Inside Frequency Control

The Halloween season is upon us once again. (Finally!)

So yes, we're about to take on the challenge of linking frequency control to Halloween. Can it be done? Maybe. Will it be done? Yes. (We never let the word "impossible" stop us in the past.)

In this post, you're going to discover the dark, creepy side of frequency control by listening to some of the scariest sounds that can be found in outer space. 

To make the long journey to earth's orbit or beyond, spacecrafts must be designed to have very precise functionality. Even simple vibrations during pre-launch transportation and powered flight can interfere with the spacecraft’s functionality. These simple vibrations come from many different sources and can inhibit the spacecraft from reaching its full potential.

Spacecraft engineers must also be concerned about very small vibrations, known as micro-vibrations, from a spacecraft’s own moving parts as it operates in orbit. Micro-vibrations are typically sinusoidal with the chance of some integer harmonics and random vibration being present.

In this blog, we'll discuss four of the most common sources of vibration and micro-vibration in satellites and spacecrafts, and how you can reduce or prevent them in your application. 

We've seen some confusion over which timing device works best in satellite communication applications. Should you use a standard oscillator (OCXO), a GPS disciplined oscillator (GPSDO), or an atomic clock in your satellite?

The short answer is, "it depends." You'll need to choose your timing device based on on your specific needs, limitations, and operational orbit. Let's take a look at each operational orbit (LEO, MEO, and GEO) and which types of timing devices their satellites require.

What's the difference between Ka-band and Ku-band systems? In this article, we explore what they are,  what sets them apart, the advantages of each, and the design considerations you should keep in mind. 

Do you know all about atomic clocks in space and how they work? If not, it's about TIME you do. (Haha. Ha. Ha...)

Timing is everything when it comes to GPS satellites and other space applications. Even just a one-microsecond error in timing can lead to an error of 300 meters on the ground. Because atomic clocks can maintain very precise timing, they're a great solution for GPS and other LEO satellites.

Space podcasts have become very popular, and for good reason. The space industry has been 'skyrocketing' in recent years. SpaceX showed the world it's possible to reuse a space shuttle. Companies like OneWeb are now revolutionizing satellite communications technology. There are even companies planning out the colonization of mars and using asteroids as a source of water. 

We are quickly learning more and more about the deep depths of outer space...now more than ever. Following some of the best space podcasts can be a great way to keep up with the latest space technology, space exploration, and space science. Let's explore our top 12 (updated with 3 bonus additions on top of our original 9!)

Before we dive into the differences between the 5 GNSS constellations... It's important that we're all on the same page with the difference between GNSS and GPS.

Many people get GNSS and GPS technology confused. A good way to think about the Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) is as the backbone (or underlying technology) behind GPS. The Global Positioning System (GPS) GPS is a GNSS constellation, but GNSS is not always GPS. GPS is one of the 5 GNSS constellations used around the world.

The 5 GNSS constellations include GPS (US), QZSS (Japan), BEIDOU (China), GALILEO (EU), and GLONASS (Russia). We'll cover each of these constellations in-depth in this post.

With the recent start of the new space revolution and the rapid growth of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation technology in recent years, there have been tons of questions being asked as to what all these new LEO satellite innovations and technologies are all about.

The LEO industry is skyrocketing with many new groundbreaking opportunities arising as new technologies are developed. Some even refer to this growth as the fourth industrial revolution. We're already seeing major players arise in this industry such as SpaceX, OneWeb, and Blue Origin. These are currently among the top companies in a race to bring the internet to the entire globe via Low Earth Orbit satellites.

In this post, we're going to answer:

• What exactly is the purpose of these large LEO constellations?
• Why are so many satellites needed?
• How are LEO satellites different from traditional satellites?
• Which frequency bands will these constellations operate on?
• Who are the current major players in this space? (No pun intended)

Trust me, you’re going to want to know ALL of the answers with so much talk happening right now around this topic.

Welcome to the new world of CubeSat Manufacturers! These small satellites are becoming more and more popular in today’s new space industry. Their increasing popularity is mostly because of their small, lightweight, and inexpensive designs. The standard 1U Cube Satellite is 10cm x 10cm x 10cm in size. However, since their inception in 1999, new Cube Satellite companies have developed more variations in size to meet desired payload levels. A 1.5U, 2U, 3U, 6U, 8U, 12U etc. are now offered to meet customer's growing specifications. 

The U.S Department of Homeland Security considers 13 of the nation’s 16 critical infrastructure sectors to be ‘critically dependent’ on PNT technology. Also, a loss of PNT would cost the U.S an estimated $10 BILLION a day. Not only do many everyday consumers use PNT & GPS on a daily basis, it's also crucial for military and intelligence operations. Other industries that strongly rely on GPS based PNT include

• Radio communications
• Network synchronization
• Intelligence systems
• Information gathering
• Cruise missiles
• Weapons systems
• Electronic warfare