An Experimental Platform for Multi-spacecraft Phase-Array Communications

TL;DR

This paper presents Athena, a laboratory platform for developing and testing multi-spacecraft control and communication algorithms, focusing on phase-array communication networks for small satellite constellations in deep space exploration.

Contribution

The paper introduces Athena, a new experimental platform designed to develop and evaluate spacecraft control and cognitive communication methods for multi-spacecraft phase-array networks.

Findings

Neural-network control approaches can effectively manage multi-spacecraft systems.

Athena platform enables testing of phase-array communication concepts.

Potential for resilient, distributed deep space communication networks.

Abstract

The emergence of small satellites and CubeSats for interplanetary exploration will mean hundreds if not thousands of spacecraft exploring every corner of the solar-system. Current methods for communication and tracking of deep space probes use ground based systems such as the Deep Space Network (DSN). However, the increased communication demand will require radically new methods to ease communication congestion. Networks of communication relay satellites located at strategic locations such as geostationary orbit and Lagrange points are potential solutions. Instead of one large communication relay satellite, we could have scores of small satellites that utilize phase arrays to effectively operate as one large satellite. Excess payload capacity on rockets can be used to warehouse more small satellites in the communication network. The advantage of this network is that even if one or a few of the satellites are damaged or destroyed, the network still operates but with degraded performance. The satellite network would operate in a distributed architecture and some satellites maybe dynamically repurposed to split and communicate with multiple targets at once. The potential for this alternate communication architecture is significant, but this requires development of satellite formation flying and networking technologies. Our research has found neural-network control approaches such as the Artificial Neural Tissue can be effectively used to control multirobot/multi-spacecraft systems and can produce human competitive controllers. We have been developing a laboratory experiment platform called Athena to develop critical spacecraft control algorithms and cognitive communication methods. We briefly report on the development of the platform and our plans to gain insight into communication phase arrays for space.