MODULAR GROUND STATION FOR AUTOMATIC TRACKING AND COMMUNICATION WITH LEO SATELLITE

Abstract

The growing interest in satellite-based services requires a reliable and efficient communication link between ground stations and low-earth orbiting satellites. A CubeSat in low Earth orbit (LEO) within altitudes about 350km to 700km exhibits shorter orbital periods compared to satellites at higher altitudes. This feature of the LEO satellite has significant benefits in space missions. However, the line-of-sight (LOS) between a ground station and LEO satellites is limited due to their rapid orbital motion across the sky as they orbit the Earth. Hence, a network of ground stations is needed for efficient communication with LEO Satellites. This project “Modular Ground Station for Automatic Tracking and Communication with LEO Satellite” aims to enhance LEO satellite communication using Modular Ground Station, offering a versatile and cost-effective solution for reliable and efficient communication with satellites. The Modular Ground Station architecture is a scalable and modular design that integrates with existing ground station infrastructures. The satellite tracking software utilizes the Two-Line Element (TLE) of the interested satellite to predict and track satellite movements. The ground station includes antennas, Software-Defined Radio (SDR), a tracking mechanism, Raspberry Pi, and software modules for satellite data processing, and signal decoding ensuring reliable and high-quality communication with LEO satellites. The NOAA satellites usually have Automatic Picture Transmission (APT) downlink mode of frequency around 137 MHz. Developing a Very High Frequency (VHF) antenna, the signal from the NOAA satellite is received and post-processed to an image.