Ann P. Over Project Manager NASA Glenn Research Center August 2010

Communication, Navigation, and Networking reConfigurable Testbed

(CoNNeCT): An International Space Station

National LabAnn P. Over

Project ManagerNASA Glenn Research Center

August 2010

Software Defined Radio: Computer Analogy

Hardware with Fixed Functionality

Hardware + Operating Environment+ “Apps” (“Waveforms”)

3

Digital Electronics(Baseband processor)

Transmitter/Receiver (RF)

Power Amplifier

Power Supply

Software Defined Radio “101”Re-confi gur abl e

Softwar eFrequencyC onversion

Filtering/Se lection

A G C

ALC

Antenna

P ower Am p.

LN A

A/DC onverter

D /AC onverter

F ilte ring/S e lection

FrequencyC onversion

D em odula tion

U serIn te rface

D ecoding

Equa lization

M odulation E ncod ing

Equa lization

Low Noise Amplifier

Why CoNNeCT? • ISS NATIONAL LAB VALIDATING KEY COMMUNICATIONS, NETWORKING &

NAVIGATION TECHNOLOGIES– SDR performance (reliability, space effects)– Reconfigurable on-orbit (e.g. Data rate, signal format, functions)– More capability in Ka-band (26 GHz)– Led by NASA, available to all: government, industry, and academia for in-orbit

experimentation– Announcement of Opportunity for new experiments in early FY11

• SDR STANDARD “STRS” FOR ALL USERS

• DEMONSTRATE FUTURE MISSION CAPABILITIES– High Data rate communications, on-board networking/routing, GPS/nav– Validate performance in-orbit to reduce mission risk

STRS=Space Telecommunications Radio System

CoNNeCT Mission Description• Launch: JAXA H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV-3) in 2012 (movie)• Carrier:

– Flight Releasable Attachment Mechanism (FRAM)-based payload– Installed on Expedite the Processing of Experiments to Space Station

(ExPRESS) Logistics Carrier (ELC) at the ISS P3 location– Transferred and installed to the ELC via Extravehicular Robotics (EVR)

• Operate for a minimum of two years.

5

CoNNeCT Operations

7

Flight System Overview• Flight enclosure mounted on ISS

hardware provides mechanical and thermal control

• Flight Computer/Avionics• Communication System

– SW Defined Radios (3)• JPL S-band with GPS• GD S-band• Harris Ka-band

– Antennas (5)/RF• 2 S-band Low gain• 1 L-band GPS• 1 S-band Medium gain• 1 Ka-band High gain with TWTA

– Antenna pointing system• Gimbal• Control computer

Conclusions

• CoNNeCT will demonstrate advanced communications, networking, and navigation capability using software defined radios– Enabling new exploration and discovery

• Broad participation by government, industry, and academia through experiments program

• CoNNeCT helps NASA achieve National Space Policy Goals (released June 28, 2010)

CoNNeCT Contacts

Ann P. Over, Project [email protected] Research Center

Richard Reinhart, Principle [email protected] Research Center