The MEROPE communications subsystem consists almost entirely of commercial off the shelf components. Simple and robust, it is centered around a Paccomm Picopacket terminal node controller (TNC) operating continuously in "transparent" mode, whereby all serial data from the processor are immediately packetized and transmitted through a Yaesu VX-1R dual-band radio. The entire subsystem weighs less than 140 grams and occupies a total volume (including antennas and interconnects) of 180 cm/sup 3/ - less than 1/5 of the total spacecraft weight and volume budgets - with a hardware cost of less than $400. MEROPE communications uses the AX.25 packet radio protocol at 1200 baud. Uplink is at a frequency of 145.835 MHz with 20 kHz of available bandwidth. Downlink is at 437.445 MHz with a 30 kHz bandwidth. Communications flow is controlled by the Motorola HC12 flight processor, which is linked through a 9600 baud RS232 serial connection to the TNC. The entire communications link (ground-MEROPE-ground) is seamless, initialized by a single encrypted uplink command. The MEROPE antenna is a center-fed dipole tuned to the 2m uplink, which is nearly harmonic with the 70 cm downlink.


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    A commercial off the shelf (COTS) packet communications subsystem for the Montana EaRth-Orbiting Pico-Explorer (MEROPE) CubeSat


    Contributors:
    Hunyadi, G. (author) / Klumpar, D.M. (author) / Jepsen, S. (author) / Larsen, B. (author) / Obland, M. (author)


    Publication date :

    2002-01-01


    Size :

    849855 byte




    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English



    2.0806 A Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) Packet Communications Subsystem for the Montana EaRth-Orbiting Pico-Explorer (MEROPE) Cubesat

    Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2002



    2.0805 Power Subsystem Design for the Montana EaRth Orbiting Pico-Explorer (MEROPE) Cubesat-class Satellite

    Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2002



    2.0808 Microcontroller Design for the Montana EaRth Orbiting Pico-Explorer (MEROPE) Cubesat-class Satellite

    Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2002