Involvement of industry in educational satellite projects

Paper number

IAC-08.E1.2.8

Author

Mr. Torbjørn Houge, Andoya Rocket Range, Norway

Coauthor

Prof. Frank Vedal, Narvik University College, Norway

Coauthor

Mr. Aleksander Marthinussen, NAROM - Norwegian Centre for Space-Related Education, Norway

Year

2008

Abstract

In this paper, a project with the intention of establishing a new educational ground station in Northern Norway is presented.

All satellites need a functioning ground station. For the participants in the cubesat projects, this is where most of the hands-on experience is obtained after completion and launch of their satellite. Due to the limited power and space available in all satellites, especially cubesats, the ground station is where we create the extra margin in the link budget.

Andøya Ground Station (AGS) is a co-operation between 3 parties. Andøya Rocket Range (ARR), the Norwegian Centre for Space-Related Education (NAROM) and the Norwegian Student Satellite Program (ANSAT). The station will be built by students, in close co-operation with the technical coordinator of ANSAT, which is employed by ARR. The station will initially work in the VHF and UHF bands. Most student ground stations depend on the students` interest in spending time working on them, as opposed to AGS that will be run and maintained by ARR on a regular basis.

ARR is the professional industrial partner, and will house the station. The ground station will be a relevant resource when training personnel to work on radio equipment used in rocket and balloon missions. The educational partner, NAROM, has the national responsibility for space education in Norway, and will utilize an amateur band ground station for educational purposes. Finally, ANSAT will use the station for downlink from student satellites, workshops, training and testing with student satellite teams. This partnership will ensure that students will benefit in both the construction and operation phase. The ground station will be available for all students coming to Andøya to obtain skills. For those interested in working with radios, the station can also be operated as a traditional HAM radio station for terrestrial communication. The industrial partner will provide maintenance support of the station.

When AGS is finished, it will be GENSO compatible, and can provide global communication services in the GENSO network. For circular polar LEO orbiting satellites, the station will be able to see part of all passes crossing Europe. When this is coupled with the capabilities of the ground stations on Svalbard, HiN and NTNU, we will be able to cover the whole nation, this meaning all of Norway including Svalbard.

Future developing ground station equipment at AGS may include S-band transceiver system, remote access systems, monitoring systems or even software defined radio system.

Abstract document

IAC-08.E1.2.8.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-08.E1.2.8.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.