Analysis of connection schemes between the ICU and the DPU of the NISP instrument of the Euclid mission

Euclid is a middle class ESA mission dedicated to the observation of the space, more in particular the dark matter and the dark energy. To do so, Euclid features two instruments: VIS (visible imager) and NISP (Near-Infrared Spectrometer and Photometer). Within the NISP, the NI-ICU (NISP Instrument Control Unit) is in charge of the control and monitoring of the instrument, and the communication with the spacecraft and the Data Processing Unit (NI-DPU). This paper summarizes the analysis carried out at the Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena (UPCT) and the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) with regard to the communication link between NI-ICU and NI-DPU at the end of phase B1, 9 months before IPDR (Instrument Preliminary Design Review). © 2013 Springer-Verlag.