From Newsgroup: sci.space.policy


"CCSDS Outreach Initiative and Competition CCSDS Outreach Initiative
and Reference Implementation Development Competition

ESA is presenting a pilot programme on behalf of The Consultative
Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) and is pleased to announce a
new outreach initiative aimed at strengthening engagement with the
European amateur satellite and academic communities. This initiative
supports the wider objective of promoting the adoption and practical application of CCSDS space communication standards.

CCSDS invites European amateur satellite operators, students,
educators, and academic researchers to participate and to help advance
open, interoperable space communication technologies.

ESA, in partnership with Goonhilly Earth Station, CCSDS, AMSAT-UK, and AMSAT-DL, are launching a competition to develop high-quality
reference implementations of selected CCSDS protocols. This
competition is sponsored by the European Space Agency (ESA).

About the Competition

This programme invites participants to:

Develop open, standards-compliant reference implementations of CCSDS
protocols Contribute to a shared technical resource for amateur
satellite operators, universities, and research groups Gain
recognition within both the CCSDS community and the broader space communications field An in-person hackathon at Goonhilly Earth Station
will be available to interested participants, providing a unique
environment for collaboration, expert guidance, and accelerated
development.

Goonhilly Earth Station is coordinating the competition and will not
assert any ownership over Hackathon/Competition outputs.

Prize

Winners of the competition will receive an invitation to attend a
CCSDS conference in the United States, where they will present their
results to the international CCSDS community.

Protocols Featured in the Competition

These are the outlines of the two CCSDS protocols selected for this competition:

LunaNet Signal-In-Space Recommended Standard rCo Augmented Forward
Signal (LSIS rCo AFS) The LSISrCoAFS standard defines how lunar orbiters
or surface systems broadcast a unified navigation and timing signal to
support future missions on and around the Moon. It provides a
framework for creating an enhanced, interoperable rCLforward signalrCY
that spacecraft, rovers, and astronauts can use for more accurate
positioning, timing, and situational awareness. Space Communications
Session Control (CCSDS 235.1) The CCSDS 235.1 standard defines how
space missions establish, manage, and conclude communication sessions
between spacecraft and ground systems. It provides a common framework
that ensures reliable coordination when exchanging data, sending
commands, and transitioning between communication states.
Participants may choose either to develop a functional concept or
prototype that demonstrates how the LSISrCoAFS signal could be designed, transmitted, interpreted, or applied to support future lunar missions,
or to create a practical, interoperable reference implementation of
Space Communications Session Control aligned with the CCSDS 235.1
standard.

A Long-Term Vision: Toward a Cislunar Amateur Radio Payload

CCSDS is pleased to highlight a longer-term aspiration linked to this initiative. In close cooperation with its partnersrCoparticularly ESA,
which is proposing a future cislunar amateur radio payloadrCoCCSDS
intends to support the preparation of the most successful protocol implementations for potential consideration for flight.

This offers an exceptional opportunity for community-developed
CCSDS-compliant software to be demonstrated in a deep-space
operational environment.

This prospective mission is subject to funding and programme approval.

Contact and Expressions of Interest

For enquiries or to express interest in participating, please contact:

Efoo esa-competition@amsat-uk.org

Further Information

Additional detailsrCoincluding eligibility criteria, protocol
specifications, submission requirements, evaluation processes, and timelinesrCowill be released soon.

Word doc CCSDS rCo Outreach and Competition Anouncement"
says
HTTPS://AmSat-UK.org/2025/12/08/ccsds-outreach-initiative-and-competition
dated 8th December 2025.
(S. HTTP://Gloucester.Insomnia247.NL/ fuer Kontaktdaten!)
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