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Researching a Robust Communication Link for Cubesats: OPTOS, a new Approach

Authors:
Víctor Miguel Aragón
Álvaro García
Ricardo Amaro
César Martínez
Fany Sarmiento

Keywords: Cubesats; communication system; transceiver; ground station; antennas

Abstract:
OPTOS is a Cubesat based picosatellite that is been developed by INTA. The aim of this project is to provide an easy and low cost access to space for those institutions and companies that can not afford the use of usual platforms. This is a new alternative way from the previous bigger and more expensive options to deal with small space missions. The fact that these little platforms are available in the future will promote that nowadays unfeasible projects will be able to come true, such as small microgravity experiments, observatories, material testing, etc. The advance in electronic miniaturization is expanding the possible applications that can be part of the Cubesat philosophy, which perhaps did not initially consider that complex mission could be implemented with limited resources, such as available power and volume. These payloads require reliable communication systems. From this point of view, an evolution is needed from the current technology used. OPTOS communication system tries to find a balance between limited available resources in Cubesat platform, i. e., inner dimensions and power, and having a reliable communication link. To achieve this goal OPTOS uses custom made space qualified equipment, deeply tested during an extensive trial campaign. To improve even more the communication link quality, OPTOS uses a non amateur frequency band, reserved to space operations. This paper provides a general description of the OPTOS satellite and a detailed description of its communication link.

Pages: 45 to 50

Copyright: Copyright (c) IARIA, 2011

Publication date: April 17, 2011

Published in: conference

ISSN: 2308-4480

ISBN: 978-1-61208-128-1

Location: Budapest, Hungary

Dates: from April 17, 2011 to April 22, 2011