5th Nano Satellite Symposiumheld at University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, on Nov. 20‐22, 2013

Development of University Ground Station for Nano Satellite Operationfor Nano Satellite Operation

Shigeru Aso1, Kiyotaka Fujisaki2, Hiroshi Hirayama1, Kazuhiko Morisita1, Tsutomu Tokifuji3, Naomi Kurahara4 and Yoshihiro Tsuruda4

1 Dept of Aeronautics and Astronautics Kyushu University Japan1 Dept. of Aeronautics and  Astronautics, Kyushu University, Japan2 Dept. of Advanced Information Technology, Kyushu University, Japan3 Micro Lab Co. Ltd., Fukuoka, Japan, , p4 Nano Satellite Center, University of Tokyo, Japan

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ContentsContents

B k d• Background• Nano‐satellite Operation• Development Concept• Kyushu University Ground Station

– Location– Antenna FacilityP f T R l– Performance Test Results

– System DiagramTERRA d AQUA i l i t• TERRA and AQUA signal experiments

• Conclusions

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SA1

スライド 2

SA1 Shigeru ASO, 2012/09/30

Coming nano‐satellites in JapanHodoyoshi‐3

STARS‐Ⅱ／香川大学

Chubusat‐1

STARS Ⅱ／香川大学テザー衛星 寸法 質量

微生物観察衛星 TeikyoSat‐3／帝京大学

微小重力環境と宇宙放射線が粘菌に与える影響観察

Hodoyoshi‐2QSAT EOS

に与える影響観察

可視光通信実験衛星／国立大学法人信州大学

衛星地上間の双方向可視光通信実験QSAT‐EOS 信実験

KSAT2／鹿児島大学大気水蒸気の独創的観測

芸術衛星 INVADER／多摩美術大学

Hodoyoshi‐1 Hodoyoshi‐4摩美術大学

衛星データ（テレメトリ）の芸術利用

OPUSAT／大阪府立大学

リチウムイオンキャパシタの宇宙実証など

TSUBAME

宇宙実証など

ITF‐1／筑波大学

小型衛星を利用したネットワークの構築

Early 2014Dnepr

Feb. 2014H‐IIA

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Proposed Small Satellite R&D for MEXT Objectives: 1) Development of Universal Bus System for Small Satellite) p y2) Development of Small Satellite for Earth Observation

①mass: 50kg ②size:0.5m cubic③life span: 2 years ④altitude: H=650km(Sun

synchronous Orbit)<advanced BUS subsystem>

ＱＳＡＴ－ＥＯＳ→High resolution CMOS‐camera for earth observation gwith 5m resolution 

→Star sensor and reaction wheel for high quality attitude control system

→High speed data transfer with Ku band→High speed data transfer with Ku‐band

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・ high efficiency of wide observation from space

How to manage much data from Hodoyoshi-1,2,3,4

• Data process system for safety of the people and preservation of

High spatial resolution and M lti t l C t

high efficiency of wide observation from space・ quasi-steady real time information gathering due to constellation

the people and preservation of national properties

Multispectral Camera system1) Alert for land slip due to climate

disaster2) Observation of plants, crops and UniversitiesUniversity

E th

2) Observation of plants, crops and sea food

→ efficient managements→ senior workers

Local governmentsRegional companies

UniversityGroundStation

GISengine

Earth observation data

GISserver

internetdata

DBMS

server

DBMS

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In 2004, 10 universities and colleges started , gthe Ground Station Network Project Japan (GSNPJ) in University Space Engineering Consortium (UNISEC)

So far, technology demonstration missionAmateur Radio (VHF/UHF: ~9.6 kbps  in maximum) 

Recently, some advanced missions by using nano‐satellitese.g., 5 to 10 meter spatial resolution of Earth ground imaging 

Those advanced missions often require much higher data ratemission data downlink: from 10Mbps to 100 Mbps

“GHz‐band Ground Station (S, X, Ku‐band) is needed in U i it G d St ti N t kUniversity Ground Station Network

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Ground System CategoryGround System CategoryS d iSegment Node Function

Ground Segment Ground Station Antenna and Pointing

RF / Modulation / DemodulationRF / Modulation / Demodulation

Base‐band Processing

Satellite Operation Center Operation Planning

Telemetry / Command Processing

Orbit Analysis

Mission Data Center Primary Processing

Data Storage

Data DistributionData Distribution

Service Segment Service Center

User Segment User

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Characteristics of amateur VHF/UHF and GHz‐band 

