UHF Radio Frequency Modules for Satellite-Ground Communication
Year: 2013
Type: dissertation
Abstract: This thesis is devoted to the development of a bidirectional telecommunication system for\nspace applications. The module is going to be integrated in the AraMiS architecture, that is\nan innovative philosophy of small satellites based on tile-modularity and the use of low-cost\ncommercial components.\nThe objective is to design the electronic board, the antenna apparatus and the control\nsoftware to handle both the communication protocol and the housekeeping functions. According\nto the AraMiS speci cations, the main constraints are collected in Table I.\nAfter an introduction referring to space-environment related issues and the state of the\nart in university satellites, the hardware design is carried out. Technical choices related to\nfrequency selection, modulation and suitable equipment are taken and justi ed according to the\npower budget, project constraints and the availability of speci c products on market. A set\nof devices is analyzed in terms of key-parameters in order to lter the most appropriate ones\nfor each goal, then main block-schematics are provided. By means of speci c CAD tools, both schematics and PCB implementation are performed and depicted in the following chapters, then\nthe C++ control software is designed to drive the communication system, the processing unit\nand all the housekeeping sensors. Since only COTS components are going to be used due to\nthe low-cost goal and those are neither space dedicated nor radiation robust, both protection\ncircuits and speci c software routines must be implemented in order to keep electronic boards\nin safe operating region. Such a precaution is fundamental to prevent the mission failure in\ncase of SEUs. After that, the propagation environment is studied and the most common UHF\nradiating systems for satellite-ground communications are described. Finally, a suitable AraMiS\nantenna and speci c microwave circuits are designed to ensure both impedance matching and\nhigh radiation e ciency in the band of interest.\nIn order to assure the system compatibility within the AraMiS framework and full technical\nintegration with the other subsystems, a UML description for the entire project documentation\nis developed and steadily updated in the project library.
Source: Figshare
Language: English
Subfield: Aerospace Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1784589337