SharjahSat-1 Space-to-Ground Telecommunication Operations

SharjahSat-1 is a collaborative research project by the Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Science, and Technology (SAASST), University of Sharjah (UoS), Istanbul Technical University Space Systems Design and Test Laboratory (ITU-SSDTL), and Sabanci University (SU). The 3U+ CubeSat will host an improved X-ray Detector (iXRD) as the primary payload and a secondary payload system of a dual optical camera system. The X-ray detector's objective is to detect hard X-rays from very bright X-ray sources, and to study the solar coronal holes, whereas the camera system will provide a low-resolution remote sensing application. Although SharjahSat-1 would be the first CubeSat mission to be developed by SAASST and UoS, it aims to extend the experience for the following CubeSat missions. The anticipated launch date of the CubeSat is by the fourth quarter of 2022. Many parameters such as emission patterns, data rates, modulation schemes, and the dynamics of the satellites affect the completion of the communication links between the CubeSat and the ground station. Thus, it is crucial to consider all major and minor parameters while designing and performing telecommunication operations. SharjahSat-1 host a transmitter and a transceiver and their antennas to communicate the data from the payloads and telemetry through different frequency bands. It will perform these operations through S-band and VHF/UHF frequency ranges due to its payloads requirement of high data rates. Moreover, SAASST is equipped with an S-Band, a full-duplex VHF/UHF Ground Station, and a Software Defined Radio (SDR) ground station transceiver to fulfill such mission requirements and assure its success. Furthermore, a custom-console software was developed to control SharjahSat-1 while it is in orbit by sending commands to execute diverse types of operations that will directly affect the practicality of mission objectives. This paper comprises SharjahSat-1 communication subsystem design significance due to the requirements of the payloads. Then it will put forward the composition of the full-fledged SAASST Ground Segment equipped with technologically advanced hardware components that allow full automation during operations as it is remotely controlled. Finally, it will describe the developed custom-console software that aids the mission's operations to formulate a comprehensive End-to-End communication operations process.