The Flexible Microwave Payload -2: Architecture and Testing of a Combined GNSS-R and L-Band Radiometer With RFI Mitigation Payload For Cubesat-Based Earth Observation Missions

The FSSCat mission is a two nano-satellite Earth Observation mission based on 6-unit CubeSats. This paper is focused on the description of one of the remote sensing payloads: the Flexible Microwave Payload 2 (FMPL-2), on board the 3Cat-5/A. The payload design is based on a Software Defined Radio, aiming to demonstrate the capabilities of nano-satellites to provide valuable scientific data. Two different instruments are integrated into a single payload: a multi-constellation (GPS and Galileo) Global Navigation Satellite System Reflectometer (GNSS-R), and a Total Power Radiometer (TPR) with Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) detection and mitigation capabilities. This paper presents the payload design, and the tests conducted during the qualification campaign.