Brief
Ireland's Department of Culture, Communications, and Sport is seeking a supplier to design, manufacture, and deliver a turnkey High-Precision Optical Ground Station (OGS) Telescope Unit for uplink communications and satellite tracking. This procurement is part of Phase 2 of Ireland's QCI project (TransEuroOGS), co-funded by the European Commission's Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).
Key Requirements:
Optical Design: Ritchey-Chretien configuration (f/10 to f/12) with a minimum 700 mm clear aperture and low central obstruction (≤30% preferred, maximum 34%). The optics must achieve at least 95% reflectance at 1550 nm (NIR C-Band telecommunications wavelength) while maintaining broad-spectrum visibility performance, using protected gold or equivalent high-efficiency coatings.
Power Handling: Primary and secondary mirrors must safely handle continuous 40W laser beams at 1550 nm with power density below 3300 W/m².
Focus and Aperture: At least one Nasmyth focus port with completely reflective optics (no refracting elements). Clear aperture through the Nasmyth axis must be at least 60 mm to support Adaptive Optics systems.
Mount and Tracking: Alt-Azimuth direct-drive mount capable of tracking Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites with azimuth slew rates ≥5°/second, pointing accuracy <8-10 arcsec RMS, and tracking rates exceeding 1°/second.
Physical Constraints: Total height ≤3000 mm, radial envelope ≤1470 mm, with elevation pivot axis positioned no more than 155 mm below the clearance envelope center.
Software Integration: Must support open-source protocols (INDI/INDIGO) or ASCOM/ALPACA frameworks with fully documented REST/HTTP or WebSocket APIs for automated control. Ethernet interface and DC power supply preferred.
Delivery: Complete delivery within 3-4 months from contract signature. CAD models and opto-mechanical layout files required upon award.
