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A GMSK VHF-uplink/UHF-downlink transceiver for the CubeSat missions

Thermo-functional performance

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Abstract

Functional and thermal performance characteristics of a very high frequency/ultra high frequency (VHF/UHF) transceiver based on Gaussian minimum shift keying (GMSK) modulation are presented. The transceiver has been designed for CubeSats telemetry and commanding needs or low rate data download. The design is validated at 27 dBm, 30 dBm and 33 dBm transmitting powers over −20 \(^\circ \hbox {C}\) to +51 \(^\circ \hbox {C}\). Under these thermal conditions, the transmitter spurious dynamic response shows little if any change and the average sensitivity of receiver at the 12 dB signal noise and distortion (SINAD) is −116.7 dBm at 140 MHz and −116.78 dBm at 149.98 MHz. The transmitter and receiver frequencies are stable and the current consumption as well the output RF levels are steady. The design has been verified against a simulation model which allows system tradeoff analysis. The measurements demonstrate the transceiver made with commercial grade parts has dependable performance at the low earth altitudes and orbital heating conditions.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the contributors of the ZA-CUBE program, in particular, Axel Wottawa and Patrick Udhardt for automation of the thermal chamber and a host of other equipment, and Ben Dixon for the RF communications testset. We are indebted to Romain Le Gall for performing thermal IR testing and thermal FEA and Etnard Louw for testing several boards. We acknowledge Charl Jootse for many discussions and recognize ETSE Electronics for their role. This work stems from the period when the principal investigator, Yaseen Zaidi, was a research fellow at the French South African Institute of Technology and was funded by the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. French South African Institute of Technology, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Bellville, 7530, South Africa

    Yaseen Zaidi & Robert Ryk van Zyl

  2. Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA

    Norman G. Fitz-Coy

Authors
  1. Yaseen Zaidi
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  2. Robert Ryk van Zyl
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  3. Norman G. Fitz-Coy
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Correspondence to Yaseen Zaidi.

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Zaidi, Y., van Zyl, R.R. & Fitz-Coy, N.G. A GMSK VHF-uplink/UHF-downlink transceiver for the CubeSat missions. CEAS Space J 10, 453–467 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12567-018-0217-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12567-018-0217-5

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