FCAL Cubesat Telemetry Page
US Naval Research Labs, Ivan Galysh, KD4HBO
US Naval Academy Webmaster, Bob Bruninga, WB4APR

FCAL: The Fence Calibration satellite: The ANDE risk reduction FCal satellite is a 17.5-inch sphere with a mass of 75 kg shown in the center photo above. Its name is derived from its intended use as a calibration target for the radar fence, a space surveillance system recently transitioned from the Naval Network and Space Operations Command to the Air Force 20th Space Control Squadron. The size requirement of FCal satellite was determined by the resonant frequency of the Navy radar fence. The two hemispheres are fabricated by spin-casting brass, followed by machine finishing. The exterior of each hemisphere is nickel coated for durability in the harsh space environment. The equator consists of an anodized aluminum deck that incorporates an antennae deployment system, and mounting locations for the FCal payload. A cubesat ballast mass is included for center of gravity symmetry.

Frequency: The downlink frequency for FCAL is 437.385 MHz AX.25 AFSk 1200 baud and the callsign is KD4HBO.

Fcal will be deployed with it sister satellite ANDE (MAA) from the ICU which is an internal containment device ejected from the Payload Bay by the CAPE (Canister for All Payload Ejections) as shown above.

The FCal satellite will have the same geometry as the MAA satellite for its for the retro reflector array. It will also contain temperature sensors and sun sensor modules distributed similarly. The FCal satellite is different from the other ANDE satellites in size, mass, finish, and payload. The size and mass differences will cause the satellites to separate over time into lead-trail orbit as the atmospheric drag causes a greater retardation of the larger and less massive MAA sphere. Consequently, the greater mass of the FCal sphere will enable it to have a longer lifetime before reentry, two years as compared to one year. By having two co-planar satellites, scientists can gain a better understanding of the geographic and temporal variations of the local atmospheric density at these altitudes. Attaining the necessary mass of the FCal satellite was one of the main challenges of designing this particular satellite.

The FCal satellite contains another microsat as a payload: a cubesat, a cube-shaped microsatellite that stores its experiments like shelves in a cabinet. The cubesat is a four-inch pico-satellite originally designed as an educational platform. It is a fully functional satellite with solar power (not used in FCal), battery power, a computer, and a communications subsystem. It can accommodate small payloads in the internally available space. The cubesat in Fcal was developed by Ivan Galysh and the StenSat group working in conjunction with the Space Applications Branch of NRL's Naval Center for Space Technology.

When the FCal is deployed, the processor boots and initializes all the satellite components. It then waits one minute and deploys the antennas one at a time. There is a one-second delay between the deployment of each antenna. Once deployed, the satellite starts monitoring all the sensors and internal parameters and transmits the telemetry once every two minutes. The satellite can accept commands during this period. The telemetry transmission interval can be set and the receiver audio can be routed to the transmitter to turn the satellite into a transponder. Telemetry data includes voltage and temperature from each of the six phototransistors, battery and power data, and internal temperature data. See DK3WN's Telemetry Decoder.

The purpose of the telemetry is to determine the spin rate and orientation of the FCal spacecraft. The arrangement of the MAA and FCal satellites in a lead-trail orbit provides an exceptional set of targets to study drag modeling and its effect on satellite drag. This mission will demonstrate the effectiveness of flying low-cost calibration targets to support DoD and NASA requirements for precision orbit determination and collision avoidance. In addition, data from this mission will be used to improve the scientific understanding of the interaction between a spacecraft and its environment.

The images below detail how the telemetry from FCAL can be decoded:

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