Modelagem de enlaces de comunicação com nanossatélites

Abstract

This work presents an analysis of the communication link performance between low Earth orbit (LEO) nanosatellites and a ground station located at the Santa Mônica campus of the Federal University of Uberlândia. Given the increasing use of CubeSats for a wide range of applications, understanding how link losses behave is essential to ensure the reliability of the communication system. The study investigates the main factors that influence link performance, including the satellite antenna gain, atmospheric conditions, data rate, and elevation angle. The methodology relied on classical link budget modeling and MATLAB-based simulations, which made it possible to observe how each parameter affects the signal-to-noise ratio and the overall link margin. The results indicate that the combination of intense rainfall, low elevation angles, and high data rates forms the most critical scenario for communication, potentially making the link unfeasible when the margin is insufficient. The findings highlight that selecting appropriate CubeSat parameters, together with understanding the local environmental conditions, is crucial for the efficient design of nanosatellite communication systems.