Preliminary Design of the Naval Postgraduate School Petite Amateur Navy Satellite (PANSAT) Electric Power and Communications Subsystems

The Naval Postgraduate School\u27s (NPS) Space Systems Academic Group (SSAG) is continuing the design and development of the Petite Amateur Navy Satellite (PANSAT), a small communications satellite. The objectives of PANSAT are to provide: (i.) an educational tool for the officer students at NPS, (ii.) digital communications using spread spectrum in the amateur band, and (iii.) a low cost, space-based platform for small experiments. PANSAT is designed for an altitude of 480 km and an inclination greater than 28.5. The satellite weight is 150 Ibs and has no attitude control. The expected life of the satellite is 2 years. This paper discusses the preliminary design of the electrical power subsystem (EPS) and the communications subsystem (COMM). The BPS is a photovoltaic silicon cell system consisting of solar array, batteries, battery charge regulator (BCR) and DC to DC converters. The COMM payload uses direct sequence spread spectrum modulated BPSK with a 1 MHz bandwidth. The data rate is 1200 bps with a bit error rate of 10-5 with a 5 Watt output

Spacecraft design project: High latitude communications satellite

The spacecraft design project was part of AE-4871, Advanced Spacecraft Design. The project was intended to provide experience in the design of all major components of a satellite. Each member of the class was given primary responsibility for a subsystem or design support function. Support was requested from the Naval Research Laboratory to augment the Naval Postgraduate School faculty. Analysis and design of each subsystem was done to the extent possible within the constraints of an eleven week quarter and the design facilities (hardware and software) available. The project team chose to evaluate the design of a high latitude communications satellite as representative of the design issues and tradeoffs necessary for a wide range of satellites. The High-Latitude Communications Satellite (HILACS) will provide a continuous UHF communications link between stations located north of the region covered by geosynchronous communications satellites, i.e., the area above approximately 60 N latitude. HILACS will also provide a communications link to stations below 60 N via a relay Net Control Station (NCS), which is located with access to both the HILACS and geosynchronous communications satellites. The communications payload will operate only for that portion of the orbit necessary to provide specified coverage