Abstract. Project Relevance. Nowadays, Low Earth Orbit (LEO) has become the most popular destination for nanosatellites. However, this orbit presents specific challenges: a satellite passes over a ground station at a very high speed (over 28,000 km/h). Within this short window – only 10-15 minutes – all vital collected data must be transmitted to the ground without loss. Therefore, considering the limited power and small size of nanosatellites, developing a reliable and efficient telemetry system is a crucial task.
Object and Objectives. Our research focuses on communication systems for small satellites. The main objective is to collect data from the nanosatellite’s onboard sensors (temperature, pressure, orientation data), combine them into specialized digital packets, and ensure error-free transmission to the ground station. Additionally, we aim to enable the ground operator to interpret this data instantly by displaying it as user-friendly real-time graphs. Implementation Methods. We chose the ESP32 microcontroller for this project due to its high performance and energy efficiency. To transmit data over long distances, we use the LoRa (Long Range) radio module. This technology is ideal for receiving signals from LEO because of its high interference immunity. On the ground station side, Python is used for data processing and visualization. Our Python-based software reads the incoming codes from the satellite and transforms them into «live» graphical displays in real-time.
Results and Conclusion. As a result of this work, we have developed a fully functional communication model between a prototype nanosatellite and a ground station. This model is capable of real-time data collection, processing, and visualization. Our platform serves as a highly convenient experimental base for testing and fine-tuning telemetry systems before the assembly of actual spacecraft. Thus, we have practically demonstrated an effective communication algorithm for satellites in Low Earth Orbit.

Keywords: nanosatellite, mock-up satellite, low altitude, telemetry, ESP32 microcontroller, LoRa radio module, sensors, Earth Station.