The aim of this research is to investigate how to track the QB50 cubesats when they are
deployed ... more The aim of this research is to investigate how to track the QB50 cubesats when they are deployed from the rocket launchers. Also the use of the ground station in Von Karman Institute to track, identify and distinguish the signals for each of the 50 cubesats of the QB50 constellation is examined in this research. Cubesats, due to their small size and weight, are low cost platforms to place in orbit. In parallel to this, cubesats are becoming more powerful everyday with very promising future from earth observation to telecommunications. Cubesat tracking and signal analysis is a crucial milestone in the cubesats constellation. The deployment of multiple cubesats from a rocket at an interval of about 30-60 seconds, creates a cloud of multiple cubesats orbiting close to each other. The process of tracking an individual cubesat and distinguish each signal is a complex process. Thus a research in the antennas, tracking system, orbital mechanics, electromagnetics, software and general ground station assembly is needed. Furthermore to track the cubesats exact orbital elements for a satellite are needed. Orbital elements or two line elements are also very hard to be generated at the early stages of deployment. NORAD the organization who is generating the two line elements for all space objects, is able to generate accurate two line elements for the cubesats after one month of deployment. As a conclusion to this research two methods are presented to track the QB50 constellation. The first is aiming to use the existing antennas and devices at VKI and the second is presenting a more sophisticated mini radar like system with a parabolic antenna which can be used alone or in a combination with the existing system. Also for future cubesats constellations a proposed system of time flags and time measuring is proposed.
The aim of this research is to investigate how to track the QB50 cubesats when they are
deployed ... more The aim of this research is to investigate how to track the QB50 cubesats when they are deployed from the rocket launchers. Also the use of the ground station in Von Karman Institute to track, identify and distinguish the signals for each of the 50 cubesats of the QB50 constellation is examined in this research. Cubesats, due to their small size and weight, are low cost platforms to place in orbit. In parallel to this, cubesats are becoming more powerful everyday with very promising future from earth observation to telecommunications. Cubesat tracking and signal analysis is a crucial milestone in the cubesats constellation. The deployment of multiple cubesats from a rocket at an interval of about 30-60 seconds, creates a cloud of multiple cubesats orbiting close to each other. The process of tracking an individual cubesat and distinguish each signal is a complex process. Thus a research in the antennas, tracking system, orbital mechanics, electromagnetics, software and general ground station assembly is needed. Furthermore to track the cubesats exact orbital elements for a satellite are needed. Orbital elements or two line elements are also very hard to be generated at the early stages of deployment. NORAD the organization who is generating the two line elements for all space objects, is able to generate accurate two line elements for the cubesats after one month of deployment. As a conclusion to this research two methods are presented to track the QB50 constellation. The first is aiming to use the existing antennas and devices at VKI and the second is presenting a more sophisticated mini radar like system with a parabolic antenna which can be used alone or in a combination with the existing system. Also for future cubesats constellations a proposed system of time flags and time measuring is proposed.
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deployed from the rocket launchers. Also the use of the ground station in Von Karman
Institute to track, identify and distinguish the signals for each of the 50 cubesats of the
QB50 constellation is examined in this research.
Cubesats, due to their small size and weight, are low cost platforms to place in orbit. In
parallel to this, cubesats are becoming more powerful everyday with very promising future
from earth observation to telecommunications.
Cubesat tracking and signal analysis is a crucial milestone in the cubesats constellation.
The deployment of multiple cubesats from a rocket at an interval of about 30-60 seconds,
creates a cloud of multiple cubesats orbiting close to each other. The process of tracking
an individual cubesat and distinguish each signal is a complex process. Thus a research
in the antennas, tracking system, orbital mechanics, electromagnetics, software and
general ground station assembly is needed.
Furthermore to track the cubesats exact orbital elements for a satellite are needed. Orbital
elements or two line elements are also very hard to be generated at the early stages of
deployment. NORAD the organization who is generating the two line elements for all
space objects, is able to generate accurate two line elements for the cubesats after one
month of deployment.
As a conclusion to this research two methods are presented to track the QB50
constellation. The first is aiming to use the existing antennas and devices at VKI and the
second is presenting a more sophisticated mini radar like system with a parabolic antenna
which can be used alone or in a combination with the existing system. Also for future
cubesats constellations a proposed system of time flags and time measuring is proposed.
Papers
deployed from the rocket launchers. Also the use of the ground station in Von Karman
Institute to track, identify and distinguish the signals for each of the 50 cubesats of the
QB50 constellation is examined in this research.
Cubesats, due to their small size and weight, are low cost platforms to place in orbit. In
parallel to this, cubesats are becoming more powerful everyday with very promising future
from earth observation to telecommunications.
Cubesat tracking and signal analysis is a crucial milestone in the cubesats constellation.
The deployment of multiple cubesats from a rocket at an interval of about 30-60 seconds,
creates a cloud of multiple cubesats orbiting close to each other. The process of tracking
an individual cubesat and distinguish each signal is a complex process. Thus a research
in the antennas, tracking system, orbital mechanics, electromagnetics, software and
general ground station assembly is needed.
Furthermore to track the cubesats exact orbital elements for a satellite are needed. Orbital
elements or two line elements are also very hard to be generated at the early stages of
deployment. NORAD the organization who is generating the two line elements for all
space objects, is able to generate accurate two line elements for the cubesats after one
month of deployment.
As a conclusion to this research two methods are presented to track the QB50
constellation. The first is aiming to use the existing antennas and devices at VKI and the
second is presenting a more sophisticated mini radar like system with a parabolic antenna
which can be used alone or in a combination with the existing system. Also for future
cubesats constellations a proposed system of time flags and time measuring is proposed.