Small satellites with SDR
Some general information on the small satellites that have used SDR in space and the ones that are planning to use it in the upcoming years.
- Launches: 11 successes, 1 failure, 18 planned
- SDR purposes:
- Comms & networks
- Tech demos & research
- Downlink data
- IoT
- Science
- Navigation
- Radio measurements
The two references used for this study are:
Groups working on SDR for spacecraft and ground stations
This is a summary of the universities and companies that have been working with SDR both for the space and the ground segment, especially for small satellites.
- 22 groups working on SDR: 13 in spacecraft, 6 in ground station, 1 in both
- Type of SDR: 13 custom, 7 SDR platform, 2 not found
- Frequency band used: 2 VHF, 6 UHF, 4 S-band, 1 K-band, 7 multi-band, 3 unknown
- Data rates: 1.2 kbps-75 Mbps
- Power consumption: from 1.2 W (RX) to 16.8 W (TX)
The papers used as references for this work can be found in Gdrive: Reference_papers
SDR platforms
This is a summary of the research on different existing SDR platforms.
- 17 SDR platforms studied
- Cost: 26-30,000 €
- Space proven: 2
- Weights: 95 g-1.2 Kg (most of them don’t include cases)
- Power consumption: 3 W (idle)-40 W
- Processing units
- 4 Xilinx Zynq
- 2 Altera Cyclone IV
- Transceiver chips
- 4 AD4361
- 3 Lime chips
The datasheets used as references for this work can be found in Gdrive: SDR_datasheets
For more information
- On small satellites with SDR
- On groups working on SDR for space
- On SDR platforms