After a satellite has been launched, it is impossible to reprogram the hardware modulator. Therefore, a nanoRTU FPGA-based controller (AAC Microtec) in a modified modulation scheme may be programmed as a modem backend for softwaredefined radio (SDR) in the satellite communication system in order to adjust the balance of data rate vs. link reliability, enable coding or encryption system, change communication protocols, etc. For this purpose, a low-power radiation-tolerant reprogrammable satellite modem back-end has been realized for the satellite-to-Earth communication. This paper describes realization of a low data rate modulator based on a robust and reliable symmetric differential phase shift keying (SDPSK) modulation scheme combined with a raised cosine pulse shaping filter in nanoRTU, and presents results of its testing
