Design of a Polarization Diversity System for Ground Stations of CubeSat Space Systems

Author

Vázquez-Álvarez, Antonio José ; Tubío-Pardavila, Ricardo ; González-Muiño, Alberto ; Aguado-Agelet, Fernando ; Arias-Acuña, Marcos ; Vilán-Vilán, José Antonio

Author_Institution

Dept. de Teor. de la Senal y Comun., Univ. de Vigo, Vigo, Spain

Volume

11

fYear

2012

fDate

7/4/1905 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

917

Lastpage

920

Abstract

In this letter, a new polarization diversity system for ground stations that operate CubeSat spacecraft is presented. This new system aims to minimize communications link losses caused by unpredictable variations of the radiation pattern of the antenna in spacecraft that spin freely. It is based on the combination of multiple signals orthogonally polarized. The ground station that controls the XaTcobeo spacecraft has implemented this system. The spacecraft has been launched recently and is still in Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP).

Keywords

antenna radiation patterns; diversity reception; polarisation; satellite communication; space vehicles; CubeSat space systems; XaTcobeo spacecraft; antenna radiation pattern; communications link losses; ground stations; launch and early orbit phase; polarization diversity system; Diversity reception; Modems; Polarization; Receiving antennas; Software; Space vehicles; Transceivers; CubeSat; ground station; polarization diversity;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1536-1225

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/LAWP.2012.2211854

Filename

6261521