Service distance: communication for nanosatellites will help track Earth's ecology

Russian engineers have developed a new control and communication system for small satellites used for Earth remote sensing, communications and other tasks. Previously, large satellites weighing hundreds of kilograms had to be launched for this purpose. However, modern constellations are formed of miniaturized devices - cubesats, which need compact and energy-efficient onboard equipment. Domestic developers were able to solve this problem. According to experts, many nanoclass satellites are already operating or will soon appear in Earth orbit, and they will need to be equipped with new equipment.

Radio communication system for cubesats

MIPT specialists have developed a control and communication system for nanoclass spacecraft, whose mass does not exceed 10 kg. They are also called cubesats. Satellites of this size will make up a promising Russian constellation for fundamental scientific research of near-Earth space, Earth remote sensing and communications. It will make it possible to solve various tasks - from monitoring forest fires to tracking the movements of large masses of fish in the world's oceans. Also the development of engineers can be used in private satellite constellations. Such as, for example, an automatic system for identification of sea vessels.

Photo: Getty Images/slavadubrovin

Until recently, large devices weighing about a hundred kilograms were used for these purposes. Their equipment is not suitable for today's miniaturized satellites, so there is a need for compact and inexpensive solutions with a smaller mass. In addition, to be able to transmit information while the spacecraft is flying over an Earth station, different data transmission rates are required for different tasks. Therefore, the system must include equipment with different capabilities.

- We are creating special equipment for communication with spacecraft that operates in three bands. The first is VHF. It is designed for emergency situations and allows us to contact the spacecraft, no matter what position it is in. It consumes very little power. The second mode is S-band, which is used for normal communication. Here we can transmit and receive data at several megabits per second. In this case, the spacecraft must be pointed with one side facing the Earth. This is a standard mode of operation for many spacecraft, - said one of the authors of the project, a leading engineer of the laboratory of applied nanotechnology MIPT Sergey Lavrentiev.

Photo: Izvestia/Mitriy Korotayev

In this mode the software of onboard systems is updated and extended telemetry information is received. And the third mode - X-band - is designed for the transmission of large amounts of data at a speed of 200-300 megabits per second, it is optional, explained Sergey Lavrentiev. The technology is modular, depending on the purpose of the spacecraft can be installed in different configurations, said the specialist.

Now in Russia is actively developing the market of space services, for the provision of which private companies and government organizations launch and use cubesats, told "Izvestia" head of the laboratory of simulation of mechanical systems and processes MIPT Natalia Zavyalova.

- Russia is now developing and partially operating several such constellations. This grouping of communication from the company "Sitronics" to track marine vessels. Also being created is the Gryphon surveillance constellation, work on which is being carried out under the contract of the state corporation Roscosmos. It is designed to monitor the entire surface of the Earth and solve various economic tasks. Smaller constellations are also being created. Many organizations are involved in this. Universities are involved. And recently representatives of GLONASS announced that they will create their own constellation based on cubesats for the Internet of Things," she said.

At the level of world leaders

According to the developers, so far there are no domestic technical solutions for cubesats, which would simultaneously meet the requirements of data transmission speed, weight, dimensions and power consumption. In VHF-band many manufacturers have reached the limit of miniaturization. In X-band, the existing transmitter has impressive speed but is too massive for cubesats. The equipment, which is created in MIPT, by most characteristics is not inferior to the best world analogs, and in some parameters exceeds them.

Photo: MIPT Press Service

- In the domestic segment there are no transmitters with speeds of 200-300 megabits per second, and it is precisely such speeds that are needed for the constellation of promising vehicles. In this band we plan to reach the world's leading level in terms of characteristics. In the S-band domestic developers focused on microsatellites (from 10 to 100 kg), their equipment is not suitable for nanoclass vehicles. Here we managed to equal the world leaders in terms of energy and speed. At the same time, we have not one, but two sets of equipment for S- and VHF-bands in a standardized housing (actually four modems in one). This gives full redundancy of the communication system and increases survivability of the device as a whole, - added Sergey Lavrentiev.

The scientific group has already developed and manufactured experimental samples of the products. In 2025 it is planned to conduct ground tests. Flight tests are scheduled for 2026. Cubsats, for which they are created, will be in orbit at a height of 500-550 kilometers. Communication with them will be provided through a network of ground stations.

Now satellites and multi-satellite constellations of hundreds of vehicles can be created by companies that have technical competencies, but have no experience in space activities, said corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Cosmonautics Andrei Ionin.

Photo: Roscosmos/Alexander Grebenkin

- Such companies can master technologies at a competitive level in a few years. This has happened literally in the last few years. Now the government should offer an organizational structure in which all its participants, even with different tasks, would work as a single entity. There are a lot of such projects, and they should not compete with each other, but work together. The market is big, and no one will interfere with each other," he said.

The development of MIPT is of interest to companies involved in space projects, the question is how well it will be realized, said the head of the venture fund Alpha Robotics Venture Vladimir Bely. Similar equipment is created in other organizations, both design institutes and commercial companies are engaged in it. The need for high-quality and reliable communication and telemetry systems has arisen for a long time, as it is necessary for satellite constellations to work flawlessly.