Session
Poster Session 1
Location
Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Abstract
The Dynamic Relay for Inter-satellite Fault Tolerance (DRIFT) framework consists of a radio protocol to provide a low data rate, high link margin, and low SWaP-C (Size, Weight, Power, and Cost) crosslink and up/downlink communications. The DRIFT framework is the feature being developed as a part of The PROVES CubeSat Cluster, which has, to date launched seven university CubeSats as a means of developing and providing flight heritage for various low-cost open-source CubeSat platforms.
The primary motivator for developing this system has been in pursuit of interoperability between the multiple unique satellite and ground station solutions that exist across the participating institutions. Further possibilities of a mobile ad-hoc network of satellites include the ability to route packets across satellites to their eventual destination. The fault tolerance within the network is enabled by having access to any given satellite through the other nodes since telemetry and updates can be backhauled through the network as a failsafe.
DRIFT software will fly aboard The PROVES Project mission, a CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI) awardee launching five university CubeSats in Q2, 2026. This flight test campaign will verify the performance of a network of multiple DRIFT compatible systems operating simultaneously at long ranges, without timing synchronization.
In summary, DRIFT enables satellites to operate as usual while significantly enhancing communication efficiency through inter-satellite relays. By allowing DRIFT-compatible satellites to forward data across the network, the system ensures messages reach their destination even if a direct link is unavailable.
Document Type
Event
DRIFT: Dynamic Routing for Inter-Satellite Fault Tolerance
Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City, UT
The Dynamic Relay for Inter-satellite Fault Tolerance (DRIFT) framework consists of a radio protocol to provide a low data rate, high link margin, and low SWaP-C (Size, Weight, Power, and Cost) crosslink and up/downlink communications. The DRIFT framework is the feature being developed as a part of The PROVES CubeSat Cluster, which has, to date launched seven university CubeSats as a means of developing and providing flight heritage for various low-cost open-source CubeSat platforms.
The primary motivator for developing this system has been in pursuit of interoperability between the multiple unique satellite and ground station solutions that exist across the participating institutions. Further possibilities of a mobile ad-hoc network of satellites include the ability to route packets across satellites to their eventual destination. The fault tolerance within the network is enabled by having access to any given satellite through the other nodes since telemetry and updates can be backhauled through the network as a failsafe.
DRIFT software will fly aboard The PROVES Project mission, a CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI) awardee launching five university CubeSats in Q2, 2026. This flight test campaign will verify the performance of a network of multiple DRIFT compatible systems operating simultaneously at long ranges, without timing synchronization.
In summary, DRIFT enables satellites to operate as usual while significantly enhancing communication efficiency through inter-satellite relays. By allowing DRIFT-compatible satellites to forward data across the network, the system ensures messages reach their destination even if a direct link is unavailable.
