Spaceborne GNSS-Receiver Evolution – From Classical HiRel to NewSpace Constellation

Spaceborne Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers have become indispensable components of satellites, in particular for real-time navigation as part of the attitude and orbit control system and for precise orbit determination in support of highly accurate earth observation instruments. In cooperation with the project partners TU Dresden and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), Beyond Gravity (formerly RUAG Space) has developed a flexible GNSS receiver platform targeting NewSpace applications but leveraging the performance of the current gold standards with respect to spaceborne GNSS-receiver technology. A novel radiation test environment was introduced, and selected components were radiation tested to ensure a consistent reliability.