Heckler, Greg

Johnson, Sandra

Lux, James

Myrann, Jacqueline

NASA Technical Reports Server

NalXlnlll Aerooautlcs alld Space AdmIIllW;lU\ln 
."!' 
SCAN Testbed, Ov~i3uew apd 
Opportuni f r Experiments 
Richard Reinhart 
SCAN Testbed Principal Investigator 
Sandra Johnson, Deputy Principal Investigator 
NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio 
Co-Principal Investigators: James Lux, Greg Heckler, Jacqueline Myrann 
ISS Research & Development Conference 
Denver CO, June 2012 
www.nasa.gov 
National AeronautlCli aJld Space AdrrnRlilratl1lrl 
SCAN Testbed 
Research & Technology Goals & Objectives 
INVESTIGATE the APPLICATION of SDRS TO NASA MISSIONS 
- Mission advantages and developmenVverification/operations aspects 
- On-Orbit Reconfiguration 
- More process intensive functions with in the radio subsystem 
SDR TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT 
- SDR Platforms to TRL-7 
- SDR platform hardware & waveform compliant ~RS. Foster Agency adoption 
- Understand/characterize space effects and SDR performance ,... 
VALIDATE FUTURE MISSION o P'E Itll. TIIOHill 
- Capability representative of future 
• ~ data rate, performance, 
- Understand SDR performance (reha"imi~ 
- Multiple and simultaneous RF Links (K"·b,,nd , 
- Experimenter sw 
1 
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20120016395 2019-08-30T22:57:01+00:00Z
SCAN Testbed Overview 
• Sponsored by the NASA Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) Program . 
• Across multiple Center; GRC, JPL. GSFC, JSC 
• Launch to the International Space Station {ISS} on JAXA 
H-II Transfer Vehicle {HTV-3} summer 2012 
Utilizes a Flight Releasable Attachment Mechanism (FRAM)-
based payload intertace and is installed on the Expedite the 
Processing of Experiments to Space Station (ExPRESS) 
Logistics Carrier (ElC) at the ISS P3 location. 
• The Flight System is a Class 0 payload planned to 
operate for five years on ISS (min design life is two 
years). 
Ground System includes a flight-Like system for new radio 
software development 
Concept of Operations & Connectivity 
2 
SCAN Testbed - Fl ight System Overview 0' 
Flight System Subsystems 
MechanicallThermal 
Avionics/Electrical 
SDRs 
RF/Antennas 
APS 
EXPRESS Pailet Adapter (ExPA)-
Releasable Attachment Mechanism 
Nlironal Aeroolullcs and Spa.c.e AdmmiMrlllon 
1----- JAXA Experiment 
SCAN Testbed Experiment 
Installed on an EM-MP for HTV Integration 
F~ghtSystemM8SS w/OUI ExPA, lb 
ExPAMass tb 
I , Ib 
486 
260 
746 
SDRs are the core "instrument" of the 
SCaN Testbed Communication System • 
STRSSDRs 
• Software Abstraction 
• Single Standard on SDR and WF 
.... ~_"' __ oo; ...... _ ......... __ 
General Dynamics 
S-band SDR 
6 MHz wide channel 
Virtex II, 
ColdFire Processor (60 MIPS), VxWorks, CRAM 
(Chalcogenide RAM) Memory 
10 Mbps Class 
J PUL-3 CE 
S-band SDR 
6 MHz wide channel 
L-band receive (GPS) 
Virtex 11 , Sparc Processor (100 
I 
Harris 
Ka-band SDR 
225 MHz wide channel 
Virtex IV, 
~ 
. .. ~ ~'1 
. - -
" -
AiTech-PowePC Processor (-700 MIPS), DSP 
(1 GFLOP), VxWorks, Scrubbing ASIC 
First Ka-band transceiver 
>100 Mbps Class 
_ .!'\as • . gov 
3 
Software Defined Radio "SDR 101 " 
., 
