The proposed system provides improvements in relative PNT with benefits for both human and robotic exploration. It reduces reliance on Earth based systems thereby increasing system autonomy, reducing cost and enabling new capabilities such as deep space formation flying and autonomous rendezvous and docking. The multipurpose SDR can also change its function with mission phase and requirements, and will be able to sense and adapt to its RF environment to improve communications all within CubeSat compatible size, weight, and power (SWaP) constraints.
The proposed solution also has great potential in a variety of military and pure commercial applications and in particular for cluster and fractionated spacecraft. As an example, this technology enables sparse aperture arrays by enabling them to operate coherently based on the systems time and frequency distribution capabilities.
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