Cadet: A High Data Rate Software

Defined Radio for SmallSat Applications

16 August 2012
Small Satellite Conference
Logan, UT
Kevin L. Hyer, Edward W. Kneller, Todd F. McIntyre, David K. Jones
L-3 Communications, Communication Systems – West

Dr. Charles Swenson

Utah State University

This presentation consists of L-3 Communications, Communication Systems-West Division

general capabilities information that does not contain controlled technical data as defined
within the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) Part 120.10 or Export
Administration Regulations (EAR) Part 734.7-11.
Communication Systems Group

• Space Communications
• Telemetry and UGV
Communications
• Integrated Communications
• ISR Communication Systems
• SATCOM Terminals

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 CSW Core Competency

LITENING & Sniper Pods Iraqi ISR Predator/Warrior UAV

VORTEX Software Definable Unattended Ground

Modems Sensors

ROVER 5

Enabling untethered access for tactical users

- Operations centers, mobile units, individual users

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 Evolution of Core Competency

ORS-1

TacSat 2/3 DICE - Cadet Radio

LITENING & Sniper Pods Iraqi ISR Predator/Warrior UAV

VORTEX Software Definable Unattended Ground

Modems Sensors

ROVER 5

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 L-3 CSW Experience in Space
TacSat-2
• Launched: December 2006
• Modified airborne communication system hardware, upgraded for space
• TacSat-2 communications payload exceeded mission lifetime goal by a
factor of 2

TacSat-3
• Launched: May 2009
• Modified airborne communication system hardware, upgraded for space TacSat-2 Launch
(photo courtesy of NASA)
applications, under budget and ahead of schedule
• TacSat-3 communications continued operating through de-orbit of
satellite almost 3 years later

ORS – 1 (Operationally Responsive Space-1) TacSat-3

(photo courtesy of NASA)
• Launched: June 2011
• Space-qualified, Ku-band system continues to operate at 274 Mbps
• Designed to test and demonstrate the rapid development and
qualification of militarily relevant spacecraft
ORS-1
ORS – 2 (Operationally Responsive Space-2) (photo courtesy of NASA)
• Under development for 2013 delivery
• Space-qualified, Ka-band system operating at 600 Mbps Notional ORS-2
(photo courtesy of NASA)

DICE (Dynamic Ionosphere CubeSat Experiment)

• Launched: October 2011
• Delivered CADET, a compact, low-power, high data rate transceiver
designed for small satellite applications
DICE rideshare
on NPP Launch
(photo courtesy of NASA) Cadet (2.7” x 2.7”)
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 Dynamic Ionosphere CubeSat Experiment
• Sponsored by the National Science Foundation
• Advanced space weather mission, designed
to collect significant amounts of data on
space weather phenomena that have a real
impact on global communication and
navigation infrastructures
• Developed by Space Dynamics Laboratory
• Two cubesats launched October 28, 2011 as a rideshare with NASA’s
Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (NPP) weather satellite
• DICE downlinking data with Cadet radios to NASA Wallops Ground Station
and SRI Palo Alto Ground Station
• Cadet radios performing well in UHF band

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 Cadet Capabilities

• Proven On-orbit
• Up to 24 Mbps Data Rate
• Supports Store and Forward
Bursted Data Transmission
• Low Size, Weight, and Power Consumption
• Software Defined Radio Technology
• Two-Way Communications
• Rapid Customization
2.7”
• UHF or S-band

2.7”
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 Communication Issues for Small Sats

• Lack of standardized concepts of operations

• Balance between performance & innovation
and low cost & low quantity
• Communications infrastructure
not well established
– Ground Stations
– Satellite Radios

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 Ground Station Network
Proposed Requirements Status
Networked ground stations Partial – NASA Near Earth Network and Deep Space Network

Simple standardized interfaces In work, pending additional community involvement and

convergence on acceptable standards
Compatibility In development

Assured C2 Demonstrated

Reliable mission data downlink Demonstrated

Flexible data rates In development

Simultaneous mission support Currently possible through different ground stations.

Additional antennas and TT&C systems at current locations
would achieve objective while reducing overhead
Pre-flight system integration and test TBR – Additional planning and development required

Schedule access TBR – More experience and planning required

Remote operations Demonstrated

Distributed geo-locations Demonstrated

International access/international ground stations TBR – More mission experience and coordination required

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 Satellite Radios
Proposed Requirements Status
Assured C2 Demonstrated

Reliable mission data downlink Demonstrated

Flexible design for wide range of missions

Hardware In development

SDR features Demonstrated

Variable data-rate downlink In development

Flexible downlink schedule Demonstrated

Simple interfaces (data, power, mechanical, etc.) Demonstrated

NTIA spectrum compliance In development

Options

Encryption Demonstrated AES

Other encryption methods under development
Crosslinks / relay In development

Off network ground stations In development

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 Summary

• University/Industry partnership fosters innovation

• DICE has proven high data rate transmissions from
nanosatellites is feasible
– Secondary user in Earth exploration-satellite NTIA
allocation
– Interference can be an issue
• Challenge-rich environment
– Need to converge on standards
– Dichotomy of higher performance and lower cost
– Establishment of robust communications infrastructure
will enable a wider range of missions

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