Software-defined radio transceiver for QB50 CubeSat telemetry and telecommand

This paper presents the development of a ground system based on software-defined radio for supporting both ground testing and space telemetry and telecommand of one of the nanosatellites in the QB50 mission. The QB50 project is an ongoing European Commission Seventh Framework initiative, which aims at launching a constellation of 50 CubeSats in the lower thermosphere to carry out in-situ scientific measurements. The paper discusses the implementation of amateur radio protocols and telecommunication modulation schemes on the ground system. The system setup, deployment and scheduling are also discussed using two separate ground stations. The use of different software for testing the system is detailed, the results show the operability of the developed ground system. © 2016, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc