A Low-Cost Ground Station for the Small Satellite BIRD

Abstract

An experimental ground station (EGS) for the earth observing small satellite project BIRD of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), is developed. The German Space Operations Center (GSOC) has the main responsibility for BIRD operations, while data reception is done by the receiving station in Neustrelitz. The objective of the EGS is to investigate and demonstrate direct user reception of regional data from earth observing satellites with a “low-cost” ground station as well as to analyze autonomous activity capabilities and experimental tests for mission operations. For this purpose, a small ground station with data reception and commanding capabilities is built. The station is located in Berlin on the top of the institute building.