Pre-Flight Evaluation of a Multi-Channel ADS-B Receiver in a Stratospheric Balloon Mission

Abstract

This paper presents the concept, preparation and evaluation of a stratospheric high-altitude balloon mission for the evaluation of a multi-channel automatic dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B) receiver for small satellite to trace, detect and locate aircrafts from low Earth Orbit. The paper discusses the state-of-the-art for space-borne ADS-B reception, the challenges of interference and garbling and the novel approach of the multi-channel receiver. The requirements for a high-altitude mission as a precursor to an in-orbit demonstration are discussed, as well as the challenges involved. Initial preparatory evaluations show the feasibility of the mission.