Space communication systems face significant challenges due to harsh channel conditions characterized by high bit error rates, burst errors, and low signal-to-noise ratios. This paper presents an FPGA-based implementation of an enhanced error detection and correction codes for space communication applications. The proposed system integrates CRC-16 error detection with a systematic Quasi-Cyclic Low-Density Parity-Check (QC-LDPC) encoder operating at rate-1/2 with lifting factor Z=16. A block interleaver/deinterleaver pair effectively mitigates burst errors, while an enhanced LDPC decoder employing the offset min-sum algorithm provides robust error correction capabilities. The complete system is successfully implemented on a resource-constrained Xilinx Spartan-6 XC6SLX9 FPGA device. Hardware validation is performed using a 4×4 matrix keypad for data input and a 16×2 LCD display for real-time output visualization. Comprehensive evaluation through simulation waveforms, BER vs SNR analysis, and synthesis reports demonstrates the system's effectiveness in achieving bit error rates below 10⁻³ at 10 dB SNR. Cadence synthesis results show the design occupies 389,391.742 µm² area with 125.2 mW power consumption and a maximum frequency of 66 MHz, validating practical feasibility for satellite communication.
Jeevan et al. (Mon,) studied this question.