Characterization of a COTS-Based RF Receiver for Cubesat Applications.

Area of Science:

• Spacecraft Engineering
• Radio Frequency Systems
• Electronic Component Testing

Background:

• CubeSats require specialized radio-frequency (RF) receiver systems.
• Component-level testing for space applications can be costly and time-consuming.
• Radiation effects on Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) components necessitate robust characterization methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report experimental results of a 2025-2110 MHz RF receiver prototype for CubeSats.
• To verify functional requirements and perform component-level characterization.
• To validate an innovative RF test point technique for S-parameter measurement and radiation testing of COTS components.

Main Methods:

• Board-level and component-level testing of the RF receiver prototype.
• Implementation of an automatic gain control (AGC) system using cascaded COTS amplifiers.
• Development and validation of an RF test point technique for S-parameter measurement of integrated filters and COTS components.

Main Results:

• Achieved receiver sensitivity range of -115 to -70 dBm.
• Measured intermediate frequency of 390 MHz, output power of 0 dBm ±1 dB, noise figure of 2.34 dB, and power absorption of 4.86 W.
• Successfully validated the RF test point technique for characterizing COTS components and integrated filters.

Conclusions:

• The RF receiver prototype meets key performance requirements for CubeSat applications.
• The novel RF test point technique offers a cost-effective solution for characterizing COTS components, especially under radiation exposure.
• This approach can significantly reduce the cost of electronic board development for space missions.