NPS_SCAT; Communications System Design, Test and Integration of NPS' First CubeSat

The Naval Postgraduate School’s (NPS) first CubeSat, NPS Solar Cell Array Tester (NPS-SCAT), will be the foundation for future advances in CubeSats at NPS. NPS-SCAT demonstrates the capability of the CubeSat form factor as a technology test bed for a single experiment – a solar cell tester. This thesis discusses and explains the design, testing, and integration of two full TT&C sub-system for NPS-SCAT. The primary and secondary transceivers will both use the amateur frequency band through an approved AMSAT license. This thesis explains the concept of operations of NPS-SCAT, which drove the data requirements for the TT&C. This thesis also explains the testing of the primary and secondary transceivers and the design, test and integration of the antennas. Finally, this thesis will discuss the TT&C ground station construction, methodology, testing and the frequency coordination access.