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 satellite comprising:
a radio configured to:
receive, from a first ground station, at a first point in time, a first incoming transmission directed to the satellite to initiate communication between the satellite and the first ground station, the first incoming transmission including a first command specifying a first downlink radio frequency to be used by the satellite for downlink communication with the first ground station; and
receive, from a second ground station, at a second point in time, a second incoming transmission directed to the satellite to initiate communication between the satellite and the second ground station, the second incoming transmission including a second command specifying a second downlink radio frequency to be used by the satellite for downlink communication with the second ground station; and
a processor configured to:
determine the first downlink radio frequency specified in the first command of the first incoming transmission for downlink communication with the first ground station;
change a downlink configuration of the radio from an existing downlink radio frequency to the first downlink radio frequency specified in the first incoming transmission;
transmit first downlink communication to the first ground station at the first downlink radio frequency;
determine the second downlink radio frequency specified in the second command of the second incoming transmission for downlink communication with the second ground station;
change the downlink configuration of the radio from the first downlink radio frequency to the second downlink radio frequency specified in the second incoming transmission; and
transmit second downlink communication to the second ground station at the second downlink radio frequency,
wherein the first incoming transmission includes a first synch words that identifies the satellite that the first incoming transmission is directed to,
wherein the processor is configured to:
compare the first synch word with a predefined synch word;
determine that the first synch word is proper based on the comparison; and
change the downlink configuration of the radio from the existing downlink radio frequency to the first downlink radio frequency specified in the first incoming transmission after determining that the first synch word is proper.
2. The satellite of claim 1 , wherein the second incoming transmission includes a second synch word that identifies the satellite that the second incoming transmission is directed to.
3. The satellite of claim 2 , wherein the processor is configured to:
compare the second synch word with a predefined synch word;
determine that the second synch word is proper based on the comparison; and
change the downlink configuration of the radio from the first downlink radio frequency to the second downlink radio frequency specified in the second incoming transmission after determining that the second synch word is proper.
4. A central control platform system for a plurality of satellites, comprising:
a processor in communication with the plurality of satellites including a target satellite, the processor in communication with a plurality of ground stations including a first ground station and a second ground station, the processor configured to:
receive a first incoming transmission sent by the first ground station, the first incoming transmission being directed to the target satellite to initiate communication between the target satellite and the first ground station, the first incoming transmission including a first command specifying a first downlink radio frequency to be used by the target satellite for downlink communication with the first ground station;
determine the first downlink radio frequency specified in the first command of the first incoming transmission for downlink communication with the first ground station;
dynamically change a downlink configuration of a radio on the target satellite from an existing downlink radio frequency to the first downlink radio frequency specified in the first incoming transmission for satellite transmission to the first ground station at the first downlink radio frequency;
receive a second incoming transmission sent by the second ground station, the second incoming transmission being directed to the target satellite to initiate communication between the target satellite and the second ground station, the second incoming transmission including a second command specifying a second downlink radio frequency to be used by the target satellite for downlink communication with the second ground station;
determine, the second downlink radio frequency specified in the second command of the second incoming transmission for downlink communication with the second ground station; and
dynamically change the downlink configuration of the radio on the target satellite from the first downlink radio frequency to the second downlink radio frequency specified in the second incoming transmission for satellite transmission to the second ground station at the second downlink radio frequency,
wherein the first incoming transmission includes a first synch word that identifies the target satellite that the first incoming transmission is directed to
wherein the processor is further configured to:
compare the first synch word with a predefined synch word,
determine that the first synch word is proper based on the comparison, and
change the downlink configuration of the radio of the target satellite from the existing downlink radio frequency to the first downlink radio frequency specified in the first incoming transmission after determining that the first synch word is proper.
5. The central control platform system of claim 4 , wherein the second incoming transmission includes a second synch word that identifies the target satellite that the second incoming transmission is directed to.
6. The central control platform system of claim 5 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
compare the second synch word with a predefined synch word;
determine that the second synch word is proper based on the comparison; and
change the downlink configuration of the radio of the target satellite from the first downlink radio frequency to the second downlink radio frequency specified in the second incoming transmission after determining that the second synch word is proper.
7. A satellite, comprising:
a radio configured to scan over a range of radio frequencies until detecting a predefined synch word; and
a processor configured to:
receive, from a ground station, an incoming transmission directed to the satellite to initiate communication between the satellite and the ground station, the incoming transmission including a first synch word that identifies the satellite that the incoming transmission is directed to;
compare the first synch word with the predefined synch word;
determine that the first synch word is proper based on the comparison;
instruct the radio to stop scanning the range of radio frequencies after determining that the first synch word is proper; and
transmit downlink communication to the ground station after determining that the first synch word is proper.
8. The satellite of claim 7 , wherein the incoming transmission includes a command specifying a downlink radio frequency to be used by the satellite for downlink communication with the ground station.
9. The satellite of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to:
determine the downlink radio frequency specified in the command of the incoming transmission for downlink communication with the ground station;
change a downlink configuration of the radio from an existing downlink radio frequency to the determined downlink radio frequency specified in the incoming transmission; and
transmit downlink communication to the ground station at the determined downlink radio frequency.
10. A central control platform system for a plurality of satellites, comprising:
a processor in communication with the plurality of satellites including a target satellite, the processor in communication with a plurality of ground stations including a first ground station, the processor configured to:
instruct a radio on the target satellite to scan over a range of radio frequencies until detecting a predefined synch word;
receive an incoming transmission sent by the first ground station, the incoming transmission being 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 target satellite that the incoming transmission is directed to;
compare the first synch word with the predefined synch word;
determine that the first synch word is proper based on the comparison;
instruct the radio on the target satellite to stop scanning the range of radio frequencies after determining that the first synch word is proper; and
instruct the target satellite to transmit downlink communication to the first ground station after determining that the first synch word is proper.
11. The central control platform system of claim 10 , wherein the incoming transmission includes a command specifying a downlink radio frequency to be used by the target satellite for downlink communication with the ground station.
12. The central control platform system of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
determine the downlink radio frequency specified in the command of the incoming transmission for downlink communication with the ground station; and
change a downlink configuration of the radio from an existing downlink radio frequency to the determined downlink radio frequency specified in the incoming transmission for satellite transmission to the ground station at the determined downlink radio frequency.
13. A ground station, comprising:
a receiver;
a transmitter; and
a processor configured to:
determine an uplink frequency for the ground station to communicate with a satellite;
instruct the transmitter to transmit to the satellite, at the determined uplink frequency, a first temporary profile configuration packet with a timeout equal to a remaining length of time of contact between the ground station and the satellite, the first temporary profile including a desired uplink frequency and a desired downlink frequency;
instruct the receiver to listen for at least one beacon from the satellite on at least one of the following: the satellite's base beacon frequency, the satellite's factory default beacon frequency, and the desired downlink frequency, wherein the at least one beacon including a currently active uplink frequency used by the satellite; and
instruct the transmitter to transmit to the satellite a second temporary profile configuration packet at the currently active uplink frequency used by the satellite.