GS-Kit Issue: 1.
2
Datasheet Date: 16/11/2022
GS-Kit
Alén Space Ground Station kit
Datasheet
CONFIDENTIAL www.alen.space
GS-Kit Issue: 1.2
2/14
Datasheet Date: 16/11/2022
Copyright and distribution terms
Alén Space S.L. owns the copyright of this document which is supplied in confidence and which shall not be
used for any purpose other than that for which it is supplied and shall not in whole or in part be reproduced,
copied or communicated to any person without permission from the owner.
Any person other than the authorised holder obtaining possession of this document by finding or otherwise,
should send it, together with his name and address, in a sealed envelope to:
Alén Space S.L.
Edificio Tecnolóxico Aeroespacial
Rúa das Pontes 6
36350 Nigrán (Pontevedra), España
[email protected]
Letter postage need not be prepaid. Other postages will be refunded.
CONFIDENTIAL www.alen.space 2
GS-Kit Issue: 1.2
3/14
Datasheet Date: 16/11/2022
1. Changelog 4
2. Overview 4
3. Architecture 5
3.1 Outdoor equipment 6
3.2 Indoor equipment 6
4. Electrical characteristics 7
4.1 Outdoor equipment 7
4.2 Power rack 8
4.3 SDR Rack 8
5. Antennae characteristics 10
6. Physical characteristics 12
6.1 Installation area 13
CONFIDENTIAL www.alen.space 3
GS-Kit Issue: 1.2
4/14
Datasheet Date: 16/11/2022
1. Changelog
Table 1 - Changelog
Date Revision Author Description
24/11/2020 1.0 BFA/JML Initial release
08/07/2021 1.1 BFA/JML In chapter 4:
- Updated number of subchapters
- LNC specifications
- SDR-rack RF characteristics table
In chapter 5:
- In table 5, change dish for helix in some rows
- Added antennas beamwidth
In chapter 6:
- Complete mass
- Shipping weight
- Dish dimension comment
16/11/2022 1.2 BFA Updated document name
2. Overview
The GS-Kit from Alén Space S.L. is a ground station complete solution used to communicate and track
LEO satellites. It is composed of different subsystems: external structure and antennas with azimuth
and elevation rotators, SDR rack, power rack and server.
With the external structure and both rotators (azimuth and elevation rotator), the antennas can
point in any direction, and follow the spacecraft in each and every contact.
The SDR rack is able to transmit and receive data from the satellite with different antennas and
different bands, providing this data to the server through USB 3.0.
CONFIDENTIAL www.alen.space 4
GS-Kit Issue: 1.2
5/14
Datasheet Date: 16/11/2022
3. Architecture
Figure 1 - GS-Kit diagram
CONFIDENTIAL www.alen.space 5
GS-Kit Issue: 1.2
6/14
Datasheet Date: 16/11/2022
3.1 Outdoor equipment
The output equipment is composed of a structure with four base bars to provide stability. Over the
four bars, is the main pyramid tower with the azimuth rotator. Over the pyramid is the elevation
rotation with the cross boom with the antennas.
The antennas are connected to a LNA, polarization switch or LNC, depending on the option selected.
The structure can support 3 antennas: 2 yagi (UHF and VHF, or the same antenna on both sides), and
a S-Band antenna (Dish antenna or helix antenna).
3.2 Indoor equipment
The indoor equipment is composed by:
● A rotator controller that controls both rotators; a server rack.
● SDR rack provides the signal transmission and reception. Connected directly to the outdoor
LNAs/LNC.
● Power rack provides power supply to the SDR rack.
● Server rack is connected to the rotator controller rack and SDR rack. The server controls the
rotator controller, and sends and receives data from the SDR rack.