Hardware and software that converts user data to over-the-air signals 
Hardware - Signal processing, RF, power, thermal 
- Shift from fixed hardware to f lexible, reprogrammable hardware (FPGA, processor) 
- Traditional hardware remains at RF front end (ADC, DAC, filters, amplifiers) 
Software - Application (aka waveform), Managing (STRS) 
- Application Software - communication, navigation, networking functions 
• e.g . modulation, coding , fi ltering, data framing, routing, orbit determination 
- Managing Software - Controls the application software on the rad io platform. 
Loads/unloads application code and data to/from memory 
Responsible for interprocess communications between software components 
pro'ide;J~~~~i-j 
WMV.nasa.gov 
NltoQllalAeronautics and Space Admini~lration 
STRS Simplified View • 
Abstract app sw from underlying HW 
- Reduce mission dependence on radio 
provider for reconfigurations years 
after developmenUlaunch. 
- Minimum set of hardware and 
software interface 
Promote portabi lity/reuse 
- Avoid proprietary application designs/ 
implementations. 
Mission flexib ility, for different levels 
of avai lable resources. - scalable 
Architecture simplified by mission 
planning and hw resource allocation . 
- No radio hardware discovery or 
dynamic WF allocation change across 
hardware - fewer resources (e.g. 
power, memory) 
Enable waveform component 
contributions to repository for reuse 
4 
NatlOOal Aeronaulics and Space Admlnistrll ion 
STRS Interface Highlights • APls separate waveform from operating 
environment - enabling waveform 
portability. Radio Platform 
SPM FPGA 
Platform Specific Wapper 
V'5 App. (h'om PlM) 
Carrier ~c-------------~s~s~ 
9 
NatIOnal "erona~I'cs and Space Admin,slr;illion 
HID identifies hatdware resources 
available to waveform developer, 
separating WF from HW 
SDR Developer/Operations Roles • 
....... 
.:1 
· 
Platform Supplier 
-+ ... -jrIl!'ijes'" - Hardware 
1Uf00nlPlIJIiM .....,. -
, .. ~ ~ Operating Environment -, ...... 11lI",. 1lI" ... ,IiMI1aI, I~:' _...  
-'"' · 
Waveform Developer 
+ ,- , ...... •. _,,0.- - Waveform App 
_. 
1IIl"'~ """!'!... ........, 
· 
SDR Integrator ..... 
- Combines waveform 
applications with the 
, 
...... 
.- platform . 
sas ... tiMes ' . • Jlllilry 
- non-SDR model, the _ .... ~mlll"lllS '- / A"--
=-r-~",- /' integration is done at ~ "I( 
- ~,.:.cm.. --__ '- the radio manufacturer /. plM:le$ ." .....we. -, --
"" -
.' ""01 ." msn.. ! 
· 
System Integ rator 
--~. , I PI... -~ "' - integrates the complete , 
radio (hwlwf) with the 
pvIiIes &. "' - + ...... ... ' _. --_._,- rest of the spacecraft . 
- --
-- .. ~ ~ ...... 
www.nan.gov 
5 
N8Ilonal AefOfUlutie$ and Space Admini:W8l loo 
SCaN Testbed Experiment Waveforms 
(Launch Capability) • 
Transmit Receive 
(Return) link (Forward) link 
TDRSSMode Platform Waveform Modulation User Data 0 .- UserData Codingl 
Provider Provider Rate modulation Rate Decoding 
(kbps) (kbps) 
S-band DG1 , Mode 1 GO GO SQPN 24,192 QPSK 18, 72 Rate 1/2 
Viterbl 
S-band DG1 , Mode 2 GO GO SQPN 24,192 QPSK 18,72 Rate 1/2 
Viterbi 
S-band DG1, Mode 3 GO GO QPSK <1000 QPSK 1000 Rate 1/2 
Vitemi 
S-band DG2 GO GO SQPSK <1000 QPSK 1000 Rate 1/2 
Vitemi 
