Cygnus Set to Test New Tech on the ISS for 5G Communications, Other Applications

Back in October 2020, a Northrop Grumman Cygnus supply craft delivered new scientific experiments to the International Space Station (ISS). Aside from the delivery, Cygnus is set to host a two-week test of new technologies known as SharkSat.

SharkSat is an integration of emerging technologies in the space environment and was developed at Northrop Grumman. It will be among the space station's scheduled tech demonstration for the advancement of science on Earth as well as on space.

Northrop Grumman's SharkSat

The four key technologies that will be tested on its two-week demonstration are: Silicon Germanium (SiGe) RF integrated circuits (IC), Digital Receiver/ Exciter system-on-a-chip ASIC, and Xilinx ZU19 multiprocessor systems-on-a-chip (MPSoC). These techs come together and are used for the creation of a Ka-Band software defined radio (SDR).

The "Ka-Band," in this case, refers to the frequency range of the electromagnetic spectrum where it will be operating: usually defined in the range of 26.5 to 40 gigahertz (GHz). This was chosen since this range is not yet as crowded as other frequency ranges used for telecommunications and other applications. The electromagnetic spectrum includes visible light, infrared radiation, microwaves, as well as radio frequencies. As more applications and "channels" use the same range, these bandwidths begin to grow crowded.

While Ka-Band is less crowded, and can potentially carry data transmission rates exponentially faster than the existing bandwidths, there are technological challenges before this can be practically used. With the additional technologies installed in the SharkSat - ICs, ASIC boards, and Xilinx's new MPSoc - practical implementation of a comms system in the Ka-Band might soon be possible.

In its tech demonstration, the SharkSat is intended to collect on-board telemetry or a set of measurements and digital input and transmit it back to an Earth-based receiver for study.

"In this case, the telemetry data will provide insight into the health and functioning of the electronic components of SharkSat," explains David Schiller, principal investigator on the project, in a press release from NASA.

Paving the Way for Future Tech Projects

Schiller adds that SharkSat is a "stepping-stone" in reusing this equipment for other range of applications in the future. Also, he noted that the improvements designed for the new equipment focus on "more advanced and higher performance components" that can do more for less power.

Technologies integrated with the SharkSat have potential uses in the fields of 5G telecommunications, space-to-space and space-to-ground comms, and more. It is expected to pave the way for next-generation tech, especially those for use in space environments. SharkSat can potentially address the challenge of slower electronics evolution in space application compared to its commercial counterpart. The applications catered by the SDR has to balance proven and mature tech with emerging and cutting-edge developments that promise increased capabilities.

"Cygnus provides a low-risk, high-performance platform for this experiment. This test is the capstone of a long sequence of events," Schiller adds. The lead investigator also noted that if it performs as well as expected, it can provide solid insights on how these new techs will work in low-Earth orbit.

Watch Northrop Grumman's Cygnus 14 resupply mission to the ISS below: