Design and Simulation of CubeSat Transceiver

Abstract

This thesis conducting to have a discussion about communication subsystem of Cube Satellites, considering ISRASAT1 prototype as a focal of point with detailed description of CubeSat subsystems, transceiver components and design procedures to reach final shape of the project. the output of this research is a consistent design of CubeSat transceiver based on ISRASAT1 specifications by using some software tools such as Advanced Design System ADS for Ultra Hight Frequency mixer and High Frequency Structural Simulator HFSS for antenna design. Hardware implementation has been done for TNC and AFSK modulator based on (Arduino Uno kit) with two Walkie -Talkies to verify data transmission between Tx and Rx. This study realized the main mission of ISRASAT1 prototype as transfer data between CubeSat and ground stations over wireless link using UHF band 433MHz for telemetry as well as all of design procedures achieved after calculate the link budget for 450 km distance between CubeSat and ground station with considered losses and gains. Also, UHF Mixer has been designed and obtained RF signal 433 MHz with -14.9 dBm after adding matching networks at the input and output of mixer and applying BPF with 8 dB gain at the output of mixer. Dipole antenna has been designed to meet ISRASAT1 specification with good results about 3dB gain, 2.9 VSWR and -5.9 dB as insertion loss.