Session
Technical Session III: Making Space Accessible
Abstract
PCSAT2 is a follow-on digital communications payload to the highly successful PCsat[1] that was launched on 30 Sept 2001. PCSAT2 evolved from our success with PCsat’s off-the-shelf command, control and telemetry design and the Navy’s availability of a solar cell experiment that was going to fly as an external payload on ISS this year. Due to the Navy’s short fuse and with only 9 months development time available, the Navy payload was going to be a passive sample-return mission with no external communications capability. But since it was a solar experiment, the non solar facing half of the experiment box was available for an educational payload. Combining the two missions lead to synergistic advantages for both parties and a resulting communications experiment that was perfect for operating within the rules of the Amateur Satellite Service[2]. The original PCsat was a complete success and it has been used by thousands of users in its first 19 months of flight. It has validated the viability of using off-the-shelf AX.25 for all Telemetry Command and Control as well as supporting a bent-pipe user communications mission. We have many lessons learned and experiences with spacecraft operations from PCsat and many ideas for the future. This paper summarizes the design and operations background from PCsat and then provides details for the PCSAT2 mission design.
Presentation Slides
PCSAT2: Synergy in the Amateur Satellite Service
PCSAT2 is a follow-on digital communications payload to the highly successful PCsat[1] that was launched on 30 Sept 2001. PCSAT2 evolved from our success with PCsat’s off-the-shelf command, control and telemetry design and the Navy’s availability of a solar cell experiment that was going to fly as an external payload on ISS this year. Due to the Navy’s short fuse and with only 9 months development time available, the Navy payload was going to be a passive sample-return mission with no external communications capability. But since it was a solar experiment, the non solar facing half of the experiment box was available for an educational payload. Combining the two missions lead to synergistic advantages for both parties and a resulting communications experiment that was perfect for operating within the rules of the Amateur Satellite Service[2]. The original PCsat was a complete success and it has been used by thousands of users in its first 19 months of flight. It has validated the viability of using off-the-shelf AX.25 for all Telemetry Command and Control as well as supporting a bent-pipe user communications mission. We have many lessons learned and experiences with spacecraft operations from PCsat and many ideas for the future. This paper summarizes the design and operations background from PCsat and then provides details for the PCSAT2 mission design.
