Digital Commons Network^™

A Complete Receiver For A Multi-H Continuous Phase Frequently Shift Keyed Signal In The Presence Of Doppler, Brendan Hill, Nazia Mozaffar, Salwan Damman

Small Satellite Conference

In the absence of signal imperfections other than the presence of additive white Gaussian (AWGN) noise, Continuous Phase Frequency Shift Keyed (CPFSK) signals with a changing modulation index (referred to in the literature as "multi-h") will have only a few possible starting and end phases at each symbol interval. This allows them to be represented in a trellis diagram where they inherently possess coding gain that can be realized with a Viterbi decoder. However, with a low earth orbit altitude small satellite exhibiting a large time-varying Doppler, the Viterbi decoder fails to maintain this coding gain advantage if the receiver …

Full-Metal Reflectarray For Space Applications, Gautier Mazingue, Louis Mangenot, Ksenia Sharshavina, Maxime Romier, Nicolas Capet

Small Satellite Conference

This paper proposes a new full-metal unit cell for reflectarray antenna for space applications. It can be scaled to operate from X-band to Ka-band with the same manufacturing process. In this paper, An X-band 3-panel reflectarray for small satellite has been designed in this paper. The reflectarray has been simulated on the [8-8.4] GHz band and shows a good stability on the band. The maximum gain is 28 dB and the half-power beamwidth is 8°.

Creating The Jacd2 Central Support Structure – The Ndsa Transport Layer, Frank Turner

Small Satellite Conference

No abstract provided.

First Demonstration Of A Post-Quantum Key-Exchange With A Nanosatellite, Simon Burkhardt, Willi Meier, Christoph F. Wildfeuer, Ayesha Reezwana, Tanvirul Islam, Alexander Ling

Small Satellite Conference

We demonstrate a post-quantum key-exchange with the nanosatellite SpooQy-1 in low Earth orbit using Kyber-512, a lattice-based key-encapsulation mechanism and a round three finalist in the NIST PQC standardization process. Our firmware solution runs on an on-board computer that is based on the Atmel AVR32 RISC microcontroller, a widely used platform for nanosatellites. We uploaded the new firmware with a 436.2 MHz UHF link using the CubeSat Space Protocol (CSP) and performed the steps of the key exchange in several passes over Switzerland. The shared secret key generated in this experiment could potentially be used to encrypt RF links with …

Implementing The New Ccsds Housekeeping Data Compression Standard 124.0-B-1 (Based On Pocket+) On Ops-Sat-1, David Evans, Georges Labrèche, Dominik Marszk, Sam Bammens, Miguel Hernández-Cabronero, Vladimir Zelenevskiy, Vasundhara Shiradhonkar, Milenko Starcik, Maximilian Henkel

Small Satellite Conference

The number of telemetry parameters available in a typical spacecraft is constantly increasing. At the same time, the bandwidth available to download all that information is rather static. Operators must therefore make hard choices between which parameters to downlink or not, in which different situations, and at which sampling rates. This tradeoff is more problematic for missions with higher communication latency beyond LEO. Since 2009, The European Space Agency’s European Space Operations Center (ESA/ESOC) has been promoting the compression of housekeeping telemetry as a solution to this problem. Most spacecraft housekeeping telemetry parameters compress extremely well if they are pre-processed …

Cosmic Radiation Reduced Photo-Thermal Dispersion In Silicon Micro-Ring Resonators, Lorry Chang, Dun Mao, Hwaseob Lee, Tingyi Gu, Anthony W. Yu, Michael A. Krainak, Po Dong

Small Satellite Conference

We show post-spaceflight results for a silicon photonic integrated circuit micro-ring resonator. The free-carrier lifetime reduced by factor of 2 after radiation damage events in space.

