Implementation of a GNU Radio Based Search and Rescue Receiver on ESAs OPS-SAT Space Lab

OPS-SAT is the first publicly accessible Hardware/Software Innovation Lab in low Earth orbit. It was launched by European Space Agency on December 18, 2019, and open to academia industry, allowing new concepts be tested space with a range of interesting payloads. This article discusses implementation results an in-orbit demonstration (IOD) using software-defined radio payload together onboard RF processing techniques. We demonstrate design software configurable search rescue receiver GNU Radio, running Linux 3U CubeSat. The system runs Satellite Experimental Processing Platform (SEPP) Cyclone V ARM system-on-chip able autonomously detect decode transmissions from terrestrial 406-MHz beacons global COSPAS-SARSAT system. Decoded beacon information logged metadata downloaded mission control at ESA/ESOC. successful IOD paves way for experimentation bridges gap between satellite operations Internet Things era.