Sidus Space, Inc., a Space-as-a-Service satellite company focused on mission-critical hardware manufacturing; multi-disciplinary engineering services; satellite design, production, launch planning, mission operations; and in-orbit support, successfully completed critical command and data system testing required for mission success of its LizzieSat™ constellation. With this testing complete, LizzieSat is one step closer to its manifested 2023 launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
Sidus Space partnered with Kongsberg Satellite (KSAT), a Norwegian-based company that provides ground station communication links to satellite constellations, to complete the S-Band Radio Frequency (RF) Compatibility Test (RFCT) for the Company’s hybrid 3D-printed satellites. The completion of these tests validates the proper functioning of the communications and data transfer paths between a LizzieSat satellite in space and the KSAT ground stations.
“The successful test of Sidus Space integrated space to ground communications architecture meets critical design requirements. LizzieSat satellite communications route seamlessly into our Mission Control Center (MCC) and allow Sidus flight controllers to maintain each satellite at peak efficiency throughout it’s 5-year orbital lifetime,” said Carol Craig, Sidus Space CEO.
The tests were performed at Sidus’ Satellite production facility in Cape Canaveral, Florida, using flight-like interfaces between the satellite flight computer, S-band radio, and a KSAT Earth Station “Suitcase” which exactly replicates the functions of KSAT Earth Stations.