All satellite ground systems require software, data processing, networking and RF Signal processing. Small satellite programs, however, have less tolerance for the complexity and costs associated with traditional satellite ground systems and are more readily receptive to new approaches. Additionally, to make ground systems applicable to the small satellite community, one has to adopt the more agile software procurement model instead of the complex program procurement model.
This evolution is leading to a new and consolidated approach to small sat C2 and RF signal processing… one that includes integrated automation of the C2 operations, day to day flight dynamics, real-time management of the ground equipment, and enterprise-level management of the network and computer infrastructure.
quantumGND takes into consideration the needs of small satellite programs and bundles the necessary features and functions into a suite of modular software components that comprise an integrated ground station from C2 to RF.
Figure 1. quantumGND Components
For small sat operators to succeed, elimination of cost in the ground architecture is equally as important as cost reductions in manufacturing and launch. quantumGND employs a threepronged approach to ground system cost reduction:
• Reduced dependency on hardware based systems
• Utilization of Virtualization Technology
• Elimination of Integration Labor
The required set of functions and capabilities of a typical ground system were distilled into the software applications that make up quantumGND, which consists of three discrete and separate components all of which features GEMS & REST compliant status and controls and multi record, archival and playback points.
Command and Control quantumCMD™ performs Command & Control (C2) for a single small satellite or a smallsat fleet. It manages contact scheduling and execution on all passes, provides a single portal for viewing all ground and space status, consolidates data, and assists with system administration tasks. quantumCMD’s powerful capabilities feature:
• Fully Web-based, HTML5 user interface
• Powerful automation tools to minimize ops resource requirements
• Scalable architecture for single satellites to constellations with future growth potential

Baseband CMD / TLM and Protocol Processing qFEP is a baseband front end processor (FEP) that provides basic command and telemetry packet processing for small satellite applications. qFEP includes command and telemetry Framesyncs, commercial grade 256 bit AES Encryption and Key management, CCSDS Packet Processing Support,
Reed Solomon, and Network I/O for data interfaces.
RF Mod/Demod and Forward Error Correction qRADIO provides the RF signal processing including common modulation schemes, convolution encoding/decoding, PCM encoding, and Reed Solomon. Supporting a wide range of uplink/downlink frequency bands and low to high data rates, qRADIO is specifically designed to meet smallsat ground requirements:
• Digitizing front-end supporting IF to S-Band (50 – 2500 MHz) direct RF generation
• 100% Software Modem
• Compatibility tested with several spacecraft radio manufacturers
Each of these components can be used independently of one another, however the true value in this approach is realized when the three components are used together to form a ground system that handles the complete C2 to RF processing chain.
Each component is a software application provided as a hypervisor ready, virtual machine appliance, complete with operating system and application. Virtualization allows programs to consolidate processing equipment into fewer, yet higher density computer platforms. By reducing the amount of physical equipment, hardware procurement, maintenance, and refresh costs can be minimized to those ground system functions that absolutely must have supporting hardware.
The only hardware element in quantumGND is a SpectralNet TM
Lite digitizer that converts analog signals at RF frequencies up to
S-band into digital IF packets that are processed by our qRadio software modem as shown in figure 2.
Figure 2.
The use of software and virtualization technologies is instrumental in reducing both hardware and labor costs. Integration and test labor costs represent the largest element of cost in a ground system. quantumGND is integrated at the factory prior to delivery to a customer, which greatly simplifies ramp up time to learn, test, and configure the components. When delivered as a complete C2 to RF system, years of schedule can be condensed down to weeks to a fully operational ground system, further driving down costs.
quantumGND is not tailor made for a particular spacecraft bus or processing function, instead it focuses on the most common standards, protocols and waveforms needed by the small satellite world. Compliance with industry standards dramatically shrinks the time to full operations and provides maximum flexibility for future enhancement.

quantumGND is designed to support individual spacecraft missions, spacecraft test, and spacecraft fleet operations. Like traditional ground equipment, quantumGND can be utilized in strings of software. Each single string is intended to support contact with a single spacecraft, through a single antenna as shown in
Figure 3.
Figure 3. quantumGND: Single String quantumGND has the flexibility to expand to support consolidated small satellite space operations as well as support multiple ground antenna sites. Figure 4 shows how quantumGND can be used to support small local installations as well as larger multi-site fleet operations.
For more than 30 years Kratos has been the acknowledged leader in the development and integration of ground segment solutions that are key to providing secure management, delivery and distribution of data and information from space and terrestrial-based platforms into networks for defense, intelligence, government and commercial satellite and communication service provider partners.
Kratos offers enterprise-grade ground system solutions encompassing Command & Control, integrated RF management solutions, including signal monitoring, geolocation and mitigation; satellite and terrestrial communications, network monitoring and control, service quality management and a broad array of sophisticated, yet cost effective, antennas. Kratos products and services are used by more than 75 percent of the world’s commercial satellite operators and 90% of U.S.-based space missions.
Kratos subsidiaries include RT Logic, the leading supplier of ground-based equipment for space/ ground communications and SAT Corporation, the leading provider of RF management solutions.
Figure 4. quantumGND supports both small and multi-site fleet operations quantumGND moves traditional processing out of hardware into modular software, reducing integration costs, time to readiness and operational costs.
Most importantly, quantumGND allows you to focus on your small satellite mission while we focus on the ground system.
quantumGND represents a compelling approach to small satellite ground systems and addresses the complexity and costs associated with traditional satellite ground systems for a complete, end-to-end, small satellite ground system.
smallsats-sales@kratosdefense.com
www.kratostts.com/solutions/satellite-and-space/smallsats