Today, the U.S. military relies upon space-based technology for a myriad of functions from precision navigation to satellite communication. Satellites greatly enable the modern American military and particularly empower special operations forces across the globe, supporting decentralized and geographically disparate operations. However, the U.S. is highly reliant upon this technology and thus increasingly vulnerable with potential adversaries undoubtedly possessing, or at least cultivating, the ability to attack America's space-based infrastructure. As a safeguard against such vulnerabilities, nanosatellites, cube satellites (CubeSats), and other small satellites are a low-cost and expedient solution to build redundancy and resiliency, offering unique options as an alternative to traditional satellite systems. To support this hypothesis, this thesis provides such an alternative: A Software Assisted VHF Information Overhead Relay-CubeSat (SAVIOR-Cube). SAVIOR-Cube is a software-defined radio (SDR) payload operating as a very high frequency (VHF) relay via a nanosatellite in low Earth orbit. This thesis demonstrates the depth of the problem a payload such as SAVIOR-Cube could solve, the applicability of nanosatellite solutions to U.S. forces today, and the results of extensive testing, culminating with a proof of concept high-altitude balloon flight. Nanosatellites are a viable alternative to traditional space-based infrastructure a solution to a critical vulnerability.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library


    Export, share and cite



    Inter-Satellite Link Design for Nanosatellites in New Space

    Fredmer, Andreas | BASE | 2020

    Free access

    Nanosatellites

    de Carvalho, Rogerio / Estela, Jaime / Langer, Martin | TIBKAT | 2020


    Architecting Disaggregated Space Weather Solutions Using Nanosatellites

    Lam, Juan F. / La Tour, Paul / Kim, Jonwa | AIAA | 2013


    Microthrusters for Nanosatellites

    Janson, S. / Helvajian, H. / Hansen, W. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1999


    Water quality management using nanosatellites

    Asian, A. R. / Toklu, M. / Karabulut, B. et al. | IEEE | 2017