Generalized Broadband Operationally Responsive Navigator

Operationally Responsive Space missions require a rapid satellite configuration and launch to fulfill the needs of in-theatre commanders. A GPS receiver that can be used with cubesats and that meets the SWaP requirements for these launches and that can perform GPS based scientific missions from the platform of a cubesat, and an ability to track GPS in complex high earth orbits. Emergent has developed a technology suitable to these goals, and the product currently exists in a small footprint, low power terrestrial form factor. The technology is called Spectral Compression Processing, and has its roots in codeless GPS technology in which GPS can be utilized without knowledge of the PRN codes used. Emergent will develop a migration strategy to take the proven terrestrial technology to a level that can be used in space. This will be accomplished by defining a new design based on the existing ground systems that is radiation hardened, considers existing PnP and SPA standards, and will be implemented in a Software Defined Radio Architecture. The resulting SDR waveform will also be SCA compliant. This is a significant innovation over the state of the art, and represents a significant advancement in the field of space borne GPS. BENEFIT: This work will result in two major accomplishments; a rad hardened software defined radio module, designed according to current plug and play standards, and an SCA compliant SDR waveform that accomplishes Navigation in various complicated scenarios, and will be deployable in standard SCA compliant hardware. The Navigation waveform will be capable of receiving both L1 and L2 GPS, and is easily adapted to modernized code types (L2C, L5, etc). It will be capable of tracking with high dynamic range, so is applicable to both LEO and more complicated HEO orbits in which GPS side lobes must be tracked, and additionally, can operate in high dynamics for scenarios such as launch, and station keeping. The receiver has applicability to DoD and NSF space weather research, especially in the areas of GPS radio occultation and neutral density measurements, and by far surpasses the current state of the art. It will have applications to any space based requirement for GPS tracking, but specifically where small satellites are desired for rapid launch, in which space weather is a targeted goal. Additionally, the first HEO commercial launch with GOES-R will open up a new realm for GPS, and any future GEO satellite is a potential user of this technology.