A UWB solution for wireless intra‐spacecraft transmissions of sensor and SpaceWire data

Summary This paper presents the design, testing, and validation of a ultra‐wideband (UWB) wireless solution to replace wired intra‐spacecraft communications with wireless communications. The system requirements are provided in the framework of the Eu:CROPIS mission and the wired intra‐spacecraft communication system is replaced with a two‐segment wireless network. As such, distinct sets of UWB gateways and nodes are prototyped to interface with the on‐board entities and properly handle the data transmission in the resulting spacecraft and payload wireless networks. To accomplish these tasks, a custom radio module integrated into the prototypes was designed to provide the appropriate UWB RF front‐end and run a custom‐built communication stack. The viability of the solution was tested in laboratory conditions. For the test scenarios, sensor data are acquired in the payload network and forwarded as SpaceWire packets over the spacecraft network. Experimental test results indicate the suitability of the proposed solution in terms of delay and data integrity for implementing intra‐spacecraft wireless communications. This research approaches wireless intra‐spacecraft communications and presents the prototyping of UWB wireless modules (gateway and nodes) that interface with the on‐board entities and properly handle the SpaceWire data on the CDHU‐to‐PDHU link, and the sensor data on the PDHU‐to‐sensor links. According to Eu:CROPIS mission requirements, the test scenarios evaluate sensor data acquisition in the payload network and forwarding as SpaceWire packets over the spacecraft network. The results indicate successful wireless transmissions in terms of delay and data integrity.