A Wireless Communication and Positioning Experiment for the ISS Based on IR-UWB

This paper introduces a wireless experiment for sensing and positioning to be deployed in the Columbus module of the International Space Station (ISS). The experiment allows the monitoring of environmental parameters and it demonstrates the motion tracking of astronauts or free-flying objects by utilizing impulse radio - ultra wideband (IR-UWB) in combination with Micro Electromechanical Systems (MEMS) sensors. Recent work revealed a great potential in utilizing WSN in space habitats; however, the focus was only based on sensing in the narrowband Industrial Scientific and Medical (ISM) 2.45 GHz band, whereas this work extends these capabilities by utilizing IR-UWB for positioning and it optionally uses internal light sources for energy harvesting to drive the sensor nodes. The paper describes the operational scenario and the hardware and software concept are presented in detail. Finally the expected results are presented, which focus on the analysis of different use cases for the implementation of wireless sensor networks and to help and to identify new applications for future space missions.