1. Enabling Deep Space CubeSat Missions: Telecommunication challenge
Nacer Chahat and Richard Hodges
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
California Institute of Technology
PRE-DECISIONAL INFORMATION – For Planning and Discussion Purposes Only.

2. Mars Reconnaissance orbiter
MRO
Distance (km)
million
Data-rate
500 Kbps to 4 Mbps
Power
100W (X-band)
35W (Ka-band)
Antenna size 3m
Antenna gain
46.7dBi (X-band)
56.4dBi (Ka-band)
Pointing accuracy
0.1°
At a maximum distance from Earth (400 million km [250 million miles]), the orbiter is
designed to send data at a rate of at least 500 kbp
s. At closer ranges, the signal strength will be
greater, so higher data rates will be possible. Wh
en the orbiter is at its closest ranges (about 100
milliom km [60 million miles]), for several months the orbiter will be able to send data to Earth
at 3 to 4 megabits per second (Mbps).
Mars Reconnaissance orbiter
PRE-DECISIONAL INFORMATION – For Planning and Discussion Purposes Only.

3. MARS cubesat requirement
MRO
CubeSat
Distance (km)
million
149 million
Data-rate
500 Kbps to 4 Mbps
8kbps
Power
100W (X-band)
35W (Ka-band)
4W (X-band)
2W (ka-band)
Antenna size 3m
~0.5m
Antenna gain
46.7dBi (X-band)
56.4dBi (Ka-band)
30dBi (X-band)
42dBi (Ka-band)
Pointing accuracy
±0.1°
±2°
MARS cubesat requirement
PRE-DECISIONAL INFORMATION – For Planning and Discussion Purposes Only.

4. TX/RX Patch antenna array
TX / RX patch array at X-band
Stowage volume:
1x10x30cm3 (3U)
1x20x30cm3 (6U)
Antenna gain:
23 dBi (3U)  4kbps
26 dBi (6U)  7.5kbps
20cm
30cm
TX/RX Patch antenna array
PRE-DECISIONAL INFORMATION – For Planning and Discussion Purposes Only.

5. TX Patch antenna array Two antenna : TX and RX antenna at X-band
TX antenna stowage volume :
1x10x20cm3 (3U)
1x20x20cm3 (6U)
Antenna directivity:
19.6 dBi (3U)  1.9 kbps
22.6 dBi (6U)  3.8 kbps RX
20cm
20cm
At a maximum distance from Earth (400 million km [250 million miles]), the orbiter is
designed to send data at a rate of at least 500 kbp
s. At closer ranges, the signal strength will be
greater, so higher data rates will be possible. When the orbiter is at its closest ranges (about 100
milliom km [60 million miles]), for several months the orbiter will be able to send data to Earth
at 3 to 4 megabits per second (Mbps).
TX Patch antenna array
PRE-DECISIONAL INFORMATION – For Planning and Discussion Purposes Only.

6. RX Patch antenna array Two antenna : TX and RX antenna at X-band
RX antenna stowage volume :
1x10x20cm3 (3U)
1x10x20cm3 (6U)
RX antenna directivity:
15.7 dBi (3U)
18.7 dBi (6U) RX
20cm
10cm
At a maximum distance from Earth (400 million km [250 million miles]), the orbiter is
designed to send data at a rate of at least 500 kbp
s. At closer ranges, the signal strength will be
greater, so higher data rates will be possible. When the orbiter is at its closest ranges (about 100
milliom km [60 million miles]), for several months the orbiter will be able to send data to Earth
at 3 to 4 megabits per second (Mbps).
RX Patch antenna array
PRE-DECISIONAL INFORMATION – For Planning and Discussion Purposes Only.

7. Reflectarray antenna X-band antennas Antenna gain: 29.5 dBi (TX)
Stowage volume: 2x20x30cm3 (6U)
Data-rate: 8Kbps
Deployable
Feed
Reflectarray
Panels
RX Antenna
At a maximum distance from Earth (400 million km [250 million miles]), the orbiter is
designed to send data at a rate of at least 500 kbp
s. At closer ranges, the signal strength will be
greater, so higher data rates will be possible. When the orbiter is at its closest ranges (about 100
milliom km [60 million miles]), for several months the orbiter will be able to send data to Earth
at 3 to 4 megabits per second (Mbps).
ISARA Ka-Band Reflectarray Panels
Reflectarray antenna
PRE-DECISIONAL INFORMATION – For Planning and Discussion Purposes Only.

8. Deployable High Gain antenna
Ka-band antenna
Antenna gain: 42.5 dBi
Stowage volume: 1.5U
Data-rate: 8Kbps
At a maximum distance from Earth (400 million km [250 million miles]), the orbiter is
designed to send data at a rate of at least 500 kbp
s. At closer ranges, the signal strength will be
greater, so higher data rates will be possible. When the orbiter is at its closest ranges (about 100
milliom km [60 million miles]), for several months the orbiter will be able to send data to Earth
at 3 to 4 megabits per second (Mbps).
Deployable High Gain antenna
PRE-DECISIONAL INFORMATION – For Planning and Discussion Purposes Only.

9. Questions?
At a maximum distance from Earth (400 million km [250 million miles]), the orbiter is
designed to send data at a rate of at least 500 kbp
s. At closer ranges, the signal strength will be
greater, so higher data rates will be possible. When the orbiter is at its closest ranges (about 100
milliom km [60 million miles]), for several months the orbiter will be able to send data to Earth
at 3 to 4 megabits per second (Mbps).
Questions?
2014 California Institute of Technology.
Government sponsorship acknowledged.
PRE-DECISIONAL INFORMATION – For Planning and Discussion Purposes Only.