Ultra-low-noise amplifiers developed by European Engineering & Consultancy Ltd. (EECL) are now operating successfully in orbit on the European Space Agency’s HydroGNSS Earth observation mission, marking an early technical milestone for the satellite payloads.
The HydroGNSS mission—ESA’s first Earth Observation “Scout” mission to reach orbit—launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California in November 2025 and consists of two small satellites designed to monitor key hydrological and climate variables using signals from global navigation satellite systems (GNSS).
EECL supplied six multiband ultra-low-noise microwave amplifiers (LNAs) that form part of the radio-frequency front end for the mission’s GNSS reflectometry receiver. The LNAs amplify extremely weak reflected navigation signals while preserving signal integrity, allowing the satellites to capture usable data at the earliest stage of signal reception.
Pour en savoir plus : EECL Amplifiers Reach In-Orbit Milestone on ESA HydroGNSS Mission