Catsat: A 6u Inflatable Antenna Technology Demonstration Mission, Aman Chandra, Terrance Pat, Christopher Walker

Small Satellite Conference

This paper describes the design, development and flight testing of a half-meter spherical membrane reflector antenna built out of reflective and clear Mylar segments. A custom-built line feed optimized for operation at 10.5 GHz is used for spherical correction. The antenna system has been jointly developed by the University of Arizona and FreeFall Aerospace, Inc as primary payload to be demonstrated on-orbit on the University of Arizona’s 6U LEO mission CATSAT, nominally scheduled to launch no earlier than September 2022. The launch is a part of NASA’s CSLI program. The mission has been designed for a low earth sun-synchronous orbit. …

Performance Evaluation Of Silicon Mach-Zehnder Modulator After Cosmic Radiation To Enable Small Satellite Laser Communication, Dun Mao, Lorry Chang, Tiantian Li, Hwaseob Lee, Tingyi Gu, Anthony W. Yu, Michael A. Krainak, Serhat Altunc, Po Dong

Small Satellite Conference

To evaluate the performance change of Photonic integrated circuits after real cosmic radiation, silicon Mach-Zehnder Modulators were mounted on International Space Station on Low Earth Orbit for 6 months’ radiation harshness. Measured data of the device before and after radiation showed the permanent change of the effective index (around 10^-3), the reduced carrier recombination lifetime, and the extended high speed bandwidth.

Mission Operations, Cubed: Nasa Marshall Operations Support For Smallsats, Darren S. Wallace, Sam Digesu, Clifton Jones, Geoff Lochmaier, David Hitt

Small Satellite Conference

SmallSats have come a long way since the Huntsville Operations Support Center (HOSC) at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center supported its first “minisatellite” mission in 2010. And just as SmallSats themselves have evolved in those 12 years, so too has the HOSC’s mission support for SmallSats. Marshall Space Flight Center has a long history with payload and mission operations, including support for the Apollo missions to the moon, the Space Shuttle program, and 21 years of continuous around-the-clock science operations support for research aboard the International Space Station. Today, the HOSC is a multi-tenant facility, supporting not only ISS, but …

3ucubed: The Imap Student Collaboration Cubesat Project, Sanjeev Mehta, Noé Lugaz, Lindsay Bartolone, Marc Lessard, Jenna Burgett, Laura Peticolas, Lynn Cominsky, Marcus Jernigan, Alfred, Sonya Smith

Small Satellite Conference

The 3UCubed project is a 3U CubeSat being jointly developed by the University of New Hampshire, Sonoma State University, and Howard University as a part of the NASA Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP)¹ student collaboration. This project consists of a multidisciplinary team of undergraduate students from all three universities. The mission goal of the 3UCubed is to understand how Earth's polar upper atmosphere (‘the thermosphere’ in Earth’s auroral regions) responds to particle precipitation and solar wind forcing and internal magnetospheric processes.

3UCubed includes two instruments with rocket heritage to achieve the science mission: an ultraviolet photomultiplier tube (UV-PMT) …

A Modular Command And Data Handling System Concept For Small Satellites, Abdullah Alsalmani, Mohammed Almehrezi, Abdul-Halim Jallad

Small Satellite Conference

The increasing demand for high-performance computer systems on board space missions applications, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, are drivers of the need for higher on-board command and data handling specifications. Consequently, a modular Command and Data Handling Subsystem (CDHS) is required in order to manage the complexity of future CDHS hardware. Some systems have applied a similar approach; however, they either focus on large scale satellites or have a certain level of complexity that limits their usage by learners. This paper proposes a modular Command and Data Handling System that includes several layers providing more flexibility in design …

Lessons Learned From The Application Of Risk Management Process To Sport Cubesat Project, Pedro Cabral, Linelcio Paula, Lidia Shibuya Sato, Willer Gomes Dos Santos, Loures Da Costa

Small Satellite Conference

The project implementation of a CubeSat System may have many risks which negatively impact aspects such as technical performance, system safety, cost, and schedule. To increase mission success, we may apply a risk management process. The Scintillation Prediction Observation Research Task (SPORT) CubeSat Project is a scientific mission to address the space weather problem of understanding the preconditions leading to equatorial plasma bubbles. SPORT is an international partnership between institutions from the United States of America and Brazil. The present research focuses on risk management activities from the point of view of the ITA Space Center in Brazil. There is …

Reconnaissance And Documentation, Terra Gordon, Richard Harold, Cayli Farias, Logan Hill, Sharik Joseph, Julia Kjenstad, Michael Lauber, Dakota Ross, Dominick Uzzardo

