FIGARO (5G Array for Lunar Relay Operations)

Developed by San Diego State University

Balloon launched on 9/26/2024, from Hurley, South Dakota, US

Purpose of the flight and payload description

The objective of the flight was to test a new phased-array technology known as FIGARO composed by a Ka-band flat-panel phased-array antenna that supports electronic beam steering and beam shaping for full-duplex communications across simultaneous users. FIGARO was developed at the San Diego State University to enable low-cost, high-performance communications for lunar exploration. The test flight was supported by NASA's Flight Opportunities program.

As 5G technology stands to revolutionize terrestrial cellular communications infrastructure, since 5G spectrum shares common Ka-band frequencies with NASA space communications systems, an opportunity exists to leverage the short timescale development cycles and high volume (and therefore, low cost) production of commercial technologies to create a high-performance data communications network in a low-cost CubeSat form factor that's capable of serving the lunar surface and orbiting systems

By using commercial 5G silicon radiofrequency integrated circuit beamformer technology, FIGARO achieves high-bandwidth communications while eliminating the need for physical pointing mechanisms, such as gimbals and spacecraft pointing. This approach has the potential to provide a lunar relay communications architecture that could reduce gaps in lunar surface communications coverage. It could also support simultaneous transmissions between multiple lunar surface assets at a higher data rate and reduce the burden placed on lunar surface communications systems.

Details of the balloon flight

Balloon launched on: 9/26/2024 at 12:30 UTC
Launch site: Hurley, South Dakota, US  
Balloon launched by: Aerostar
Balloon manufacturer/size/composition: Zero Pressure Balloon  
Flight identification number: HBAL710
End of flight (L for landing time, W for last contact, otherwise termination time): 9/26/2024 at 21:46 UTC
Balloon flight duration (F: time at float only, otherwise total flight time in d:days / h:hours or m:minutes - ): 9 h
Landing site: 5 km S of Bricelyn, Minnesota, US

During the flight, FIGARO demonstrated full duplex Ka-Band communications from 98,000 feet between both stationary and dynamically moving ground stations, simulating lunar relay operations.

External references

Images of the mission

         

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