Design of a Parallel Educational Satellite Ground Station
Abstract
The Mobile CubeSat Command and Control (MC3) ground station network provides communications infrastructure for small satellites developed by U.S. government organizations, contractors, and educational institutions. As the network has matured, so too have the cybersecurity requirements that govern its operations. By implementing tight configuration constraints on software, hardware, and networking, ground stations are unable to utilize the equipment outside standard operations. This poses a particular problem for educational institutions that routinely involve such equipment in their curricula for hands-on instruction and research. This research effort focuses on design, implementation, and testing of a parallel ground station toMC3 that allows educational institutions the freedom to innovate and perform research. The parallel station will share the MC3 antenna, the most valuable component of the ground station, but provide a separate rack of equipment that functions as a separate ground station. This research applies directly to those institutions that are currently members of the MC3 system. Currently, the Naval Postgraduate School, the United States Coast Guard Academy, and the United States Naval Academy have expressed interest in a parallel ground station. The resulting approach benefits these educational institutions by removing barriers of development and increasing instructional impact in the ever-competitive worldwide aerospace industry.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2022
- Accession Number
- AD1184613
Entities
People
- Bradley R. Stephens
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School