Session
Weekday Session 10: Ground Systems
Location
Utah State University, Logan, UT
Abstract
Small satellites, also known as CubeSats and Small Sats, have revolutionized the space industry by providing cost-effective solutions for satellite deployment and operation. Although permanent ground stations are more desirable, for student groups and other satellite organizations building something permanent on the roof is not always an option. POINTY (Pleiades Omnidirectional Interface Node to Yearling) presents a low-budget mobile ground station for communication with CubeSats and Small Sats using a tracking telescope mount, a handheld Yagi antenna, and tracking software. The system was designed to be portable and cost-effective, making it accessible to amateur satellite enthusiasts and educational institutions.
The telescope mount was chosen as the base for the mobile ground station due to its ability to connect to Stellarium and other tracking software on a computer. The mount was modified to incorporate the Yagi antenna, allowing it to accurately track satellites in real time. The handheld Yagi antenna was selected for its high gain and directional characteristics, which are critical for efficient communication with CubeSats. This choice of parts allows the entire system to be under the $1,000 mark making it accessible to educators as well as people looking for a low-budget solution to a mobile ground station. The system was successfully deployed and was able to track satellites at different elevations and azimuth angles. Highlighting POINTY's ability to be used in a wide range of applications, including satellite observation, amateur satellite communication, and educational purposes.
In conclusion, the low-budget mobile ground station presented in this study offers a cost-effective and portable solution for communication with CubeSats and Small Sats. The system's high accuracy, versatility, and adaptability make it a valuable tool for amateur satellite enthusiasts, educational institutions, and professional organizations. POINTY has the potential to increase access to satellite technology and facilitate further research in the small satellite field.
A Low-Cost Mobile Ground Station Architecture for Amateur UHF Communications: POINTY
Utah State University, Logan, UT
Small satellites, also known as CubeSats and Small Sats, have revolutionized the space industry by providing cost-effective solutions for satellite deployment and operation. Although permanent ground stations are more desirable, for student groups and other satellite organizations building something permanent on the roof is not always an option. POINTY (Pleiades Omnidirectional Interface Node to Yearling) presents a low-budget mobile ground station for communication with CubeSats and Small Sats using a tracking telescope mount, a handheld Yagi antenna, and tracking software. The system was designed to be portable and cost-effective, making it accessible to amateur satellite enthusiasts and educational institutions.
The telescope mount was chosen as the base for the mobile ground station due to its ability to connect to Stellarium and other tracking software on a computer. The mount was modified to incorporate the Yagi antenna, allowing it to accurately track satellites in real time. The handheld Yagi antenna was selected for its high gain and directional characteristics, which are critical for efficient communication with CubeSats. This choice of parts allows the entire system to be under the $1,000 mark making it accessible to educators as well as people looking for a low-budget solution to a mobile ground station. The system was successfully deployed and was able to track satellites at different elevations and azimuth angles. Highlighting POINTY's ability to be used in a wide range of applications, including satellite observation, amateur satellite communication, and educational purposes.
In conclusion, the low-budget mobile ground station presented in this study offers a cost-effective and portable solution for communication with CubeSats and Small Sats. The system's high accuracy, versatility, and adaptability make it a valuable tool for amateur satellite enthusiasts, educational institutions, and professional organizations. POINTY has the potential to increase access to satellite technology and facilitate further research in the small satellite field.
