UND-ROADS (original) (raw)

UND-ROADS [UND]

UND ROADS (University of North Dakota�s Rendezvous & Operations for Autonomous Docking and Servicing) is a 3U CubeSat mission developed by the University of North Dakota, United States. The project is designed for educational purposes and aims to establish a satellite operations training facility as well as to demonstrate autonomous navigation and docking techniques in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

The UND ROADS mission serves a dual educational and technological demonstration role. One of its main objectives is to establish and operate a satellite ground segment at the University of North Dakota. This facility will support orbit determination of LEO satellites through Doppler and ranging measurements using UHF, VHF, and S-band frequencies.

A second core objective of the mission is to demonstrate autonomous navigation and docking techniques using two identical 3U CubeSats. The mission includes planning and execution of proximity operations, rendezvous, and docking maneuvers. These activities provide practical training opportunities for students and contribute to the development of operational procedures for future small satellite missions.

In addition to the primary objectives, the mission will offer UHF and VHF digipeater capabilities to the amateur radio community during defined operational phases. Power availability for this activity depends on the Local Time of the Ascending Node (LTAN) of the planned sun-synchronous orbit. Eclipse duration variations between 0% and 37% of the orbit period significantly influence available power margins.

The mission is developed and operated by the University of North Dakota, USA, within an academic environment. The communications subsystem uses transceivers identical to those flown on GreenCube (IO-117) and 1KUNS satellites.

During amateur digipeater operations, the satellite will support 1200 baud digital packets, ensuring broad compatibility with existing ground infrastructure and the amateur radio community.

UND ROADS consists of two 3U CubeSats equipped with UHF, VHF, and S-band communication capabilities. The communication payload allows for amateur radio digipeater use during periods when power budgets permit. The mission timeline foresees enabling this service approximately one month after launch, following the commissioning phase. Power management is critical to the mission due to the dependence on LTAN and eclipse duration.

The CubeSats are designed to conduct autonomous phasing and homing maneuvers to maintain a relative separation under 30 km. This configuration enables inter-satellite links and coordinated operations. The system can act as a UHF/VHF gateway during far field rendezvous, extending the coverage and capabilities of amateur radio operations in space.

The UND ROADS mission will be deployed in sun-synchronous orbit as a pair of 3U CubeSats into Low Earth Orbit. Following deployment, both satellites will undergo an initial commissioning period of approximately one month. Afterward, they will commence digipeater operations for amateur radio users.

Phasing and homing maneuvers will be performed subsequently to align the satellites in the same orbital plane and altitude. These maneuvers are required to establish the relative positioning for docking demonstrations and inter-satellite communications. During these phases, digipeater functions will be temporarily suspended. Once the relative configuration is achieved, operations will resume, enabling both mission objectives and amateur service activities.

This mission represents an academic initiative to advance practical satellite operations training and small satellite navigation technologies, while contributing to the amateur radio community through temporary digipeater services and experimental space-based gateway functions.