TRADE STUDY OF COMMERCIAL SOFTWARE-DEFINED RADIO TECHNOLOGIES FOR SMALL SATELLITE GROUND STATION NETWORK COMMAND AND CONTROL APPLICATIONS
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Authors
Wood, Samuel H.
Subjects
software-defined radio
SDR
Mobile CubeSat Command and Control
MC3
CubeSat
ground station
radio study
small-satellite
space
ultra high frequency
S-band
digital-IF
transceiver
SDR
Mobile CubeSat Command and Control
MC3
CubeSat
ground station
radio study
small-satellite
space
ultra high frequency
S-band
digital-IF
transceiver
Advisors
Minelli, Giovanni
Canan, Anthony
Date of Issue
2020-06
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
The Mobile CubeSat Command and Control (MC3) ground station network headquartered at the Naval Postgraduate School monitors and controls small satellites in support of various U.S. government, Department of Defense, public university, and commercial partner missions. In order to conduct the necessary Command and Control functions with the on-orbit satellites, MC3-networked ground stations utilize the baseline NI USRP-2292 software-defined radio (SDR) to transmit and receive command messages through ultra-high frequency and S-band RF signals. Two alternative high-end commercial systems have been advertised to provide superior performance and functionality to that of the baseline USRP devices. This thesis documents the trade study performed between the baseline NI USRP-2922, the Ettus Research USRP B205mini-i, the Kratos RT Logic quantumRadio, and the AMERGINT satTRAC system. The study investigated and evaluated the performance, functionality, and suitability of these SDR technologies for implementation in the MC3 ground station network. The results were analyzed and compared for applicability to other comparable university stations, commercial networks, and government applications. The research culminated in a characterization of these four SDR devices, a description of their suitability in the MC3 network, and a comparative analysis of their operational functionality and any limitations.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Information Sciences (IS)
Organization
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
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Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release. distribution is unlimited
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.