This idea has been archived
Mar 26, 2021
All authors
Abstract
We are proposing the LunART Communications Platform on the Large European Lander which will support direct communication with earth through amateur radio frequencies in the microwave bands, support University and Student Payloads with direct access to their experiments, allow Radio Science for a huge community of radio amateur operators and scientists worldwide. It would also provide an important back-up communication capability and capacity during emergency or when ESA network is busy, for example during non-critical times.
No constraints, just a good line of sight to earth for direct Earth-Moon-Earth communication.
- Public and Educational outreach (ESERO and STEM)
- Backup or Secondary Communications Link
- Easy access for secondary Student/University payloads not interfering with ESA infrastructure
- Radio Science by a worldwide community
Night Survival
- Thermal control to ensure temperature not below -10°C.
- Power down/sleep mode would be possible
Power
- Bus Voltage: 12..48V unregulated (tbd) or regulated, switchable
- Power: ~100W
- Control Output: Normal / Sleep mode / (Power Off)
Antennas
- S-Band Uplink (2.4 GHz, amateur satellite band)
- X/Ka-Band Downlink (10.5 GHz, amateur satellite band)
- Coarse alignment to the earth, Hi-Gain and Low-Gain
- VHF/UHF (145MHz/435 MHz, amateur satellite band, Omni, optional)
- Wideband low gain antenna e.g. Vivaldi for various beacon signals
Communications (lander internal)
- Data Bus (tbd) for other secondary (student and University) payloads
- Backup interface for lander TTC/TM communication for emergency or uncritical phases of the mission.
- The "amateur" communication link may be used as a back-up link to our Bochum 20-Meter Antenna or during times when the ESA/DSN network is busy.
- The "amateur" communication link may provide independent access to Student/University payloads (for example 24/7 slow scan live cameras).
- Use of a huge "worldwide" community of licensed amateurs (ham radio) for observation and radio science.
| Name | Added on | |
|---|---|---|
 | APPENDIX DLR-AMSAT P5 Executive Summary.pdf | Jul 1, 2020 |
| APPENDIX DLR-AMSAT P5 Abschlussbericht.pdf | Jul 1, 2020 |
| 20-Meter-Antenna-Bochum.pdf | Jul 1, 2020 |
| LunART Proposal AMSAT-DL.pdf | Jul 3, 2020 |
office@amsat-dl.org
AMSAT Deutschland e.V. (AMSAT-DL, non-profit charitable organization)
Germany
- Peter Gülzow studied communications technologies and has been involved in designing, building, launch campaigns and operating several amateur radio satellites for 30+ years. Peter is also current President managing the AMSAT-DL organization.
- Matthias Bopp studied communications technologies and has been active in satellite communications for 20+ years.