Typical Universityground Station for

Ground Stationfor “GHz-band”

amateur VHF/UHF (S, X, Ku-band)Antenna Yagi-Antenna

Not so largeParabola AntennaLarge and Complicatedg

Ease to handleg p

TrackingPerformance

Pointing Accuracyis not so severe

Precise Pointing controlis requiredPerformance is not so severe

about 1 - 5 degis requiredAccuracy: 0.01 - 0.1 deg

Number ofAvailableReferences

Relatively popular fornano-satellites operation

like CubeSat

Many products forconventional satellitesNot so many examples for

(no business use) university nano-satellite(business use can be

possible)p )Cost Low-cost Relatively expensive

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Strategy for Ground Station DevelopmentStrategy for Ground Station Development C diti d C t i t• Conditions and Constraints– In University Environment (Operation and Maintenance by Students)– Cost‐effective Development (Antenna and  Operator Interface)p ( p )– For S‐band Telemetry/Command and X‐band Mission Data Downlink

• Conceptki d f i l d f i l lli– Taking advantages of commercial products for conventional satellite 

operation– Reducing the number of hardware elements and interfaces– Taking advantages of software functions– Taking advantages of the universal interface of components 

(e.g., LAN (Local Area Network) based on Ethernet and TCP/IP)(e.g., LAN (Local Area Network) based on Ethernet and TCP/IP)

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Location ( Ito campus, Kyushu University)

AddressIto Campus, 744, Motooka, Taiki cho HokkaidoAddressNishi‐ku, Fukuoka, Japan

Latitude N 33.59879 deg

Taiki cho, Hokkaido

Longitude E 130.21204 deg

Altit d 79 mAltitude 79 mKyushu University

Antenna & Control Room

Campus BuildingDept. of Aero. And Astro.p

Kyushu University Ito Campus, Fukuoka, Japan Hodoyoshi/UNIFORM Program Ground Stations

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S t llitSatellite communication station

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Antenna OverviewAntenna Overview

Antenna No.1 for C‐band, X‐band (~40Mbps)

Antenna No.2 for S‐band (~100kbps), ( p )

Cassegrain typeparabola antenna

( p )Center‐feed type mesh 

parabola antennaDiameter：2.4m Diameter：2.4m

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Skyline data of KUGS 

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Specifications of satellite tracking systemSpecifications of satellite tracking systemTotal Mass ~ 900 kg

A AAntenna Aperture Diameter 2.4 m

Antenna F / D Ratio 0.31Antenna Control

Method2-axis ControlAzimuth & Elevation

C l R Azimuth: -270 to + 270 deg ElevationControl Range Azimuth: 270 to 270 deg

Elevation: +5 to +95 deg

Control Unit  0.01125 deg per 1-pulseof Servomotor Control

Axis

Angle of Servomotor Control(= 90deg / 8000 pulse)

Tracking Speed Nominal: 18.8 deg/secM 33 3 d /

AzimuthAxisTracking Speed Max.: 33.3 deg/sec

Survival Wind Speed 60 m/sElectrical Power AC 200V, 5A

Axis

Control Ethernet, 100 Base-T16

Examples of Performance TestExamples of Performance TestTest #1 A t P k G i SG R f H A t#1 Antenna Peak Gain : SG + Reference Horn Antenna#2 System Noise Temperature：R‐SKY (ROOM‐SKY) Method#3 Beam Width：Sun Noise Observation#4 Cross Polarization : SG + Reference Horn Antenna#4 Cross Polarization : SG + Reference Horn Antenna

ConditionsTarget KUGS2.4 No.1

X‐band feedhornConditionsFrequency X‐band: 8.25 GHz

Antenna Peak Gain 45 dB

Results

BeamWidth ±0.7 deg

System Noise 326 1 KSystem NoiseTemperature 326.1 K

Cross Polarization Characteristics

Tx:R – Rx: L, 20.1 dBTx:L Rx: R 19 2 dBCharacteristics Tx:L – Rx: R, 19.2 dB

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S stem Dia ram (1) O tside Fa ilitiesBaseline Concept of Ground Station of Kyushu University  

System Diagram (1)：Outside FacilitiesTargetgSatellite

AntennaFacility Antenna

TrackingSignal

Safety

Feed

Tracking Mechanism

Φ2.4m Parabola Antennay Antenna

Wind & Weather

Az/ElControl

Az/El Monitor

Spotlight

Safety System

SSPA

Antenna Base

ControllerElectronics Temperature

& Humidity

Duplexer

LNA

WebCamera

Monitor

SSPA

UpConverter LAN Hub Power Hub

MonitorLNA

DownConverter LAN

LANTCP/IP

CoaxialCable

Control

PowerAC100VAC200V

80m DuctControl

CoaxialCable

To Control Room

* At SimplexDownlink Uplink Control* At SimplexOperation

Downlink Signal

UplinkSignal

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S t Di (2) R I id F ilitiBaseline Concept of Ground Station of Kyushu University  

