Payload Alert Communications System (PACS)

Overview

-Product Description

• Key Technical Performance
  • Overall size is 14.48 cm × 13.51 cm × 3.46 cm
  • 90° field of view with single patch antenna
  • 15m ±10m GPS accuracy
  • <3W OAP, 5.6W peak power
  • AES-128 and AES-256 encryption available
  • RS-242 interface to host spacecraft

Comtech AeroAstro, Inc. (CAA) has developed a novel, new and revolutionary approach to support Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) Space Traffic Control called the Payload Alert Communications System (PACS). PACS provides low-cost, low-size, weight and power (SWAP) position, velocity, time (PVT) information along with low-data rate Host vehicle health and status reporting utilizing the CAA patented Code Phase Division Multiple Access (CPDMA™) waveform. CAA uses a unique tagging, tracking and locating (TT&L) device along with the existing Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system and Globalstar data-messaging infrastructure to provide PACS services to users.

CAA’s PACS is an innovative approach to significantly reduce the manpower required to monitor and develop space situational awareness (SSA) associated with LEO spacecraft of all shapes and sizes. PACS leverages the CAA-developed Sensor Enabled Notification System (SENS) technology developed for terrestrial tagging and tracking to provide the customer an easily integrated tool. This data availability can be critical during post-launch initialization and anomaly resolution, since the availability or lack of information for extended periods can be the difference between rescue and loss of an orbiting asset. PACS uniquely leverages the existing SENS, GPS and Globalstar infrastructure for autonomous reporting of position, velocity, spacecraft ID and limited health and status data messages to provide the customer assured SSA in the densely populated LEO environment.

The primary objective of PACS is to provide round-the-clock state-of-health (SOH) and state-vector data, independent of ground system infrastructure and constraints. Data latency timelines (minutes) are orders of magnitude faster than those accomplished by existing ground assets (daily to weekly). Spatial resolution of the data is substantially greater than commonly used radar or UHF / VHF communications system ranging methods. PACS also provides a valuable low data rate alternative communication path to the spacecraft owner, as the successful transmission probability with link closure (>90%) far exceeds traditional ground stations.