UWE-1: A pico-satellite to test telecommunication protocols

Paper number

IAC-05-B5.6.A.11

Author

Mr. Bernhard Herbst, European Space Agency/Student Participation Programme, Germany

Year

2005

Abstract

UWE-1 (University of Würzburg's Experimental-Satellite 1) is a pico- satellite, with the objective to test and optimize internet protocol variants in orbit. It was developed in the context of the international CubeSat program and will be lauched in the context of ESA’s SSETI-initiative in May 2005. A Cubesat is a fully functional, but miniaturized spacecraft with a standardized outer structure of 10x10x10 cm, not exceeding a total mass of 1 kg, including its payload. The deployment of the Cubesats requires a T-POD (Tokyo/Toronto-Picosatellite Orbital Deployer), developed jointly by Japan (University of Tokyo) and Canada (University of Toronto). This T-POD can be integrated in all launch vehicles without constraints on the original payloads of the vehicle.
UWE-1 is an educational CubeSat, mainly developed by the graduate students of computer science department. This pico-satellite has the usual subsystems like software, communication, electronics, thermal, power, structure, orbit and position determination.
The software component of Cubesat UWE-1 includes a fully functional micro operating system (uCLinux). This provides the possibility of testing standard protocols like IP, UDP, TCP Westwood, and SCTP in space. The uCLinux in combination with the on-board data processing system on basis of a H8-CPU provides the potential for applications, such as ftp-server, http-server, or mission specific applications. For communication between the operating system and the radio 6Pack is used. The communication from groundstation to Cubesat and vise-versa is realised with the radio amateur protocol AX25.
The software of UWE-1 takes care of the monitoring of essential system parameters, of controlling the battery charging, of reading out the sensor data, of housekeeping and of onboard data handling. It also provides an administrative access to the operating system and all system specific parameters, including the communication settings of AX25 and 6Pack. The payload consists of a software suit for testing different communication protocols in space. In the first phase of the experiments the standard TCP, UDP and IP protocols are tested in combination with the AX25 protocol at lower layers. Later in the mission the SCTP protocol is compared to the first tests. The software can be upgraded and modified to improve operational performance even if the satellite is already in space.

Abstract document

IAC-05-B5.6.A.11.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-05-B5.6.A.11.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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