Jaedong Seong, Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI); Okchul Jung, Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI); Youeyun Jung, Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI); Saehan Song, Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI)
Keywords: Radio Frequency Interference, Space Situational Awareness, Satellite Image Reception
Abstract:
Currently, the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) operates five low earth orbit (LEO) satellites and three geostationary earth orbit (GEO) satellites. The S-band frequency is used to transmit satellite commands and check status data, and the X-band frequency is used to receive satellite image. Recently, as the number of satellites in orbit increases, the radio frequency interference (RFI) in orbit is increasing dramatically, and as a result, satellite image reception and processing were frequently failed. RFI from the ground objects also exists, but interference mainly by space objects in orbit accounts for a large proportion. KARI is using parabolic antenna for satellite communication and RFI occurred at a high elevation angle, thus it is estimated to be RFI with an orbital object by showing periodicity. RFI has even occurred between GEO satellite and LEO satellites operated by the KARI, predicting and mitigating RFI between potential satellite groups and operating satellites to receive more stable satellite information.
Potential satellite groups are added based on the satellite’s frequency information or managed through geometric analysis at the time of actual RFI, and geometrical analysis between about 15,000 space objects is performed, especially when actual RFI occurs. The geometrical analysis between the potential satellite group and the operating satellite thus derived predicts when RFI is expected, and at that point, the operating satellite adopted a concept of operations that temporarily stops receiving images.
In this study, the case study of RFI between KARIs satellites and other satellites was introduced, and the methodology for mitigating RFI and the satellite operation concept were described.
Date of Conference: September 19-22, 2023
Track: Space-Based Assets