CUBESAT-BASED APRS DIGIPEATER: DESIGN, FEASIBILITY AND MISSION CONCEPT

This article investigates the feasibility of using an Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS) payload on a CubeSat platform to function as a digital digipeater in low Earth orbit. APRS is a packet-based communication protocol widely used by amateur radio operators for real-time messaging, telemetry, and position reporting. While APRS is traditionally implemented using terrestrial IGates and digipeaters, extending its functionality to a satellite platform offers significant advantages in coverage and accessibility, especially for remote or infrastructure-deficient regions. Results. The proposed system is designed to receive APRS packets in the VHF band (typically at 145.825 MHz), perform optional store-and-forward buffering, and transmit the data either back to APRS-compatible ground users or to Internet-connected IGate stations. The study includes detailed architectural design of the satellite payload, system requirements for communications, power, and processing, and an overview of mission operations. Scientific novelty. Analytical calculations confirm the viability of this CubeSat APRS concept, demonstrating the ability to provide up to 18.6 million km² coverage per pass, handle up to 700 packets per communication window, and maintain sustainable power consumption within the constraints of a 1U CubeSat. The system architecture also supports private or targeted delivery of information to specific stakeholders, such as agricultural operators monitoring large tracts of farmland. Practical value. This work contributes to the ongoing effort to bridge terrestrial and space-based IoT and amateur radio applications, particularly for disaster mitigation, environmental monitoring, and telemetry services. The paper concludes by identifying system-level trade-offs and outlines several promising directions for future development, including multi-satellite constellations, dual-band communication, onboard intelligence for packet filtering, and practical flight demonstrations.