Attachment I - USNA 12m Satellite Refurbishment SOW_Draft.pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW)

12m Satellite Antenna Refurbishment

United States Naval Academy

Engineering and Weapons Division

Aerospace Engineering Department

Space Systems Engineering Lab

1.0 Background

In 1989, USNA acquired a 12m Minitrack satellite parabolic dish from the NASA Goddard Network Test and

Training Facility in Greenbelt, Maryland. The satellite dish was installed and refurbished by Bendix Field

Services, which has since gone out of business. The 12m satellite dish includes an antenna, concrete pedestal, three racks of electronic equipment, hydraulic drive systems, and a fiber optic network connection to Rickover

Hall. The 12m satellite dish has served to provide telemetry, tracking and command (TT&C) satellite operations for low-earth orbit (LEO), medium-earth orbit (MEO) and geostationary-equatorial orbit (GEO) satellite missions as a hands-on training facility for USNA midshipmen, faculty and staff.

The USNA 12-meter satellite ground station requires refurbishment, following hurricane damage which rendered the parabolic antenna inoperable more than a decade ago. Over the past decade, several attempts to refurbish the dish internally met with low levels of success. In order to determine efforts and costs required to restore the dish an operational capability, an outside expert evaluation was conducted by Morehead Space

Technologies in September 2023. The evaluation serves as a starting point for a complete refurbishment to bring the mechanical, electrical and electronic systems the system back on-line.

The 12m dish has three main systems – electronic, electrical and mechanical. The electrical system is functioning and provides power to the electronics, mechanical system, network and enclosure. The mechanical system is hydraulic, and is in working order in the X-axis, with some knowledge of the reasons for its in-operability in the Y-axis; a functioning hydraulic system reduces the refurbishment costs of the antenna system. A fiber optic connection between the 12m satellite antenna and the Space Systems

Engineering Lab in Rickover Hall has 22 out of 24 working lines; the network switch has been continually updated by USNA network engineers and is in a functional state. Additional “spare parts” exist on the yard for the 12m dish, including counterweights, cabling, some electronic devices, network connections. Overall, the cost of upgrading the 12m antenna system to a functional or even operational state would be 28%- 40% of the cost of designing, building, installing, and commissioning a new system

2.0 Objectives

The objective of this effort is to restore the 12m satellite antenna to an operational state at S-band and at X-band -- mechanically, electrically, electronically and in an RF-sense. The refurbishment of the 12m satellite antenna must conclude with an operational antenna system that includes: dual band (S/X) pressurized RF feed system with feed horn; IF feed system; RF over fiber from feed to pedestal; custom antenna control junction chassis and control software (main software control in pedestal and remote desktop from SSEL via fiber optic communication lines); encoders; orthomode transducer; receiver system; transmitter/uplink system; signal processing systems; rail-based feed installation system; functional stow pins; back-up mechanical drive system; commercial bird spikes; electromechanical drive system; reflector repairs, to include gap closure, cleaning and repainting the reflector; system characterization, performance validation and commissioning.

3.0 Scope

The scope of this program is to complete a total refurbishment of the USNA 12-m satellite antenna system to an operational state, with full implementation by the contractor. The refurbishment will include recommendations for regular maintenance as well as referrals to potential contractors, and subject-matter experts (SMEs) for future repairs or upgrades. A JLG T350 manlift is available for use during the refurbishment process; additional heavy equipment must be specified in advance as part of the contracting requirements.

4.0 Task Requirements

Antenna Control System

1. Upgrade Control System (Motor

Controllers, etc.)

• Custom System Needed to interface with existing hydraulic system and encoders.

• Control motion of the antenna positioner system in X and Y-axes.

• Software GUI

• Main computer in pedestal with remote desktop capabilities from

SSEL over fiber.

