System integration of a remotely accessible satellite tracker.
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Date
2022
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Abstract
The recent rise in space missions and satellite launches has piqued the interest of many. As a
result, the growing number of objects in orbit has led to an increase in space monitoring. While
large-scale tracking systems exist, many enthusiasts utilise rudimentary methods for satellite
monitoring. Some have created do-it-yourself rotators or radio reception stations. Subsequently,
a remotely accessible system was required to track satellites and receive transmissions.
A small-scale system was designed to fulfil the requirements. Aluminium extrusions were used
to create the frame, while microprocessors, sensors and other components were integrated to
complete the rotator assembly. A circuit layout was drawn up to coordinate the flow of power and
data between components. Low-powered electronics allow the system to run off-grid via a 12 V
battery. Many features of the Raspberry Pi lent well to the required application, such as wireless
network connectivity and a remote access service. Gpredict, an advanced satellite tracking
software, was used to calculate the coordinates for rotation. The RTL-SDR, a software-controlled
tuner, provided control to receive radio frequencies. Features such as a slow scan image decoder
and frequency identification toolkit were also integrated. The user interface program called
TrackGUI was coded, which allows easy access to tracking features. A login system was created
with ‘admin’ and ‘user’ access levels. Initially, the presence of GlobalProtect on the UKZN
network posed an issue, but methods were implemented to solve this problem. Various aspects of
the system were tested and iterated until they met the required parameters.
Test results showed that the system could operate within 5 degrees of the intended target. Radio
transmissions and slow-scan images could be received and recorded. Therefore, the aim of
integrating hardware and software components to create a remotely accessible satellite tracking
system was achieved.
Description
Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.