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NASA Near Earth Network (NEN) DVB-S2 Demonstration Testing for Enhancing Data Rates for CubeSat/SmallSat MissionsNational Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) CubeSat/SmallSat missions are expected to grow rapidly in the next decade. As the number of spacecraft on a ground network grows, employing higher data rates could reduce loading by reducing the contact time per day required. CubeSats also need to communicate directly to earth from space from longer distances than low earth orbit (LEO). These challenges motivate the need for bandwidth and power efficient modulation and coding techniques. Today, Digital Video Broadcast, Satellite Second Generation (DVB-S2) is a communications standard for larger satellites. DVB-S2 uses power and bandwidth efficient modulation and coding techniques to deliver performance approaching Radio Frequency (RF) channel theoretical limits. NASA’s Near Earth Network (NEN) conducted a demonstration test at the Wallops Flight Facility in spring of 2019 for CubeSat/SmallSat missions for enhancing data rate performance in NASA’s S-band 5 MHz channel. The goal is to upgrade NEN with DVB-S2 to increase science data return and enable greater numbers of CubeSats. This paper presents the NEN DVB-S2 demonstration testing objectives and performance measurement results. Results of the demonstration testing are compared with evolving SmallSat/CubeSat radios. DVB-S2 S-band transmitter development concepts for SmallSats/CubeSats and use of DVB-S2 by future missions are discussed.
Document ID
20190028945
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Wong, Yen
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Schaire, Scott
(NASA Wallops Flight Facility Wallops Island, VA, United States)
Bundick, Steven
(NASA Wallops Flight Facility Wallops Island, VA, United States)
Kegege, Obadiah
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Altunc, Serhat
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Fetterer, Peter
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Murbach, Marcus
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Priscal, Cedric
(Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies Inc. (SGT Inc.) Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Perrotto, Trish
(Booz-Allen and Hamilton, Inc. Bethesda, MD, United States)
Celeste, Peter
(Booz-Allen and Hamilton, Inc. Bethesda, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2019
Publication Date
August 3, 2019
Subject Category
Space Communications, Spacecraft Communications, Command And Tracking
Report/Patent Number
GSFC-E-DAA-TN69152
SSC19-S1-10
Meeting Information
Meeting: Annual Conference on Small Satellites
Location: Logan, UT
Country: United States
Start Date: August 3, 2019
End Date: August 8, 2019
Sponsors: Utah State Univ., American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNG15CR66C
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNA14AA60C
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Use by or on behalf of the US Gov. Permitted.
Technical Review
External Peer Committee
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