RF Systems 1. Custom dual S-Band/X-band

Feed Rx/Tx (Horn + OMT + RF Chain)

2. Diplexers/Filters

3. Low-Noise LNAs

4. Switches, Connectors, Low-loss Cable

5. Power, Monitor and Control System for RF

6. Down-Converter

7. Re-Design and Build Feed Housing

8. Feed Installation

9. RF Systems Calibration and Testing

10. Receiver/Modem

1. RF Front-End, pre-LNA illuminates the reflector with a specific radiation pattern. Feed horn will be refurbished and OMT will be replaced. Existing feed horn will be repaired if possible, or replaced ($250k replacement).

2. Frequency Filtering on Tx and Rx Chains

3. Needed to reduce the system temperature and therefore sensitivity for deep space operations. 6 needed (includes S, X-bands and 1 spare)

4. Switches, Connectors, Low-loss Cable Baseball switches are used to select between polarizations and Tx/Rx

5. Provides conditioned power, and M/C Functions. Custom System Needed for RF Feed Design.

6. Down-converts RF to IF (then to fiber) Oscillator, synthesizer, Mixer

7. Feed Housing size can be reduced along with making the feed system changeable and pressurized. Custom Mechanical System needed (rail)

8. Assumes USNA can lift and install/de-install feeds

9. Gain/Loss Profile- Benchtop CFT, CPT

10. Digitization of IF. Demodulation &

11. Front End Processor

Decoding (concatenated convolution/RS, Turbo, etc. Downlink ranging. SDR could be used initially

11. Data capture and delivery, data processing, forwarding to Network SDR could be used initially

IF Systems 1. Upconverters/Downconverters/Fiber Implementation

• Conversion of IF to Optical Fiber in Feed

• Downconvert to a common IF, then conversion to Fiber in the feed

Uplink 1. Power Amplifiers

2. Uplink Signal Generator

1. S-band and X-band Solid State Amplifiers; COTS

2. S- and X-band signal generation. X-band translator. Command & Uplink Ranging.

Calibration and Controls

1. Time Standard

2. Frequency Distribution System

3. Loop-back and Test System

4. Monitor and Control System-Custom

1. Required for precision Pointing and Tracking and Instrument Stability (GPS System in inventory: USRP 2922)

2. Custom - distributes frequency standard to lock/stabilize subsystems

3. Likely will need to be custom-developed for individual systems

4. Custom monitor & Control infrastructure.

Software 1. Control and Monitor SW • Custom HWCNTRL used by NEN stations

• Based on H. Dewitt

Connectivity 1. Network Firewalls and Connectivity • One time cost, plus recurring costs for the dedicated connection to the Network

• Reference Fiber Optics Report

• Quote fiber optics box from sea wall to sheltered location and replace conduit.

Mechanical 1. Repair reflector surface, Clean and repaint reflector

2. Install mechanical backup on both drives

3. Install bird spikes on feed

4. Repair stow pins

1. Reflective paint

2. In case hydraulic drive fails when not stowed

3. Deter osprey

4. For storms

Implementati on and margin

1. Upgrade Implementation Labor (FTEs)

2. Testing and Characterization (FTEs)

3. 20% margin for unknowns

1. Implementation Management and Labor- 32% TOTAL

2. Testing Labor

3. Standard costing effort margin 20% used)

5.0 Deliverables

The following minimum deliverables are required.

• Fully functional dual band (S- and X-band) antenna system, with local control at the pedestal and remote desktop control from the SSEL via fiber optics communications lines. Functionality shall match or exceed previous data:

• Training in operating the system

• Parts list and manuals for all parts used

• Operations manual

• Documentation of the refurbishment process, including schematics of final configuration

• Warranty, for 2 years after delivery

• Maintenance schedule for parts and system as a whole

• Consultation services as needed, for 2 years after delivery

• Referrals for service

6.0 Payment

Payment for equipment will occur via contractual obligations.

7.0 Period of Performance

The timeline for the proposed refurbishment is 12 months from authorization to proceed.