A Lunar Navigation and Communication Satellite System with Earth-GPS Time Transfer: Design and Performance Considerations

Sriramya Bhamidipati, Tara Mina, Alana Sanchez, and Grace Gao

Abstract:	To allow for cost-effectiveness and rapid deployment, there has been a growing interest in the use of a SmallSat platform for the future lunar navigation and communication satellite system (LNCSS). However, many design considerations are yet to be finalized for the SmallSat-based LNCSS, such as the choice of the satellite clock, the satellite orbital parameters, and the constellation size. We conceptualize the design of a SmallSat-based LNCSS with Earth-GPS time-transfer that provides navigation and communication services near the lunar South Pole. In particular, we formulate a hybrid constellation design, wherein all satellites are equipped to provide navigation services while only a fraction among them are communication-enabled. Using the Systems Tool Kit (STK) simulation software, we examine various LNCSS constellation case studies based in elliptical lunar frozen orbit (ELFO) and with a lower-grade chip-scale atomic clock (CSAC). We evaluate case studies in terms of (1) navigation design considerations, including position and timing accuracy, lunar user equivalent ranging error, dilution of precision; (2) communication design considerations, including daily data volume, availability, data rate; and (3) SmallSat factors, including the cost, size, weight and power of the satellite payload. We perform trade-off analysis in satisfying the preliminary design criteria outlined by international space agencies and commercial space companies.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 35th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GNSS+ 2022) September 19 - 23, 2022 Hyatt Regency Denver Denver, Colorado
Pages:	537 - 553
Cite this article:	Bhamidipati, Sriramya, Mina, Tara, Sanchez, Alana, Gao, Grace, "A Lunar Navigation and Communication Satellite System with Earth-GPS Time Transfer: Design and Performance Considerations," Proceedings of the 35th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GNSS+ 2022), Denver, Colorado, September 2022, pp. 537-553. https://doi.org/10.33012/2022.18365
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