Development of a LoRa-based communications payload for CubeSat

This master s thesis covers the development of a communications payload suitable for space, to be embarked on a CubeSat type nano-satellite flying in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO). The design integrates LoRa transceivers, proving the capabilities of this technology for long range, low power and low cost communications. LoRa is a Low-Power Wide-Area Network (LPWAN) technology oriented to the Internet of Things (IoT). The LoRa structure can be point-to-point or star. In the star topology, the hub acts as a gateway to servers on the Internet. This thesis has been developed as part of Estigia, the first satellite of Pluton UPV, a CubeSat team of students of the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV). The project has counted with the collaboration of the Microwave Applications Group (MAG), member of the Institute of Telecommunications and Multimedia Applications (iTEAM-UPV). The objective of the Estigia mission is to enable users on the ground to directly communicate with a chatbot running on the CubeSat, using their smartphones and low-cost LoRa-based mini-Ground Stations (GS). The purpose of this master s thesis is to implement the necessary communications hardware on the satellite. This project is divided into three PCBs: a module, a motherboard labeled Carrier, and an Electrical Ground Support Equipment (EGSE) auxiliary board. The payload consists of two modules and the Carrier. The modules adhere to the mPCIe form factor and act as LoRa gateway. The Carrier follows the CubeSat-PC/104 and serves as the electrical and mechanical interface with the rest of the satellite. The EGSE provides a test hardware for the payload, emulating the interaction with the CubeSat On-Board Computer (OBC), Electrical Power System (EPS) and the second payload of the CubeSat. At the same time, it acts as a LoRa end device to test the performance of the communications system. The working methodology is based on the Engineering Design Process (EDP). This master s thesis represents the first phase of the project, planned to be continued in a second master s thesis. This document addresses the conception of the devices, through their specification, design and implementation in CAD and EDA tools, while taking into account manufacturing and verification considerations. Prior to the design of the electronics, a stage of analysis and simulations of the communications system is carried out, focused on the evaluation of the Earth-satellite channel at the link budget level, as well as a review of the current international regulations. The ultimate aim of this project is the demonstration by the author of the multidisciplinary knowledge, the capacity for analysis and synthesis inherent to engineering, as well as the documentation of the entire process.