Small Satellite Conference

The Reconnaissance and Documentation (RAD) project aims to be a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) based satellite that will utilize image recognition and optical remote sensing technology to target countries currently experiencing Stage Seven or higher on the United Nations’ Ten Stages of Genocide. Once a target is located, the Leza satellite will capture images and downlink to a ground station based in Prescott, Arizona. These images will be processed internally and then reviewed before being sent to the United Nations and mainstream media outlets to assist in providing the legal evidence needed for the conviction of war criminals. The system …

Democratizing Access To Space: Kube Platform For Cubesat, Minsik Lee, Naeem Altaf

Small Satellite Conference

We live in an environment where interest in space is hotter than ever, and new emerging technologies related to space are introduced daily. Now, space has come to have a close relationship with our real lives, not our imagination. There are already various services such as GPS and satellite-based communication services, and now humans are trying to extend the range of mankind beyond the moon to Mars.

However, despite these efforts, there are still many obstacles to space access. Space has really only been accessible to well-resourced nation-states, organizations, and the super-wealthy.

Our vision and goal for this mission was, …

S-Band Qpsk Transmitter For Picosatellites, Jay Deorukhkar, Peter W. Pachowicz

Small Satellite Conference

The small satellite field has become popular amongst academia, amateur satellite (AMSAT) community, and commercial businesses due to the miniaturization of components and smaller form factors. Specifically, the picosatellite structure has gained attraction for its size and affordability of launch fees. However, the size constraint makes it difficult to generate power and limits the transmit power for downlink. Therefore, efficient data modulation is key to providing high data downlink rates. Also, the typical VHF and UHF frequency spectrum used for satellites is getting congested. Hence, the higher frequency bands such as S-band and X-band are gaining attraction and offer higher …

Gosa – An European Offshore Spaceport For Microlaunchers & Small Satellites, Andreas Stamminger, Dieter Birreck, Christian Boehmer, Oliver Spalthoff, Heiko Felderhoff, Arne Gausepohl, Andreas Nil, Heiko Rinderle, Sabine Von Der Recke

Small Satellite Conference

Europe profits from the boom of the New Space industry, a growing number of startups and small and medium-sized companies offering space infrastructure and space-based services. With HyImpulse, ISAR Aerospace, Orbex, PLD, Rocket Factory Augsburg and Skyrora, several promising microlauncher companies are located in Europe. An offshore spaceport with a well-connected on-shore site in Northern Germany enabling launch of small satellites to Polar or Sun Synchronous Low Earth Orbits provides the opportunity for this growing New Space region to develop a cluster in a future market and thereby create an economic eco system, which spans everything from the satellite manufacturer …

Path To The First Flight Of The Sl-Omv, Christopher Loghry, John Howat, James Leak

Small Satellite Conference

The growing number of Small Launch Vehicles (SLV) will lower the cost of space access in the coming years, but many challenges remain for CubeSats. CubeSats still have the concerns and obstacles as a secondary payload on a larger rocket as they do on a small rocket such as desired orbital location and constellation phasing without using on-board propulsion or time-consuming differential drag.

Many of these challenges can be met using the Small Launch Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle (SL-OMV). The SL-OMV is a propulsive adapter that can be used to distribute CubeSat payloads with different orbital parameters than the primary payload …

18 Sds Small Satellite Support, Cynthia Wilson, Diana Mckissock

Small Satellite Conference

In addition to its primary mission, the U.S. Space Force’s 18th Space Defense Squadron (18 SDS) provides orbital data and services at no cost to satellite owners and operators worldwide in the interests of spaceflight safety. We track all artificial objects in Earth orbit, generate orbital elements and forecast reentries, and publish the data on the website, www.space-track.org. In concert with our sister squadron, the 19th Space Defense Squadron (19 SDS), the data produced by the 18 SDS is used to predict close approaches to support collision avoidance by satellite operators including small satellite owners. Of note, however, neither the …

A Small Launch Per Month? - 2022 Edition Of The Annual Industry Survey, Carlos Niederstrasser

