High Bandwidth Redundant Communication Links for Small Satellites

Small satellites have never lacked the capability to collect large quantities of operationally relevant data. The real limitation in fielding large constellations has been the inability to downlink the large quantities of data. Neither the ground station assets nor the high throughput communications subsystems have existed to close many point-to-point tight-beam links to low-Earth orbit. To satisfy the demand for these increased data volumes, TUI proposes to both leverage and 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 TUIs existing three degree-of-freedom (3DOF) COBRA gimbal for steering 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. The proposed transceiver will guarantee the operational relevance of the next generation of tactical US Army small satellites.