DubaiSat-1 Ground Segment is about the ground station and the image recieving and processing section.
Introduction:
EIAST has established a team of experts to manage all aspects related to the ground segment of the project.
The team is responsible for controlling the satellite, receiving and archiving the images, running the ground station and most importantly processing of the images and data. The latest technologies and software have been employed to make the best use out of the data which will be generated from the satellite.
These technologies will be used to process the images to further levels by using advanced software such as MATLAB, ENVI, ERDAS, etc.
The final products of DubaiSat-1 images can be used for many applications such as developing urban planning, scientific research, telecommunications, transportation, civil engineering & constructions, mapping and GIS.
The Ground segment consists of three parts:
1. Mission Control Station:
MCS plans and operates the entire space mission, including the configuration and scheduling of resources for both space and ground element. It also monitors and commands the satellite.
It consists of computers, Ground Station Controller (GSC) and GSC software. GSC controls the data path between the ground PC network and the RF equipment. GSC also handles telecommands to be transmitted to the satellite and telemetries received by MCS. Computer servers (PCs) process and display telemetry data from the satellite checks and transmits telecommand to the satellite, monitors/controls attitude, and archives telemetry/telecommand data.
Figure (1) shows images of the MCS software onboard the PCs.
Figure (1) MCS Software
2. Image Receiving and Processing Station:
Image Receiving and Processing Station (IRPS) receives image data from the satellite via X-band link. IRPS consists of Receiving and Archiving Subsystem (RAS), Catalogue and Product Generation Subsystem (CAP), Catalogue Browse Subsystem (CBS), Order Manager Subsystem (OMS), Media Formatter Subsystem (MFS), System & Information Management Subsystem (SIMS), Archive Management Subsystem (AMS), and Pass Scheduling Subsystem (PSS).
The Images will be received and saved into Raids or tape drives. This is shown in Figure (2) below:
Figure (2) IRPS Software
3. Antenna and RF Subsystem:
DubaiSat-1 ground station is a cost-effective semi-automated mission control centre equipped with image reception, production, and distribution facilities. It consists of Antenna & RF subsystem and image processing center.
The antenna and RF subsystem consists of an 11.3 meter antenna system provided by VIASAT INC., an S-band transmitter feed, an S-band receiver feed, an X-band receiver feed, and tracking system. COTS RF equipment including transmitting and receiving antennas are used to communicate with the satellite. Antenna & RF subsystem receives X-band RF signals and performs RF processing. The subsystem produces a demodulated and bit-synchronized data stream from X-band signals.
This means the antenna & RF subsystem can:
- Transmit the imaging order and commands to the satellite through the S-band transmitter feed.
- Receive information and health status from the satellite through the S-band receiver feed
- Download the images through the X-band feed.
In transmission mode, Mission control station (MCS) workstations will upload the command directly to satellite or it will take the imaging order from the Image Receiving and Processing Station (IRPS) and then upload it to satellite through the S-band transmitter.
In receiving mode, the antenna system will receive the health status of DubaiSat-1 through the S-band receiver or it will download the images through the X-band receiver after sending commands and imaging order respectively.