Interference monitoring of earth-bounded GNSS jamming and spoofing activities from space involves satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) equipped with a dedicated payload that is capable to sensitively detect and accurately geo-locate interference sources.

Possible malicious interference signals from illegally operated devices by hostile nations or personal devices to hide the person’s privacy of so-called privacy protection devices (PPDs) with the aim to disrupt or deceive receivers can be sensed by a nadir-oriented satellite antenna. The incoming signal is sampled and processed to detect very weak signal not stemming from the authentic GNSS signals. This is done by applying advanced signal processing algorithms for detecting a broad variety of interference signal characteristics. Furthermore, if it is possible to derive ranging or Doppler frequency information from the interference signals it can be used for geo-location of the emitter sources. By using the accurate satellite’s orbit positioning and timing information either in real-time from a space-based GNSS receiver or in post-processing, it is feasible to geo-locate the emitter. The collected data enables the identification of interference sources, the assessment of disruption levels, and the implementation of mitigation measures to safeguard the security and integrity of GNSS-dependent applications worldwide.

There are two research projects at the institute dealing with interference monitoring from space. The first project called Seamless Radio Access for Internet of Space (SeRANIS), that is funded by German Ministry of Defence. Within SeRANIS a small LEO satellite platform, called ATHENE-1, is developed at the university. The company LuxSpace delivers the satellite platform. ATHENE1 hosts among other experiments a payload that is able to record jamming and spoofing signals in different GNSS frequency bands. In post-processing, after successfully streaming the recorded data stream towards the ground station a processing tool chain (under development) is able to detect, geo-locate and characterize interference signals.

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Figure 1: Representative view of GNSS Interference Monitoring Scenario as it will be conducted by ATHENE-1.

The second project called Spaceborne Monitoring of GNSS Signal Interference (MOGSI), that is funded by German Ministry of Economy and Climate and managed by the German DLR. Within MOGSI a proof-of-concept for a satellite on-board detection module of earth-bounded interferences sources is designed, developed and synthesized on a Field-Programmable-Gate-Array (FPGA) platform. Together with a realistic simulation environment, which is developed by OHB, the hardware design is fully functionally tested and optimized for the space use case.

References

  • Duetsch et al., "GNSS Interference Detection and Geolocation from LEO Satellites – Satellite Formation and Payload Design Specific Considerations and Their Impact on the Detection Sensitivity and Geolocation Accuracy," Proceedings of the 37th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GNSS+ 2024), Baltimore, Maryland, September 2024, pp. 737-768. https://doi.org/10.33012/2024.19677