Small Satellite Conference

While many, including this author, have publicly stated that the number of small launch vehicles under development is not sustainable, investor money continues to flow into this market segment. New announcements of multimillion funding rounds are occurring several times a year. Even the challenges posed by the worldwide COVID pandemic, have not slowed down this trend. In 2015 we first presented this survey at the AIAA/USU Conference on Small Satellites1, and we identified twenty small launch vehicles under development. By mid-2022 eleven vehicles in this class were operational, 47 were identified under development, and another 47 more were potential new …

Positionality: The Interplay Of Space, Context And Identity, Rebecca Y. Bayeck

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Faculty Publications

This article considers the way in which positionality shifts and is formed during a cross-cultural study to reveal the complexity of the insider-outsider status. As a researcher in a male-dominated game setting, I reflect on the research process and my interactions with participants to show the interplay of space, context, and identity in shaping a researcher’s status. I discuss the process of gaining access to the research site and participants, and data collection in relation to space, context, and identity. The interaction of my identities with space, and context informed my status at various moments. This interplay constructs a complex …

Pre-Flight Testing Results Of Multiple Water Propulsion Systems - Resistojet And Ion Thruster For Smallsats, Jun Asakawa, Hiroyuki Koizumi, Kazuya Yaginuma, Yuichi Nakagawa

Small Satellite Conference

This paper described re-flight flight testing results of the miniature water propulsion system combined an ion thruster and resistojet thrusters which is to be demonstrated on-orbit by JAXA’s program named Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration-3. The unified propulsion system has a huge potential to expand micro/nano-spacecraft utilization and decrease the risk of debris.

Twin Ion Engine Demonstration For Small Spacecraft Applications, Michael Tsay, Riley Terhaar, Kyle Emmi, Carl Barcroft

Small Satellite Conference

Two iodine-fueled, second-generation (Gen-2) “BIT-3” gridded RF ion propulsion systems were successfully demonstrated in proximity. The test units feature a host of upgrades from the flight models delivered to Lunar IceCube and LunaH-Map 6U Cube missions onboard NASA’s SLS Artemis 1. Each Gen-2 BIT-3 system is capable of 1.1 mN thrust, 2,150 sec specific impulse and 31.7 kN-sec total impulse, at 75W maximum power input. The twin engines, separated by a mere 6.5 cm, successfully performed simultaneous startup, sequential startup, and throttling, all without noticeable plasma interference. Onboard telemetry confirms that both thruster and cathode pairs operated nominally, and both …

A Miniaturized Hydrogen Peroxide/Abs Based Hybrid Propulsion Systems For Cubesats, Tyson K. Smith, Zachary Lewis, Kurt Olsen, Ryan Thibaudeau, Stephen A. Whitmore

Small Satellite Conference

The Space Dynamics Lab is developing a prototype "green" hybrid prototype propulsion system for SmallSats. The system is based on Utah State's patented High Performance Green Hybrid Propulsion (HPGHP) technology. HPGHP leverages unique dielectric breakdown properties of 3D-printed acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), allowing re-start, stop, and re-ignition. HPGHP works most reliably using gaseous oxygen (GOX) as the oxidizer, but has experienced ignition reliability and latency issues when replaced by high test hydrogen peroxide (HTP). This deficiency results from HTP's high decomposition energy barrier. Tests show that noble metal catalysts like platinum on alumina are effective at decomposing 90% HTP in …

Real-Time Relay Of Small Satellite Remote Sensing Data To Tactical Military Operators, Robert Zitz, James Schwenke, Rob Singh

Small Satellite Conference

A Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) constellation of high bandwidth optical and RF relay satellites is urgently needed to provide real-time continuous tasking uplink and data downlink from the growing constellations of commercial remote sensing satellites. Tactical military operators have a need to establish communications links to these commercial assets, from commercial CONUS ground stations or directly to deployed ground terminals, when and where they need it. This level of access adds significant risk mitigation against adversary threats to foreign ground stations and data processing nodes in combat and can make the concept of a hybrid architecture combining government satellites and …

Development Of University-Friendly Cubesat Bus And Ground Station Architecture Using Software-Defined Radios, Jin S. Kang

