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Marshall Space Flight Center Fiscal Year 2019 Student Collaboration Projects (SCPs) – SIMPSON

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NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) released a call on June 3 for proposals to collaborate with promising students and leverage ongoing work to explore new, innovative applications of that ongoing work.

Executive Summary

Christopher Simpson will build a 130-430 MHz dual-use software-defined radio to test inter-formation networking and precise navigation and timing. This device will later use 24-GHz Ka-band to allow data-rates of 1-Gbps. The prototype will be presented in March 2020 at the conclusion of the effort. The payload functions as a passive radar and directed beam by utilizing electronic beam-forming, passive illumination, and network time reference protocols. During AY 2019-2020, 2 demonstration nodes will be built to test this game-changing technology in formation flying.

Mr. Simpson intends to collaborate with Marshall Space Flight Center researchers developing inter-CubeSat communication using a peer-to-peer topology. The mesh network architecture MSFC researchers are developing is intended to allow for data exchange between spacecraft with no central router. The waveform currently in use will be leveraged to reduce development risk.

This proposal addresses NASA Roadmap 2015 - TA 5.5.1.1, Intelligent Multipurpose Software Defined Radio and enhances a return to the lunar surface by addressing LEAG - Strategic Knowledge Gap (SKG) Theme 1-D Polar Resources 7.

Addressing the Scientific and Technical Challenges

1.Track and communicate with other nodes (Satellites in the formation)

  • Simulate on ground the tracking and communication capability this network will provide

2.Expanding Network Time Reference (NRT) to communication systems to reduce reliance on external time references and improve navigation.

  • Use this NRT to electronically form the beam and transmit/track satellite.
  • Use same antenna for communication/radar.

3.Reduce required SWaP while improving technical merit.

  • Electronic beam-steering for inter-formation tracking and communication networking has not been demonstrated previously, see NASA Small Satellite Database.
  • Missions are in the work to demonstrate inter-formation network

Budget and Time Constraints

$6,000 for materials (adjusted for risk/price increase)
Table in presentation.
20 Weeks (10 Sprints/625 hrs)

I intend to utilize Scrum planning to utilize an AGILE development. I will finish January 12 if everything occurs ideally. This leaves me with an extra 9 weeks of overage or another 281.25 hours of development.

Documents:

Synchronized Phased Array Software Defined Radio

NASA-SCP-Response_SIMPSON

NASA-SCP-Response_Storyboard_Outline

Spring 2019/Midterm/ 25 Feb 2019

Midterm exam can be found by clicking the link: AEM_591_Exam_Orbit_Determination

This marks the end of the necessary background for orbit determination.

Previous lectures:

 

Spring 2019/Lecture 12/Real Measurements 2 – 22 Feb 2019

Two way ranging and Doppler systems are summarized. Differenced measurements or “differencing,” is explained. For additional explanation on differencing see Penn State’s course for Geospatial and GNSS professionals (https://www.e-education.psu.edu/geog862/node/1727).

There was some difficulty with projecting the slides to the screen so they have been added after the lecture was recorded.

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Slides: L12 Slides – Real Measurements 2

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Spring 2019/Lecture 11/Conceptual Example – 20 Feb 2019

The environment and relativity effects on radio and optical communications are introduced.  One-way range measurement systems are introduced. GPS is provided as an example but it still applies to GLONASS and Galileo. Two-way range, Doppler, and differenced measurements are considered next.

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Slides: L11 Slides – Real Measurements

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Spring 2019/Lecture 10/Conceptual Example – 18 Feb 2019

Return from recording issues. An example illustrating the previous discussions on real-world limitations of observations is examined.

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Slides: L10 Slides – ConceptualExample

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYR-0afQKo4&w=560&h=315]

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Spring 2019/Lecture 9/Conceptual Measurements – 15 Feb 2019

Return from recording issues. Real-world limitations on ideal observations are discussed. An example illustrating these discussions is prepared for the next lecture.

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Slides: L9 Slides – Conceptual Measurements

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Spring 2019/Homework 2 Solution

Demonstrate understanding of orbital mechanics necessary to complete orbit determination course. In problem 1, position and velocity are converted between osculating elements and sub-satellite points. In problem 2, the receiver measurements confirm the node location varies over time. In problem 3 the equations of motion are numerically integrated for a GLONASS satellite for one day.

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GitHub: Repository for Code Used

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Spring 2019/Lecture 8/Simulating Ideal Measurements – 13 Feb 2019

Continuing from ideal range and range rate measurements we examine how this applies in the larger context of orbit determination. We use examples to demonstrate real-world application. My apologies again for the difficulties I had bringing this recording to you.

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Slides: L8 Slides – Simulating Ideal Measurements

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwcqWdBinik&w=560&h=315]

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Lecture 3 – Orbital Mechanics Review B

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[contact-form][contact-field label=”Name” type=”name” required=”1″ /][contact-field label=”Email” type=”email” required=”1″ /][/contact-form]

Lecture

I pick up again by reviewing the solution to the problem assigned during Lecture 1. (The link will take you to a solution using C++ on GitHub). A few common coordinate systems and reference frames are introduced, orbital perturbations are introduced, and an example problem to be solved in Lecture 4 is given to the class to start on.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlcF9AoNBUo]

Previous Lectures

Lecture 2

Lecture 1

Resources

Lecture 3 – Review Of Orbital Mechanics B

Lecture 2 – Orbital Mechanics Review A

Lecture 1 – Orbit Determination Concepts (slides)

AppendixA-ProbabilityAndStatistics

Lecture 2 – Orbital Mechanics Review A

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Lecture

We review orbital mechanics and Newton’s law of gravitation to prepare for orbit determination. We will cover the two body problem, orbital elements, and perturbing accelerations. We won’t finish the entire lecture today. We will continue on Monday.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBekNtOqy-k]

Previous Lectures

Lecture 1

Resources

Lecture 2 – Orbital Mechanics Review A

Lecture 1 – Orbit Determination Concepts (slides)

AppendixA-ProbabilityAndStatistics