally designed with dedicated ground infrastructures, a recent trend often referred to as Ground Segment as a Service (GSaaS) promotes the mutualization of ground assets among multiple missions. This approach allows mission operators to contract providers with existing global infrastructures, enabling significant capital expenditure savings and optimizing the use of ground stations.

However, allocating ground segment resources under time and capacity constraints has become an increasingly complex problem given the ever-growing number of missions.

Expanding the network with new ground segment sites to meet capacity demands is not a viable solution due to geographical, political, economic, and technical (e.g., interference) limitations. In this context, advanced real-time scheduling solutions must be developed to ensure that the service level agreements (SLAs) of the missions, such as required uplink and downlink data rates or the availability of contact windows, are fulfilled with the existing ground infrastructure.

Consequently, this project aims to develop satellite range scheduling solutions for multi-mission ground segments dedicated to LEO/MEO Earth observation and monitoring systems. Unlike previous studies, this work will incorporate various ground antenna technologies (e.g., steerable reflectors, small- and large-scale sparse phased arrays) to thoroughly assess their impact on resource allocation. The potential of MIMO technology to enhance access to scarce spectrum resources will also be evaluated. The work will deliver an optimization framework for ground segment design that balances resource constraints with the need for resilient operations.

The project will include the following core activities:

1. Definition of representative scenarios for multi-mission ground segments operating in the S-, X-, and/or Ka-bands for Earth observation and monitoring missions, including the specification of required data rates, quality-of-service parameters, and data flow prioritization for Earth– space and space–Earth links

2. Development of optimization methods for the efficient dimensioning of multi-mission ground segments, aimed at ensuring sustainable and resilient support for increasing data traffic demands

Research field:

• Electrical engineering
• Communication engineering

Required skills:

• Optimization tools
• Wireless communication systems
• Numerical simulation programming (e.g., Python, Matlab, C++, …)

The Thesis will include 18 months at Thales Alenia Space in Toulouse, followed by 18 months at the University of the Bundeswehr Munich, Germany. In total the PhD will span 36 months

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