Abstract

This communication introduces the National Space Science and Technology Center (NSSTC), established at the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) in 2016, its main activities and its first satellite project. NSSTC primary research and development areas are: Remote sensing, Space and planetary science, real time embedded systems, in-situ resource utilization, In-orbit propulsion as well as Space communication and satellite based navigation. The latter will be the focus of this communication and in particular the Radio Frequency (RF) signaling technology satellite, GNSSaS. This is a 6U Cubesat that will be launched in 2021 into a 500 – 600 km sun synchronous orbit. It will include an Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) augmentation RF signaling demonstrator payload, GNSS reflectometry payload for remote sensing, and a UHF/VHF experiment for measuring the effects of the ionosphere on these RF frequencies. The paper will describe the objectives of this cubesat in more detail and how it ties up with the rest of NSSTC activities.

Keywords

The National Space Science and Technology Centre, Global Navigation Satellite System, Global Navigation Satellite Augmentation System, Radio Frequency