System Design Support and Validation Planning for a Lunar Ground Station using S-, X- and Ka-band.

This thesis supports the deployment and validation planning of a new lunar ground station under development at the Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre (VIRAC) in Latvia. The initiative, led by the Swedish Space Corporation (SSC), aims to repurpose existing astronomical infrastructure for space communication, targeting compatibility with the Lunar Exploration Ground Sites (LEGS) framework proposed by NASA. To enable this transformation, the work is divided into three main efforts: design-phase analyses, link performance modeling, and validation framework development.

Design analyses include investigations into reflector alignment, gain distribution across the downlink chain, intermodulation risk, and G/T measurement planning. A custom Python-based link budget tool was developed to simulate end-to-end performance under real orbital conditions. Finally, a structured validation matrix was produced, linking system requirements to specific test procedures and measurement methods.

The combined outcome provides both a predictive understanding of system performance and a practical roadmap for on-site verification.