Design of Store and Forward Data Collection Low-cost Nanosatellite

Abstract

The satellite, as small as the Cubesat concept, requires employment of limited small boards. In the modular architecture, each single subsystem has a dedicated hardware and software. The approach, which has been taken in this paper, based on two design directives: the integration of the maximum subsystems within the same unit taking into account that single subsystems can be setup without modifying the operation of the remaining subsystems, and the elimination of nonessential elements. In this paper, we will describe in details the design of integrated store-and-forward APRS (automatic packet reporting system) payload and OBDH (on board data handling) subsystems using one chip based on the fixed point DSP (digital signal processor) to design a low-cost nanosatellite. By an optimal software design that takes the maximum advantages from DSP architecture facilities, good real time experimental performances have been obtained for the APRS payload and OBDH implemented modules. Due to the environment in space and the constraints of the nanosatellite, different measures had to be taken when the system was designed.