Development of An X-Band Multi-Mode High-Speed-Modulator

Abstract

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has developed an X–band Multi–mode High–speed Modulator (XMOD). Its first flight model will be installed on the Advanced Land Observing Satellite–2 (ALOS–2) scheduled for launch around 2013. The XMOD has 16–Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (16–QAM) and Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK) modulation schemes and achieves a transmission speed of 800 Megabits per second (Mbps) when 16–QAM is selected. This unit consists of fully internal redundant housing to achieve a light weight and compact design with minimum footprint. This paper describes an overview of XMOD design, key technologies, the test results of the Engineering Model (EM). Test results of the Single Event Effects (SEE) of XMOD’s baseband module to evaluate the radiation tolerance of the SRAM–based FPGA is also described.