Inter-satellite communication link for a space based interferometer

Radio astronomy has been moving towards lower frequencies in recent years. This trend started with Earth bound large arrays like the low frequency array called LOFAR. After that an initiative to measure even lower frequencies started like the Orbiting Low Frequency Array (OLFAR) in space using a swarm of nano-satellites. Inspired by these initiatives, the goal of the TwenteSat student project is to create a space based interferometer using two tethered nanosatellites. A crucial part of this project is the inter satellite communication which allows data to be shared and control signals to be send between the separated satellites. The possibility of wired communication is examined, as well as wireless communication. In this paper a simple low power wireless communication system is proposed, with the use of commercial off the shelf (COTS) parts.