Test station for CCSDS based data handling systems of mini satellites

Mini satellites are highly in demand due to the low cost , fast turn around time and multiple applications like new space technologies verification, analysis of anthropogenic effects on earth, observation of phenomenon's of earth like the surveillance of lightning on the upper atmosphere, environmental monitoring, earth imaging, research, climatic monitoring, etc. Spacecraft development involves rigorous testing before qualification. This has created a huge challenge for developing a robust test station to deliver high quality subsystems for small satellite applications. Developing such a test station for subsystems reduces the cost and testing time of the overall spacecraft development and increases the reliability of the subsystems. Consultative committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) has come up with the recommendation of standardizing the payload data format and the telemetry format that makes the cross ground support possible. This paper addresses the design and development of a test station that is suitable to test BDH that is meant for CCSDS complied operational class small satellite missions. The test station includes the architecture of various simulators and necessary utilities required to test the entire base band data handling system. The paper also address the configurable/programmable hardware and software that allow to reuse for different interfaces of the system with other subsystems to meet multiple satellite missions. This ensures that there will be a large market for the t est station, thus encourages mass production.