Overview of the Orbiting Radio Communications Asset (ORCA) Mission

The Orbiting Radio Communications Asset (ORCA) mission is a commercial mission being designed and built by neoStar Astronautics in cooperation with the Iowa Space Grant Consortium and Rockwell Collins. The mission will utilize advanced technology digital radio equipment provided by Rockwell to survey the low Earth orbit radio spectrum. This survey is of interest to both the commercial communications industry and to the scientific radio astronomy community. In addition to the survey, the spacecraft will provide an on-orbit transmit and receive test platform for advanced communications technologies that can be fully reprogrammed from the control station. A significant feature of the ORCA mission is the involvement of students from the Iowa Space Grant Consortium in all aspects of the mission design, development, and operations.