Session
Weekend Poster Session 1
Location
Utah State University, Logan, UT
Abstract
It is common for SmallSat and CubeSat operators to implement telecommunication systems using a half-duplex UHF system to reduce the cost and complexity of spcecraft hardware. This half-duplex configuration requires transmission and reception of the spacecraft signals at the same frequency, with the 402 MHz to 403 MHz band being a popular choice.
Due to practical filter limitations, it is impossible to produce an analogue filter for a ground-based receiver which can sufficiently attenuate transmissions from neighboring transmitters also operating in the same 402-403 MHz, band while still retaining a sufficiently low insertion loss to clearly receive tranmissions from a spacecraft. As a result, only one such half-duplex ground station can operate in the 402-403 MHZ frequency band in any local area at any one time.
We developed a bi-static station where the transmitting station is some 15 kilometers distant from the receiving station, allowing multiple concurrent spacecraft passes. Such an approach makes supporting UHF missions economic for ground station providers.
A Bistatic Ground Station for Concurrent Spacecraft Operations
Utah State University, Logan, UT
It is common for SmallSat and CubeSat operators to implement telecommunication systems using a half-duplex UHF system to reduce the cost and complexity of spcecraft hardware. This half-duplex configuration requires transmission and reception of the spacecraft signals at the same frequency, with the 402 MHz to 403 MHz band being a popular choice.
Due to practical filter limitations, it is impossible to produce an analogue filter for a ground-based receiver which can sufficiently attenuate transmissions from neighboring transmitters also operating in the same 402-403 MHz, band while still retaining a sufficiently low insertion loss to clearly receive tranmissions from a spacecraft. As a result, only one such half-duplex ground station can operate in the 402-403 MHZ frequency band in any local area at any one time.
We developed a bi-static station where the transmitting station is some 15 kilometers distant from the receiving station, allowing multiple concurrent spacecraft passes. Such an approach makes supporting UHF missions economic for ground station providers.