S-band DG1 Mode 2 JPL GRC/GSFC BPSK 24 BPSK 18 Rate 112 
Vitem! 
S-band DG2 JPL GRC/GSFC BPSK 192 BSPK 
'" 
Rate 1/2 
Viteml 
Ka-band OG2 Hams Hams SQPSK 100 Mbps BPSK 12.5 Mbps Rate 112 
12.5 Mbps 3 Mbps Vitemi 
Specific waveform variations lead to numerous (>100) configu rations 
www.nasa.gov 
NillIooal Aeronalllics and Space Admimwalloo 
Flight Test and Measurements Provide 
Validation of New Technologies • 
SDR Platform Technology 
Reconfiguration (time, 
reliabil ity, operations) 
Application Integration 
Space Effects (SEU, 
processing, memory, 
thermal, power) 
System Arch itectures 
Connectivity: TDRSS and 
ground .. . relay and surface 
Multi-band , multi-TDRSS 
links 
Multiple access techniques 
(TDRSS) 
Communication Applications 
Link capacity - data rate, 
bandwidth effiCiency, coding 
schemes 
Adaptive communications 
Data link protocol verifications 
Link performance 
Error performance/rate (SER), 
Eb/No (SNR) 
Error distribution 
Link characterizations 
www.nasa .gov " 
6 
Natkln,,1 Aerona utj~ and Spactl Admmlstrl tion 
Flight Test and Measurements Provide 
Validation of New Technologies 
Demo SDR-based GPS 
- Comm and navigation 
functions time-multiplexed on 
common hardware 
- Improved position, velocity, 
time (PVT) 
- TASS enhancement of GPS 
navigation 
- Re-broadcast of GPS 
corrections to other sIc 
- Navigation data fusion 
Evaluation of new GPS 
- New signals (LS) to be added 
without rebuilding hardware 
Precision relative navigation 
- Rendezvous and docking 
On-Board Routing 
- Connectivity, network 
characterization , link statistics 
DelaylDisruption Tolerant 
Networking (DTN) 
- Automated store-n-forward 
- Adaptive routing 
- Traffic prioritization 
- Link layer error controll 
crass link optimization 
IP in Space 
Common Command/Data 
Interlace Experiments 
Distributed Processing 
- Efficiency, reliability 
www.nas8.gov 13 
Experimenter Access Points 
Experiment 
Interface 
E1tper1mellt 
EqUlpmcm 
with i n Sea N T estBed Sy~s"-,,te,,-,m- -,----_ ______ 
/' ISS '\ Ground 
System 
c--
'0 ~ 
" !l C!l c 
- u ~ u 
!- '0 L--. 
Z!:: r 
• c U 0 
"' u 
-
External Systems 
rc----,,----,-
NISN 
wsc 
Legacy 
SeI"I1Ce 
T 
D 
R []]~ 
S-band 
DTE 
U 
'----;---' '----' ,,---- ------/ 1:r = Experiment Element (e.g. sw, fw, hw, component) 
Experimenters have access to 
Fit SDRs, avionics, Gnd SDR, various ground points 
7 
Natlon. ' Aeronautics and Space Admini5tral iO<1 
Call for Experiment Proposals 
• After Commissioning is complete , the testbed will be 
available for experiments 
• Experiment announcement call in mid 2012 for external 
experiments 
- The call will go to NASA, industry, academic partners and other 
government agencies 
- Experiments selected will complement experiments already selected 
from internal to NASA and through the SBIR process 
Goal is to develop an experiments program to utilize the 
SCaN Testbed for the benefit of the Space Communication 
and Navigation (SCaN) Program, and NASA 
http ://www. fedbizopps. gOY / 
• 
• 
_ .nasa.gov " 
Nationa' Aeronautics and SPi ce AdmlniWaHon 
Summary - SDR Experiment on ISS 
SCaN Testbed scheduled for launch in mid-2012 
Experiments Program seeks participation by NASA, industry, 
