CASCADE: A Smallsat System Providing the Global, High Quality Movement of Very Large Data Files

1. CASCADE: A Smallsat System Providing the Global, High Quality Movement of Very Large Data Files Joseph Bravman of Omnisat LLC Greg Giffin, Kjell Magnussen, Mark Wlodyka, Logan Duffield and Bernard Poller of MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates, Ltd. ggiffin@mda.ca

2. Presentation Outline • The Service • The System • The Demonstration Mission

3. Cascade Service Description GigaPackage ExpressTM Global Digital Courier Service: • Pickup and delivery of huge data packages - 50-500 Gbytes/day • Truly global pickup and delivery services, including oceans • Compact, turnkey, user equipment connected to user network • Package delivered within a day

4. Cascade’s Service Positioning • GigaPackage Express meets the unique demands of an identifiable niche market for cost effective global transfer of very large volumes of data on a routine daily basis • These demands cannot now be met by any competing service • Four target market segments: Oil and Gas, Earth Observation, Defence and Digital Library databases INMARSAT Broadband NGSOs (?) Cascade Oceans Global Land Masses Courier Broadband GEOs (Spaceway) Existing GEOs Remoteness Regional Land Masses Fiber Inter-Urban Broadband Terrestrial Wireless Urban Corridors Cities 1MB 100MB 10,000MB 1,000,000MB Data Volume

5. Top Level Requirements & Constraints Summary Primary top level requirements: • Support a data/user/day average of up to a few hundred Gbytes • Provide service on a global basis • Two tiered data transfer time requirement (not including pre and post processing): • Approx 12 hour transfer time on average • 95% of data transferred within approx 24 hours • Data end-to-end fidelity (inc. processing) of no worse than 10-17 BER • Comparable to tape-to-tape copying Primary top level constraints: • Initiate service with a low up front capital risk • Flexibility to grow system in step with sold demand • Work within established global regulatory interoperability regs (ITU)

6. High Level Cascade Concept • Economical but high capability LEO smallsats (~300 kg) • 1200 km, 60-70 deg inclination • Operating rates of 1.4 Gbps and with 6+ Tbits of storage • 4 x 350 Mbps channels in 500 MHz of Ka-band • Total bandwidth is applied to one user for small periods of time • Small terminals designed for easy integration into customer’s terrestrial infrastructure • Build and deploy satellites and terminals only as proven demand warrants System is kept simple due to non-realtime nature and niche market focus Operates similar to an EO system while following a GEO satcom type business approach

7. Unique Features (1/3) • Capacity (i.e. satellites) can be built and deployed incrementally in lock-step with pre-sold demand • Ensures capacity does not outpace demand • This is analogous to the proven GEO Satcom business model • The “build it and hope they come” model is avoided Demonstrate Sales Then Build-Out the System

8. Unique Features (2/3) • No errors • Pre and post processing techniques ensure that the end-to-end BER is no worse than 1x10-17 • Links however can be designed for error rate (including error correction coding) of about 5x10-7 meaning power/gain required on terminals and satellites is modest • Avoids use of complex ‘on demand’ system • Satellite tasking is determined in advance on the ground in manner very similar to that of Earth observation systems (e.g. RADARSAT-2) • Also allows file management for to be done on the ground • Intelligence (e.g. processing) required on satellites is therefore minimal • No multiple user access scheme • Satellite devotes entire bandwidth of 1.4 Gbit/sec to each user in sequential pre-planned manner

9. Unique Features (3/3) • Immune to rain fade or other poor path conditions • Beacon system allows transmissions into poor path to be avoided • The beacon approach obviates need for any data transfer protocol (TCP, ATM etc…) and the associated channel overhead • Non realtime nature and beacon approach also means rain availability can be lower (~99% vs 99.9…%) without affecting quality of service • Each satellite operates independently • No need for crosslinking - really a fleet of satellites versus a constellation • Each user is a significant part of a satellite’s overall capacity • Resulting small number of users empowers marketing, avoids ramp-up issue and allows substantial pre-sell • Small number of users reduces service operation costs • Co-ordination friendly

10. System Architecture

11. Data Storage Unit Payload Block Diagram 3 for 2 redundancy for UPC/TWTA and for LNA/DNC chains (not shown) 5 for 4 redundancy for mods and for demods (not shown) Data storage internally redundant

12. Enabling Tech: Data Storage • Modular and scalable to 20 Tbits • Based on non volatile COTS Flash drives qualified for space • Cost per bit also roughly order of magnitude improved • Development now past PDR

13. Enabling Tech: Demods/Mods • Efficient channelization of bandwidth key to effective bulk data transfer • Fewer but higher rate channels results in mass/power/cost efficiencies • 350 Mbps solution enables smallsat class solution • Existing technology limited on mods and especially limited on space qualified demods • Digital strongly preferred for Cascade and is the current baseline • Slice approach to both mods and demods • Development past PDR including bread boarding

14. Launch Segment • System level requirement to remain compatible with at least two launch vehicles • Provides launch option redundancy in event of one launch program suffering a failure review • Ensures leverage in launch contract negotiations • Multiple spacecraft planned per launch (up to 4 per vehicle) • Economical options under detailed consideration for CASCADE include DNEPR, Eurockot, PSLV and Cosmos • Pegasus and Taurus considered but found significantly more expensive, less capable and greater risk • Falcon 1 vehicle also explored and found interesting but performance must be proven

15. Small outdoor unit: Ka band operation (19.7-20.2 GHz and 29.5-30.0 GHz) 1.4 gigabit/second data transmission rate 1.2 meter dish (transmit only); 2.4 meter dish (transmit/receive) Other size/bandwidth variants possible 3-axis Stabilization System option for marine use Simple serial data interface to indoor unit Small indoor unit: One to two equipment racks (depending on terminal option selected) as well as a small server Incorporates RAID for local storage of user data files Standard LAN interface for user data file transfer (FTP or equivalent) Automatic scheduling and operation Utilizes email-like connectivity for scheduling, control, status Remote antenna pointing and control Ground Segment: Terminals

16. Ground Segment: Terminals

17. Cascade Operation

18. Data Integrity Through System

19. The Cascade Demonstration on Cassiope • Without the identified enabling technologies the business plan cost targets can not be met • The Cascade demonstration mission has two main objectives: • Develop and demonstrate the key Cascade technologies • Demonstrate that the end-to-end system concept is feasible • The key enabling Cascade technologies are: • 350 Mbps digital modulator • 350 Mbps digital demodulator • High capacity, low cost, volume, mass and power data storage • Once developed, these will allow a smallsat based system to be feasible and the risk will be comparable to other smallsat systems (e.g. RapidEye)

20. Summary & Acknowledgements • Cascade is a very niche oriented global bulk store and forward service • It will be implemented using small cost-effective but highly capable LEO satellites • Supports incremental deployment into validated demand, reducing investment risk • The demonstration mission is fully enabled and moving to CDR • This demonstration mission will develop and demonstrate the key Cascade technologies and demonstrate that the unique end-to-end service method Thank-you for your time and attention!