SIDLOC: Spacecraft Identification and Localization

SIDLOC (Spacecraft Identification and Localization) is a new transmission scheme proposed by Libre Space Foundation, in collaboration with ESA, SIDLOC aims to improve space safety and mission success rate by establishing an open beaconing standard for spacecraft identification and localization. The system relies on a reduced size autonomous transmitter that requires minimal integration and area on the carrier spacecraft. The ground segment of the SIDLOC system utilizes the existing SatNOGS network and the UHF band to perform the signal demodulation and identification. The SIDLOC system uses DSSS (Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum) PSK modulated signals with an effective bitrate of ~50 bits/s. The use of DSSS is crucial in order to achieve reliable reception with the minimum possible transmission power. Through an accurate Doppler frequency shift estimation mechanism, the SIDLOC system provides orbit determination capabilities, enabling open and independent SSA (Space Situational Awareness) activities.

SIDLOC has already deployed in space on-board the second stage of Ariane-6 and successfully retrieved the trajectory of the rocket body, from the first pass over a ground station in North Europe. The next expected mission is on Transporter-14 with 3 different beaconing PocketQube sized spacecrafts.

WordPress › Error

There has been a critical error on this website.

Learn more about troubleshooting WordPress.