3POD
Comat
The 3POD is an antenna-pointing mechanism designed for X-band telemetry downlink on next-generation Earth Observation satellites, orienting a Ø220 mm high-gain parabolic X-band antenna.
Key figurescomparable across the catalogue
- Data rate
- 2,000 Mbps
- Design life
- 10 years
Normalised to common units so this product can be compared with others in its category. The supplier's own wording is below.
As published by the supplier
- Pointing accuracy
- 1° (worst case)
- Slew rate
- 5°/s
- Elevation range
- +/-74°
- 90° rotation time
- <15 s
- Rotation time (average)
- 8 s
- Rotation time (worst case)
- 25 s
- Azimuth rotation
- 360°
- Design life
- 10 years
- Data rate
- 2 Gbps with low insertion loss (< 1.5 dB@pointing system level)
About
The 3POD is an innovative antenna-pointing mechanism developed by Comat in collaboration with the French Space Agency (CNES). It is specifically intended for X-band telemetry downlink applications on board next-generation Earth Observation satellites. The system is designed to orient a Ø220 mm high-gain parabolic X-band antenna, ensuring precise pointing for data transmission. Key performance characteristics include a pointing accuracy of 1° (worst case), a slew rate of 5°/s, and an elevation range of +/-74°. The mechanism can achieve a 90° rotation in less than 15 seconds, with an average rotation time of 8 seconds and a worst-case time of 25 seconds. It offers a full 360° azimuth rotation. The 3POD is designed for a 10-year operational lifetime and supports a data rate of 2 Gbps with low insertion loss (< 1.5 dB at the pointing system level).
Documentation
No public datasheet yet — request the datasheet / ICD from the supplier.