Space Communications

The challenge

Satellite communications is no longer limited to a large satellite communicating with a ground station. Now there are future challenges associated with the ever smaller size of satellites and the possibilities of large swarms of satellites all needing to communicate amongst themselves. This is not unlike the explosion of wireless communication requirements in ground based applications, although the constraints of space based operation require new solutions.

How it is solved / purpose of research

Key requirements for communications include energy efficiency (especially in smaller satellites where battery capacity and solar panel carrying capacity is limited), directivity of radiated radio beams (to avoid both wasting transmitted power and swamping nearby satellites in a swarm with unwanted signals) and compact antenna design so that maximum flexibility is retained in the payload .
 

Why it is important / what difference will it make (Impact)

Effective communications will underpin the successful operation of satellite swarms, enabling the advantages of this type of mission to be fully realised. These include cost reduction, better survivability (failures are limited to a single swarm element), and better quality data due to larger effective aperture of the collection system.

Lead researcher: Tim Drysdale