Testing and Integration of CubeSat X-Band Software Defined Radio with Mobile CubeSat Command and Control (MC3) Ground Station

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Abstract:

A proven CubeSat form factor is leading to increasingly ambitious payloads and mission requirements, resulting in more data products and the need for higher space-to-ground transmission rates. This thesis contributes to the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) CubeSat project and Mobile CubeSat Command and Control (MC3) initiative to increase network capacity through X-band downlinks. The Space Systems Academic Group at NPS is developing and fielding a 6U CubeSat with an X-band software-defined radio (SDR) payload, constructed using commercial-off-the-shelf hardware and operated via the MC3 ground station network. The objective of this thesis research was verification of end-to-end compatibility between the X-band SDR payload and MC3 ground station receivers. Research, testing, and analysis determined radio frequency signal parameters and communications standards that enable transmission of data from the X-band SDR payload to the AMERGINT satTRAC SDR and Kratos quantum Radio SDR receivers. Simulation (through MathWorks Simulink models) and interoperability testing were conducted. Research culminated in demonstration of a successful baseband link from payload SDR hardware to both ground station receivers, with a QPSK-modulated, PN11 data transmission. Further functional and environmental testing will ensure the X-band SDR payload can effectively communicate on orbit with the MC3 network.

Author(s):
Claybaugh, Allyson A.
Author Organization(s):
Naval Postgraduate School
Funding Organization(s):
Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey , CA
Document Type:
Technical Report/Master's Thesis
Publication Date:
2021 Jun 01
Pagination:
123

Security Markings

DOCUMENT & CONTEXTUAL SUMMARY

Distribution Code:
A - Approved For Public Release
Distribution Statement: Public Release

RECORD

Collection: TRECMS
Subject Terms
Modernization Areas:
Space
Communities of Interest:
Space
Descriptor(s):
radio equipment, computer programming, wave propagation, radio frequency, communication systems, network science, radio communications, satellite communications, radio frequency devices, small satellites, software defined radio, bandwidth, command and control, digital signal processing, frequency bands, frequency shift, graphical user interface
Keyword(s):
MC3(MOBILE CUBESAT COMMAND AND CONTROL), SDR(SOFTWARE-DEFINED RADIO), CUBESAT, MATHWORKS PROGRAM, MATLAB PROGRAM, SIMULINK PROGRAM
Subject Categories:
Physics; Electrotechnology and Fluidics
Creation Date:
2021 Oct 21
Update Date:
2021 Nov 22