System Diagram (2)：Room Inside FacilitiesControl Room

Control RoomPower Supply

ControlMonitor

Web

DownlinkSignal

UplinkSignal

80m Duct

From Antenna

Power SupplyAC100V

ReferenceSignal

GeneratorUPS

LAN

GPSReceiver

Web CameraModerator

DemodulatorBaseband Processing

Moderator

CommandGenerator

AntennaControl PC

Data Strage(NAS) LAN Rooter

Demodulator

TelemetryAnalyzer

SpectrumAnalyzer

LANControllerLAN

LANTCP/IP

LANTCP/IP

LANTCP/IP

Server PCCampusInfra-

structure

LAN Generator Control PC (NAS)Analyzer

GUI GUI GUI

Analyzer

GUIInter et

TCP/IP

TCP/IP

Remote UserLocal OperatorLocal Operator

Control & MonitorCommandTelemetryRF Data

For CheckoutValidation

Orbit Estimation

Operator Interface

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Network Camera for Remote Monitoring

Network Camera for Remote MonitoringNetwork Camera for Remote Monitoring

http://kugs‐cam1.aero.kyushu‐u.ac.jp

ID: Pass: 

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Network Camera ImageNetwork Camera Image

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Si l i i i t f XSignal receiving experiments of X band from AQUA and TERRAband from AQUA and TERRA

Frequency of X‐band  of AQUA   is  8.160   GHz q y

Frequency of X‐band  of TERRA  is  8.2125 GHz.q y

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Concept of Ground Station of Kyushu University (X Band)Concept of Ground Station of Kyushu University (X‐Band)  60m duct Control room

PC for2.4m antenna

X‐band horn

X‐bandLNA

X‐bandD/C

X‐band2nd D/C

PC for

Spectrum analyzer

PC forSpectrum analyzer

Sig‐nalline

X‐bandreceiver

PC forDatamission

Tracking systemof

ControlLineControlLine

PC forcontrol of antennaof

2.4m antenna

antenna

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TERA(+10deg)

( )TERA(+55deg)

TERA(-50deg)24

AQUA(+20deg)AQUA(+20deg)

AQUA(+45deg)

AQUA(-40deg) 25

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Strategy for Kyushu University Ground Station

☆ Training of young professionals I l di d l f lli QSAT EOS→ Including development of nano-satellite QSAT-EOS,young engineers and graduate/undergraduate studentshhave grown up.

→ In our Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics,K h U i i d i i l iKyushu University new education system stimulating graduate students for developments of nano satellite

d d i i kand ground station using network system

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ConclusionsConclusions• In this project, we focus on the cost‐effective development p j , pof new ground station for nano‐satellite operation. Because current and future advanced University satellite missions need high efficient and fast telecommunications such as GHz‐band (S‐band to X‐band).

• In the present study high efficient and fast t l i ti d t ti f S b d d X b dtelecommunication ground station of S‐band and X‐band by using two parabola antennas is installed based on the cost‐effective concepts The ground station has succeededcost effective concepts. The ground station has succeeded to receive signals of X band from AQUA and TERRA. Both results show fairly good SN ratio ( ratio of signal to noise ) at any antenna angle.

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

h d i d b h• The present study is granted by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) through the “Funding Program for World‐Leading Innovative R&D on Science and Technology (FIRST Program),” initiated by the Council for Science and Technology Policy (CSTP) 

• Professor Shinichi Nakasuka, University ofProfessor Shinichi Nakasuka, University of Tokyo with excellent leadership.

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Thank you for your kind attentionThank you for your kind attention

Please see also the poster No.23“Performance Evaluation of Ground Station

in Kyushu University”in Kyushu University

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Operation Example: UNITEC‐1 Experiment

• UNITEC‐1 (UNIsec Technology Experiment Carrier‐1)L h d d i j t d i t V t f t j t M 21 2010– Launched and injected into Venus transfer trajectory on May 21, 2010

– Downlink Signal:  Amateur C‐band (5.8GHz) CW or FSK 1200bps– On First day(May 21) and Second day (May 22) of the experiment, 

i d th i l d i th t d ti b d th b dwe received the signal during the expected time based on the on‐board operation cycle of UNITEC‐1

– However, unfortunately, we were not able to identify the received signal as the downlink from UNITEC‐1 by using the prepared analysis toolthe downlink from UNITEC‐1 by using the prepared analysis tool

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Lessons Learned from UNITEC‐1Experiment

M lti l t l f ti f d t l i• Multiple tools or functions for data analysis – We prepared a single tool to analyze received signal.  – In the case of unexpected result or trouble variousIn the case of unexpected result or trouble, various analysis tools should be prepared.  

• Pre‐flight end‐to‐end test– We were not able to conduct the end‐to‐end test between the telecommunications unit of UNITEC‐1 and KUGS2.4 facilities.facilities.  

– If EM unit of UNITEC‐1 was available, we should have confirmed the data link in the expected flight conditions.  F th h ld h id tifi d th f il d– Furthermore, we should have identified the failure mode of data receiving operation before UNITEC‐1 launch as much as possible.  

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