The CanX-7 Nanosatellite ADS-B Mission: A Preliminary Assessment

Ron Vincent,Richard Van Der Pryt

doi:10.4236/pos.2017.81001

Ron Vincent, Richard Van Der Pryt

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4236/pos.2017.81001

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Journal: Positioning	Publication Date: Jan 1, 2017
Citations: 10	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Royal Military College of Canada

Abstract

The development of space-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) will allow surveillance of aircraft in areas not covered by radar or ground-based ADS-B systems. In September 2016, the Canadian Advanced Nanospace eXperiment-7 (CanX-7) satellite was launched into a 690 km sun synchronous orbit with an ADS-B receiver payload. The first phase of ADS-B data collection took place over the North Atlantic between 4 and 31 October. A preliminary assessment of the data indicates that the average ADS-B signal strength is close to the calculated receiver detection threshold of D94.5 ± 0.5 dBm. The pattern of received ADS-B reception appears to be consistent with a signal propagation model developed for the CanX-7 mission. Future work includes the comparison of coincidental flight plan data for the operations area and an analysis of the payload antenna pattern.

Highlights

Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) is an air traffic surveillance technology in which aircraft transmit identification, position, velocity and status on 1090 MHz
The pattern of received ADS-B reception appears to be consistent with a signal propagation model developed for the Canadian Advanced Nanospace eXperiment-7 (CanX-7) mission
The ADS-B payload onboard CanX-7 was developed at the Royal Military College of Canada (RMCC)

Summary

Introduction

Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) is an air traffic surveillance technology in which aircraft transmit identification, position, velocity and status on 1090 MHz. The transmissions may be received by other aircraft or by ground stations for relay to Air Traffic Services to augment traditional surveillance radars. A potential solution for the surveillance of aircraft anywhere in the world is through the monitoring of ADS-B transmissions using orbital platforms. The Canadian Advanced Nanospace eXperiment-7 (CanX-7) satellite was launched with an ADS-B receiver in September 2016. The ADS-B payload onboard CanX-7 was developed at the Royal Military College of Canada (RMCC). ADS-B research has been conducted at RMCC since 2009, which includes the first ADS-B receiver in near space and extensive signal propagation modelling [2]-[8].

CanX-7 Satellite and ADS-B Payload

ADS-B Operations

Spacecraft Pointing

Signal Levels

Signal Propagation Model

Findings

Summary and Future Work