The system design of high-throughput miniature software-defined radio as a Ka/K-band communication payload for CubeSats

Ka-Band communication payloads, enabling high-rate data transmission, typically require higher power consumption, are mostly more suitable for larger satellites. This research focuses on the design of a miniature software-defined radio (MSDR) specifically tailored for Ka-band communication onboard CubeSats. The communication system aligns with the DVB-S2 standard for high transmission capacities, and incorporates the linear-step frequency modulation (LSFM) for robust transmission. Additionally, the modular software design can be easily adopted for future missions. The proposed Xilinx MPSoC-based SDR opens possibilities of broadband communication for CubeSat constellations in low Earth orbits (LEOs).