Small Satellite Conference

The goal of the research and development presented in this paper is to introduce a CubeSat bus and ground station architecture that is made to be much more approachable to schools and universities. The three main pillars of the effort are low-cost, maintaining flexibility, and lowering the bar of entry. The presented CubeSat bus includes PyCubed board which houses most of the core satellite bus components on a single board. The board can handle main processing, data storage, UHF radio communication, telemetry sensors, and power management. This UHF radio is paired with a software-defined radio (SDR) that serves as the …

Flight And Direct To Earth/Space Relay Communication System Architecture For Gsfc Cubesat Missions, Ethan Abele, Serhat Altunc, Obadiah Kegege, Kaitlyn Ryder, Behnam Azimi, Michael Campola, Kevin Lynaugh, Gianfranco Barnaba, Sabit Ekin, John O'Hara

Small Satellite Conference

The CubeSat platform is finding increasing use in space science applications due to its low cost and comparative ease of launch. It is becoming a key scientific discovery tool in low Earth orbit (LEO) and beyond, including geosynchronous equatorial orbit (GEO), the Lagrange Points, Lunar missions, and more. The increasing complexity of these missions and their scientific goals must be supported by equal advancements in communications technology. Higher data rates and greater reliability are required every year. However, the reduced Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) constraints of CubeSat platforms introduce unique challenges in the area of satellite communications. There is …

System Architecture For A Cubesat Dte Laser Communication System, Pj Du Plooy, Gilles Ackaert, G. Witvoet, W. Crowcombe

Small Satellite Conference

Small satellites and CubeSats are playing an increasingly larger role in technology demonstrations, research, and obtaining data for commercial use from space. As these use cases and applications for CubeSats increase and expand the need to get fast, secure and reliable access to the data gathered by the payloads on these spacecraft also increases. To support these developments AAC Hyperion together with TNO has developed a down-to-earth laser communication module for small satellites and CubeSats with a downlink capability of 1 Gbit/s, namely CubeCAT.

One of the challenges that needed to be solved to ensure success was how to deal …

Design And Optimization Of An Autonomous Constellation Of Small-Satellites For Leo And Beyond, Mohammed Irfan Rashed, Hyochoong Bang

Small Satellite Conference

The speedy data reception with useful applications such as disaster management remains to be need of the hour. This paper addresses the major concerns relating to deployment and control of the larger small satellite (mainly cubesats) constellations in LEO by determining their relative position and velocity errors under certain acceptable limits with collision avoidance techniques. The article will also discuss the importance of Inter-satellite link to significantly to strengthen the satellite tracking and their data sharing speeds. The issue of optimal dispatch of the satellites by optimizing the constellation size is detailed though observing and controlling the orbits using a …

Test And Evaluation Of Grissom-1 Cubesat Communication Subsystem, Michael J. Bittle, Andrew S. Keys

Small Satellite Conference

The Grissom-1 mission (GM1), slated to launch in September 2022, is the first in a series of 6-Unit CubeSat satellites built and operated by the Air Force Institute of Technology’s (AFIT’s) Center for Space Research and Assurance (CSRA). Mission success for GM1 depends on a comprehensive campaign of testing and assessment to confirm the components, design, and assembly of all systems and subsystems within the satellite. This paper specifically focuses on the testing and analysis of all communication links between the spacecraft, the ground system, and the Satellite Operations Center (SOC) being hosted at the Air Force Instituteof Technology at …

Design Proposal And Realization Of An Academic-Nanosat "Pedago-Sat" Platform For Aerospace Training, Boutte Aissa, Belaidi El Yazid

Small Satellite Conference

Through this project, we try to promote the local aerospace knowledge by proposing a new kind of cooperation between the algerian universities and the ALgerian Space Agency (ASAL). The adopted method consists in developing an engineering training platform of a Nano-satellite (Open-source) and preparing functional and practical test courses to allow to the students and trainees the access to various knowledge related to the development and integration of satellites. The development plan granted to this platform (PEDAGO-SAT) is 36 months. At first milestone, a preliminary design realization of prototype are done, covering the certain equipment and sub-systems. The mechanical structure …