• Created by Unknown User (garaq), last modified by Unknown User (livermor) on 18.06.2018

Date

Attendees

Goals


  • Space Norway: VDES, VDES channel measurements, radar satellite, HEO
  • NTNU: Update on Small Satellite Activities
    • Ambition and purpose of the activities
    • Hyperspectral camera
    • Software-defined radio
  • Discussion of possible cooperation
  • Measurements VDES

Notes

SPACE NORWAY

  • Model: identify Norwegian needs, identify technical requirements, look for possible collaborators. Always trying to get a top-level view.
  • They collaborate with TVAC/UTIAS.

ARCTIC MISSION

  • Planning for Arctic mission: they are studying the gap in the Arctic (at least 2 contracts). Trying to work with GomSpace.
    1. Thales (France): gap analysis.
    2. OHB Sweden

HEO

  • Funded by government
  • 2 HEO satellites
  • Public tender before summer
  • Tentative launch date 2022
  • Broadband communications in Arctic for vessels. 
  • Add aeronautical payloads for planes and US government payload
  • Why can it be competitive with big constellations?
    • High capacity communication to moving ships in LEO is not possible
    • There are service providers that are committed to this initiative
    • GEO terminal can be reused with handovers.

MICROSAR

  • Mission: to detect ships over a few hour and classify them. Provide information such as: latitude, longitude and a picture.
  • Tentative launch date: 2019
  • SAR swath=200 km and resolution=4m
  • No processing onboard
  • 10 min 10 GB
  • 6 channels using Ka-band 250 Mbps. 3.5 m antenna
  • Altitude=600 km
  • 92 Kg
  • It'll have propulsion, 6 reaction wheels, 200W solar panels.
  • Duty cycle= 10% orbit

VDES

  • Goal: to provide very affordable communications system in the Arctic.
  • VDES downlink propagation measurements.
  • Power transmitted changed from 5 W to 2.5 W (AIS)
  • Power transmitter for VDES= 27dBm
  • Development time (since it was decided until it was launched): 2.5 years (including 6 months of waiting time to launch)
  • Adaptive coding and modulation for VDES
  • Narrow channels for uplink
  • Downlink measurements transmitting 8PSK CDMA. Measuring from Vigo.
  • S-band link
    • Patch antenna TT&C
    • S band transceiver: TI CC10200 (UHF transceiver) + upconversion
  • Yagi VHF antenna  onboard
    • RHCP
    • Pointing by moving the satellite
  • Whip antenna on ship
  • Seatex SDR payload:
    • Standard AIS size
    • Power consumption: 10 W
    • Half-duplex (full-duplex too difficult)
  • 0-30 degrees=elevation
  • 1 Mbps uplink
    • Update FPGA image is 18 MB (it's risky to update just parts of it)
  • Lessons learnt: 
    • Multipaction factor 
    • Radio astronomy filter (700$ from K&M)
    • Very powerful Russian radar in VHF

NEXT STEPS

    • Interference analysis on uplink
    • Nothing new on uplink
    • Smart pointing with antenna (ESA)
    • EGNOS demonstration in the Arctic, not for GEO
      • Equipment using digital bent-pipe: could be done in a 4U
      • Important: latency
    • Demonstrate VDE services
      • Search & Rescue application
      • IS
      • National Harbour Reporting

HSI & SDR MISSION

  • Suggestions:
    • Use case: sell service to fisheries to say where plancton is and go to fish

POSSIBLE COLLABORATION: Get down to 3-4m resolution in a 4U with the HSI

HOW TO IMPROVE VDES MEASUREMENTS?

  • Make measurements with a higher bandwidth to study spectral correlation
  • Downlink measurements with UHF:  collaboration with FUGRO
  • Measure interference environment

REQUIREMENTS FOR FUTURE MEASUREMENT CAMPAIGNS

  • Make a transmitting signal (I,Q).
  • Schedule
    • Couple of passes per day for calibration and setup. 
    • Norwegian Space Centre should take part in the conversations
    • How many passes per day?
    • Pointing to Trondheim
    • How long does the measurement campaign need to last? Perhaps 3 short campaigns
      • Remember AIS is the main payload.