Session
Advanced Technologies Research & Academia 1
Location
Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City, UT
Abstract
The growing operational complexity of distributed CubeSat missions in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) demands communication architectures that provide robustness, responsiveness, and mission-level adaptability. The ITASAT2 mission, composed of three coordinated CubeSats operating in controlled relative motion, serves as a representative case to investigate how a multi-layer communication architecture can support formation flying, responsive maneuver planning, space situational awareness (SSA), distributed payload operations, and increasing levels of onboard autonomy within strict SWaP constraints. This paper proposes and analyzes a multi-band communication architecture designed to improve both operational resilience and communication responsiveness. The architecture combines a primary telemetry, tracking, and command (TT&C) channel for nominal operations, a redundant TT&C channel for command continuity and recovery, a dedicated low-latency communication layer leveraging the Iridium constellation, and a high-throughput X-band payload downlink. The low-latency layer enables rapid dissemination of operationally relevant information, including formation status, orbit determination products, spacecraft health assessments, conjunction warnings, maneuver recommendations, and payload event notifications. By reducing dependence on delayed ground-station contacts, it supports more responsive constellation management and information-centric spacecraft operations. To evaluate the proposed architecture, simulations were performed using STK, Skyfield, and LinkPredict to assess Iridium constellation accessibility and X-band communication performance for the ITA Space Center ground station. Results indicate that the Iridium network provides frequent communication opportunities suitable for low-latency operations, while the X-band link offers the throughput necessary to support payload data return and mission operations. The analysis further shows that most communication opportunities occur at relatively low elevation angles, emphasizing the importance of accounting for elevation-dependent variations in link performance during communication system design. The results suggest that future distributed missions should evaluate communication architectures not only by throughput, but also by their ability to support timely information delivery, autonomy, and responsive mission operations.
Document Type
Event
ITASAT2 Conceptual Architectural Design of a Multi-Band Communication Framework for Distributed CubeSat Formation Operations
Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City, UT
The growing operational complexity of distributed CubeSat missions in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) demands communication architectures that provide robustness, responsiveness, and mission-level adaptability. The ITASAT2 mission, composed of three coordinated CubeSats operating in controlled relative motion, serves as a representative case to investigate how a multi-layer communication architecture can support formation flying, responsive maneuver planning, space situational awareness (SSA), distributed payload operations, and increasing levels of onboard autonomy within strict SWaP constraints. This paper proposes and analyzes a multi-band communication architecture designed to improve both operational resilience and communication responsiveness. The architecture combines a primary telemetry, tracking, and command (TT&C) channel for nominal operations, a redundant TT&C channel for command continuity and recovery, a dedicated low-latency communication layer leveraging the Iridium constellation, and a high-throughput X-band payload downlink. The low-latency layer enables rapid dissemination of operationally relevant information, including formation status, orbit determination products, spacecraft health assessments, conjunction warnings, maneuver recommendations, and payload event notifications. By reducing dependence on delayed ground-station contacts, it supports more responsive constellation management and information-centric spacecraft operations. To evaluate the proposed architecture, simulations were performed using STK, Skyfield, and LinkPredict to assess Iridium constellation accessibility and X-band communication performance for the ITA Space Center ground station. Results indicate that the Iridium network provides frequent communication opportunities suitable for low-latency operations, while the X-band link offers the throughput necessary to support payload data return and mission operations. The analysis further shows that most communication opportunities occur at relatively low elevation angles, emphasizing the importance of accounting for elevation-dependent variations in link performance during communication system design. The results suggest that future distributed missions should evaluate communication architectures not only by throughput, but also by their ability to support timely information delivery, autonomy, and responsive mission operations.
