Traditional CubeSat communication systems are limited to Line-of-sight communication methods. Beyond line-of-sight communications require a network of earth stations or intersatellite links (ISLs). In fall 2006, researchers decided to tackle the problem of ISLs for CubeSats as undergraduate researchers at Florida International University. They simulated two commercial possibilities for ISLs in AGI STK and concluded the Iridium network offered the best coverage and possibility of success for their CubeSat. In the following year, they developed ¿¿¿PicoPanther,¿¿¿ the first CubeSat to Iridium payload. The payload realized the goals of commercial ISLs and beyond line-of-sight communications for the CubeSat community. In the years following publication, various researchers and institutions have successfully implemented the CubeSat to Iridium payload. Researchers have also examined ways to communicate with other resident networks, improve antenna technology, data transmission and satellite acquisition times. This paper examines the PicoPanther payload and CubeSat project, the history of CubeSat to commercial satellite ISLs, addresses the technical and non technical challenges still present and outlines other possibilities for the proliferation of ISLs across the CubeSat community.
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