academia, and OGA to use the SCAN Testbed. 
- Call for experiments released in mid 2012. 
Broad participation will create a forum to exchange ideas and 
results, create new experiments, new partnerships, and 
disseminate results 
STRS abstracts waveform from underlying hardware 
- Increase the base of domain experts around a common standard. 
- Seeking input to STRS by other agencies (standardization effort in FY12) 
SCAN Testbed reduces the risk of infusing SDRs and their 
applications (comm, nav, networking) into NASA missions 
• 
wv.w.nasa.gov .. 
8 
Nat,ooaJAerol\llulic5 and Space AtlmilllstfaHOfl 
• 
Backup 
_ .flase.gOy " 
National Ae-ronautic5 and Splice AdrTllnlWatoon 
Acronym List (1 of 2) • 
API - Application Prog ramming Interface 
AS IC - Application Specific Integrated 
Circuit 
BER - Bit Error Rate 
BPSK - Bi-Phase Shift Keying 
BSP - Board Support Package 
CE - Cincinnati Electronics 
OSP - Digital Signal Processing 
OTE - Direct to Earth 
OTN - Disruptive Tolerant Networking 
EDAC - Error Detection and Correction 
ELC - EXPRESS Logistics Carrier 
FPGA - Field Programmable Gate Array 
FW - Firmware 
GO - General Dynamics 
GPM - General Processing Module 
GPS - Global Positioning System 
GRC - Glenn Research Center 
GSFC - Goddard Space Flight Center 
HAl - Hardware Abstraction layer 
HID - Hardware Intertace Definition 
HGA - High Gain Antenna 
HPA - High power Ampli fier 
HW - Hardware 
JPl - Jet Propulsion l ab 
JSC - Johnson Space Center 
l GA - low Gain Antenna 
www.nasa.goy " 
9 
Nation,l AeronlUlics and Spece Administration 
Acronym List (2 of 2) • 
OE - Operating Environment 
OGA - Other Government 
QPSK - Quadrature Phase Sh ift Keying 
PVT - Position, Velocity, Time 
RF - Radio Frequency 
RTN · Relurn 
RTOS - Real Time Operating System 
SDR - Software Defined Radio 
SEE - Space Environment Effects, 
SEU - Single Event Upset 
SN - Space Network 
Nillien,l Aefenaut,cs and spau AdmJniSI.(Oltron 
SNR - Signal-to-Noise Ratio 
SQPN - Staggered QPSK PN Spread 
SQPSK - Staggered Quadrature Phase 
Shift Keying 
STRS - Space Telecommunications 
Radio System 
SW· Software 
TORS - Tracking Data Relay Satellite 
TORSS - Tracking Data Relay Satellite 
System 
TRl- Technology Readiness level 
1WTA - Traveling Wave Tube Amplifier 
V2 - Vitex II 
V4 - Virtex IV 
WSC - White Sands Complex 
WF - Waveform 
www.nasa.golf ,. 
SDRs are the core of the 
SCaN TestBed Communication S\I,,,t Q"" 
STRS SDRs 
- Advance STRS/SDR Platforms to TRL-7 
- Single standard on SDR and WF 
General Dynamics 
S-band SDR 
Tx: 2.2-2 .3 GHz, 8W 
-Compliance 
verified wI 
-tools 
-inspection 
-observation 
Rx: 2.025-2.12 GHz (6MHz channels) 
Virtex II, ColdFire Processor (60 MIPS), 
VxWorks OS, CRAM (Chalcogenide RAM) 
Memory 
JPLlL·3 CE 
L-band receive (GPS) 
S-band SDR 
Tx: 2.2-2.3 GHz, 7W 
Rx: 2.025-2.12 GHz, (6 MHz channels) 
Virtex II , Spare Processor (1 00 MIPS) , 
RTEMs as, EDAC 
Harris 
Ka-band SDR 
Tx: 25.650 GHz, 225 MHz 
Rx: 22.680 Ghz, 50 MHz 
Virtex IV, AiTech-PowePC Processor 
(-700 MIPS) , DSP (1 GFLOP) , 
VxWorks as, Scrubbing ASIC 
- First Ka-band transceiver 
10 


SCAN Testbed, Overview and Opportunity for Experiments

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