Adaptable space radio
Systems and methods are disclosed herein for adaptively coordinating among satellite communication channels. A method, according to an example implementation of the disclosed technology, can include: receiving, at a radio frequency receiver disposed on a target satellite, a plurality of signals associated with a corresponding plurality of candidate satellite communication channels; detecting, among the plurality of signals, a command structure; selecting, for communications with a first ground station, a first channel of the candidate satellite communication channels, based at least in part, on information in the detected command structure; establishing a communication link with the first ground station using the first channel; receiving, via the first channel, and from the first ground station, one or more downlink instructions; selecting a downlink communication channel based on the received one or more downlink instructions; and transmitting information to the first ground station via the selected downlink communication channel.
1. A method for adjusting satellite radio frequencies, the method comprising:
scanning, by a radio on a satellite, over a range of radio frequencies until detecting a predefined synch word;
receiving, from a first ground station, at an uplink radio frequency, an incoming transmission directed to the satellite to initiate communication between the satellite and the first ground station, the incoming transmission including a first synch word that identifies the satellite that the incoming transmission is directed to, and the incoming transmission including a command specifying a download radio frequency to be used by the satellite for downlink communication with the first ground station;
comparing the first synch word with the predefined synch word;
determining that the first synch word is proper based on the comparison;
stop scanning the range of radio frequencies after determining that the first synch word is proper;
determining, by the satellite, the downlink radio frequency specified in the command of the incoming transmission for downlink communication with the first ground station, wherein the uplink radio frequency is different from the downlink radio frequency;
changing a downlink configuration of the radio from an existing downlink radio frequency to the determined downlink radio frequency specified in the incoming transmission; and transmitting downlink communication to the first ground station at the determined downlink radio frequency.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, by the satellite, from the first ground station, a plurality of signals associated with a plurality of candidate satellite communication channels; and
selectively filtering the received plurality of signals to define a reduced subset of candidate channels from the plurality of candidate satellite communication channels.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the satellite selects, for communications with the first ground station, a first channel of the candidate satellite communication channels by cycling through the reduced subset of candidate channels.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein selecting the first channel is further based on one or more of: header information, a sync word, forward error correction scheme, and an encryption key.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein selecting the first channel is further based on a status of the satellite.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein a status of the satellite comprises one or more of:
an orbit of the satellite;
an orientation of the satellite;
a geolocation of the satellite;
beacon activity of the satellite; and
a determined position of the satellite with respect to the first ground station.
7. The method of claim 3 , wherein selecting the first channel is further based on one or more of:
a status of another orbiting satellite;
beacon activity of another orbiting satellite;
time of day; and
a likelihood of communication interference.
8. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
receiving, via the first channel, and from the first ground station, one or more updated downlink instructions for communicating with a second ground station;
selecting a downlink communication channel based on the received one or more updated downlink instructions; and
transmitting information to the second ground station via the selected downlink communication channel.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the one or more updated downlink instructions comprise one or more of:
specific channel instructions for communicating with the second ground station; and
a listing of candidate frequencies for communicating with the second ground station.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first channel remains available for communication between the satellite and the first ground station until communication is established with the second ground station.
11. The method of claim 3 , further comprising selecting, for communications with a second ground station, a second channel of the candidate satellite communication channels based, at least in part, on a determined position of the satellite with respect to the second ground station.
12. A satellite communications system comprising:
a plurality of satellites including a target satellite;
a plurality of ground stations including a first ground station;
at least one memory for storing data and computer-executable instructions;
at least one processor in communication with the at least one memory, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to cause the system to:
scan, by a radio on the target satellite, over a range of radio frequencies until detecting a predefined synch word;
receive, from the first ground station, at an uplink radio frequency, an incoming transmission directed to the target satellite to initiate communication between the target satellite and the first ground station, the incoming transmission including a first synch word that identifies the satellite that the incoming transmission is directed to, and the incoming transmission including a command specifying a downlink radio frequency to be used by the target satellite for downlink communication with the first ground station;
compare the first synch word with the predefined synch word;
determine that the first synch word is proper based on the comparison;
stop scanning the range of radio frequencies after determining that the first synch word is proper;
determine, by the target satellite, the downlink radio frequency specified in the command of the incoming transmission for downlink communication with the first ground station, wherein the uplink radio frequency is different from the downlink radio frequency;
dynamically change a downlink configuration of the radio from an existing downlink radio frequency to the downlink radio frequency specified in the first incoming transmission;
transmit downlink communication to the first ground station at the downlink radio frequency.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein
at least the target satellite is configured to:
receive, from the first ground station, a plurality of frequencies associated with a plurality of candidate satellite communication channels; and
filter the received plurality of frequencies selectively to define a reduced subset of candidate channels from the plurality of candidate satellite communication channels.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein at least the target satellite is configured to cycle through the reduced subset of candidate channels to select, for communications with the first ground station, a first channel of the candidate satellite communication channels.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the first channel is further selected based on one or more of: header information, a sync word, forward error correction scheme, and an encryption key.
16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the first channel is further selected based on a status of the target satellite.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein a status of the target satellite comprises one of more of:
an orbit of the target satellite;
an orientation of the target satellite;
a geolocation of the target satellite;
beacon activity of the target satellite; and
a determined position of the target satellite with respect to the ground station.
18. The system of claim 14 , wherein the first channel is further selected based on one or more of:
a status of another orbiting satellite;
beacon activity of another orbiting satellite;
time of day; and
a likelihood of communication interference.
19. The system of claim 14 , wherein the target satellite is further configured to:
receive, via the first channel, and from the first ground station, one or more updated downlink instructions for communicating with a second ground station of the plurality ground stations;
select a downlink communication channel based on the received one or more updated downlink instructions; and
transmit information to the second ground station via the selected downlink communication channel.
20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the one or more updated downlink instructions comprise one or more of:
specific channel instructions for communicating with the second ground station of the plurality ground stations; and
a listing of candidate frequencies for communicating with the second ground station.