High Bandwidth Redundant Communication Links for Small Satellites

To satisfy the demand for increased data volumes from small satellite systems, TUI proposes to extend its existing modular SWIFT software-defined radio (SDR) platform to create a multi-band S-, X-, and Ka-band transceiver capable of closing SATCOM links in excess of 300 Mbps to smaller, tactically-placed ground stations. Key enabling technologies include the integration TUI’s existing three degree-of-freedom (3DOF) COBRA gimbal for steering small high-gain apertures, existing and in-development X- and Ka-band RF frontends with greater than 500 MHz of instantaneous bandwidth, and the proposed next generation SWIFT baseband processor with greater than 500 MHz of modulation bandwidth and the ability to stream significant quantities of data to and from external high-density storage subsystems, such as solid-state disk drives (SSDs). The Phase II effort will prototype and test a new, high-bandwidth baseband processor for the SWIFT platform and integrate it with X/K-band RF frontends to provide the Army with a high-speed multi-band data link for smallsat missions.