CONFIDENTIAL www.alen.space 6
GS-Kit Issue: 1.2
7/14
Datasheet Date: 16/11/2022
4. Electrical characteristics
4.1 Outdoor equipment
Table 1 - Outdoor electrical characteristics
Description Typ Unit
UHF-400 LNA RX frequency range 400-402 MHz
UHF-400 LNA gain 22 dB
UHF-400 LNA current consumption 320 mA
UHF-400 LNA noise figure 0.9 dB
UHF-400 LNA insertion Loss 0.15 dB
UHF-435 LNA RX frequency range 430-440 MHz
UHF-435 LNA gain 22 dB
UHF-435 LNA current consumption 320 mA
UHF-435 LNA noise figure 0.7 dB
UHF-435 LNA insertion Loss 0.15 dB
VHF LNA RX frequency range 144-146 MHz
VHF LNA gain 20 dB
VHF LNA current consumption 320 mA
VHF LNA noise figure 1 dB
VHF LNA insertion Loss 0.3 dB
LNC Input frequency range 2.1 - 2.5 GHz
LNC LO frequency 3700 MHz
LNC gain 33 dB
LNC noise figure 0.7 dB
LNC current consumption 130 mA
CONFIDENTIAL www.alen.space 7
GS-Kit Issue: 1.2
8/14
Datasheet Date: 16/11/2022
4.2 Power rack
Table 2 - Power rack electrical characteristics
Description Typ Unit
Input voltage 90 - 264 VAC
Input frequency range 47 - 63 Hz
Efficiency 81 %
Maximum power consumption 1000 W
Output voltage 12 V
Output max current 60 A
4.3 SDR Rack
Table 3 - SDR rack electrical characteristics
Description Typ Unit
Input power supply (VCC) 12 - 13.8 V
Current supply typical 4 A
Current supply maximum (fused) 16 A
ANT1, ANT2 and ANT3 output voltage (Bias-T) VCC V
ANT1, ANT2 and ANT3 output max current (Bias-T) 500 mA
CONFIDENTIAL www.alen.space 8
GS-Kit Issue: 1.2
9/14
Datasheet Date: 16/11/2022
Table 4 - SDR rack RF characteristics
Description Typ Unit Comments
Transmission frequency range:
- VHF 140 - 180 MHz
- UHF 400 - 480 MHz
- S-Band 1700 - 2200 MHz
Maximum transmission bandwidth:
- VHF 40 MHz
- UHF 61.44 MHz
- S-Band 61.44 MHz
Máximum output power:
- VHF +47 dBm
- UHF +47 dBm
- S-Band +44.7 dBm
Reception frequency range:
- VHF 0.1 - 1500 MHz
- UHF 0.1 - 1500 MHz
- S-Band 1500 - 3600 MHz
Reception maximum bandwidth:
- VHF 61.44 MHz
- UHF 61.44 MHz
- S-Band 61.44 MHz
Máximum input power:
- VHF +7 dBm
- UHF +7 dBm
- S-Band +7 dBm
CONFIDENTIAL www.alen.space 9
GS-Kit Issue: 1.2
10/14
Datasheet Date: 16/11/2022
5. Antennae characteristics
Table 5 - Antennae characteristics
Antenna Description Typ Unit
Type Yagi N/A
Nº elements 30 N/A
UHF-400 Frequency band 395-405 MHz
Gain 16.2 dBi
Beamwidth 30 º
Type Yagi N/A
Nº elements 18 N/A
UHF-435
Frequency band 435 MHz
Gain 14.94 dBi
Beamwidth 36 º
Type Yagi N/A
Nº elements 12 N/A
VHF Frequency band 145 MHz
Gain 12.64 dBi
Beamwidth 47 º
Type Dish N/A
Diameter 1.9 m
S-Band Dish Frequency band 2.1 - 2.6* GHz
Gain 31.34 dBi
Beamwidth 5.1 º
S-Band Helix antenna N/A
Type Helix
Nº of turns 40
S-Band Helix S-Band Helix antenna frequency band 2.35 GHz
CONFIDENTIAL www.alen.space 10
GS-Kit Issue: 1.2
11/14
Datasheet Date: 16/11/2022
S-Band Helix antenna gain 16 dBi
* Customer must select a bandwidth of 100MHz in the range of 2100 to 2600 MHz
CONFIDENTIAL www.alen.space 11
GS-Kit Issue: 1.2
12/14
Datasheet Date: 16/11/2022
6. Physical characteristics
Table 6 - Physical characteristics
Description Typ Unit Comments
Mass 200 kg
Shipping weight 310 kg
Size structure:
Base 4.5 x 4.5 m²
Height (from ground to cross boom) 2.3 m
Size antenna:
VHF 1.46 m
UHF-400 3.58 m
UHF-435 1.27 m
S-Band dish 1.9 m Dish diameter
S-Band Helix 1.25 m
Azimuth angles 0 - 360 º
Elevation angles 0 - 180 º
CONFIDENTIAL www.alen.space 12
GS-Kit Issue: 1.2
13/14
Datasheet Date: 16/11/2022
6.1 Installation area
Figure X - Alen GS-Kit structure installation area
CONFIDENTIAL www.alen.space 13
GS-Kit Issue: 1.2
14/14
Datasheet Date: 16/11/2022
DISCLAIMER
The information in this document is subject to change without notice and should not be construed as a
commitment by Alén Space. Alén Space assumes no responsibility for any errors that may appear in this
document.
In no event shall Alén Space be liable for incidental or consequential damages arising from use of this
document or the products described in this document.
CONFIDENTIAL www.alen.space 14