Testing and Integration of CubeSat X-Band Software Defined Radio with Mobile CubeSat Command and Control (MC3) Ground Station
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.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2021
- Accession Number
- AD1150899
Entities
People
- Allyson A. Claybaugh
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School