HF radio channel

The communication system is one of the key onboard service systems. However, like many engineering systems, it does not have a perfect solution. When designing each device, it is necessary to find a balance between data transmission speed and energy consumption of onboard radio equipment, as well as between the width of the directional diagram of the onboard antenna and its efficiency. Each new project of a spacecraft requires its own approaches to solving the problem of data exchange between the onboard system and Earth.

The standard solution is to install low-speed communication equipment for telemetry transmission on the spacecraft along the "onboard-Earth" line, as well as command control to it along the "Earth-onboard" line. Typically, in this case, the device is equipped with either an omnidirectional antenna or a system of narrow-beam onboard antennas. This system allows communication with the spacecraft regardless of its orientation and rotation speed; it consumes low power, but the data transmission speed provides a low rate (around 9600 bits/second).

Another option is to use a high-frequency high-speed transmitter with a narrow directional antenna diagram on the "onboard-Earth" line to transmit payload information to Earth. Data transmission speeds using this method are in the tens and hundreds of Megabits per second. However, such equipment consumes a lot of power and requires precise orientation of the onboard antenna (and therefore the entire spacecraft) relative to Earth to align the onboard antenna diagram with the ground receiving station.

High-frequency transmitter

The high-frequency (HF) high-speed transmitter is implemented as a separate module within the builder, including a simple LED flashing at a certain frequency and with a specific sequence. At the moment when the light from this "transmitter" reaches the high-frequency receiver on Earth, it is considered that the communication channel is established and data can be transmitted from the spacecraft to Earth (in reality - via WiFi).

High-frequency receiver

The high-frequency (HF) high-speed receiver is included in the builder kit and simulates a ground station receiving information via a high-speed channel. During the experimental stage, similar receivers will be mounted directly on the Earth's surface, i.e. on the globe. However, for preliminary testing of the "high-speed radio channel," this module should be used.