Introduction to small satellite operations

Описание: In this two-day workshop at the FH Aachen Space Operations Facility, students from all around ESA member states were taught how to track small satellites, receive their radio signals, and decode their data using real satellites in orbit. First, they were introduced to WebSDR, a web-based worldwide network of radio stations for satellite communications that can be operated in real-time. They became a hands-on introduction to software-modems, packet radio, and common software to decode satellite signals. After this small introduction, the students operated such WebSDR receivers and decoded under our supervision, live incoming weather images during passes of NOAA satellites over New-York and Noordwijk, or harvested Telemetry data from the geostationary satellite QO-100 from a ground station located at Goonhilly, UK, or telemetry from a bunch of different CubeSats. After having mastered the first task, the students' shadow tracked small satellites and weather satellites passing over the FHASOF on their own, using our ground stations equipment and consoles under the educational supervision of the FHASOF flight operators. At the end of the workshop, every student earned a certificate of achievement. This workshop has been organized within the European Astronaut Center and the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering of the FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences.