Precise Relative Navigation in Medium Earth Orbits with Global Navigation Satellite Systems and Intersatellite Links for Black Hole Imaging

The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) is a global array of telescopes that employs Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) techniques to image the event horizon of black holes. To overcome the limitations of ground-based telescopes, this thesis explores the mission concept involving a two-satellite constellation of space-borne telescopes deployed...

Autonomous navigation for deep space small satellites: Scientific and technological advances

In recent years, there is a growing interest in small satellites for deep space exploration. The current approach for planetary navigation is based on ground-based radiometric tracking. A new era of low-cost small satellites for space exploration will require autonomous deep space navigation. This will decrease the reliance on ground-based...

Assessment of the LPS Ephemeris Accuracy using Inter-Satellite Linking

The number of Moon missions is increasing, but to facilitate these missions, an improved approach for lunar navigation is required. The proposed strategy is to deploy a constellation in Polar or Equatorial Medium Earth Orbits (PECMEO) based on GNSS technology, which can be utilised as universal lunar navigation system: the Lunar Positioning...

Precise absolute and relative navigation in Medium-Earth Orbits by means of Global Navigation Satellite Systems and Inter-Satellite Links

The first close-up image of a black hole has been taken recently by means of a network of high-resolution telescopes situated all around the globe, also known as Event Horizon Telescope (EHT). In that regard, this Master Thesis reviews the feasibility of establishing accurate inter-satellite baselines in a two-satellite constellation of...

Modelling of satellite constellations for trusted node QKD networks

Quantum key distribution from satellites becomes particularly valuable when it can be used on a large network and on-demand to provide a symmetric encryption key to any two nodes. A constellation model is described which enables QKD-derived encryption keys to be established between any two ground stations with low latency. This is achieved...

High Data-Rate Inter-Satellite Link (ISL) For Space-Based Interferometry

The inter-satellite link (ISL) in swarm and constellation missions is a key enabler in the autonomy of the mission. OLFAR (Orbiting Low Frequency Array for Radio astronomy) is one such mission where 10 to 50+ nanosatellites are placed in the Lunar orbit and perform astronomical observations from the far-side of the moon. Each of the...

Low Latency IoT/M2M Using Nano-Satellites

Nano-satellite IoT/M2M missions are gaining popularity in recent time. Various companies have launched their pilot missions last year in 2018 and all these companies intend to place a constellation in (V)LEO that can communicate with low power sensors on the ground (sometimes remote locations) and relay it back to the end-user who is monitoring...