Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription or Fee Access

In Orbit Operations of an Educational Cubesat: the e-st@r-II Experience


(*) Corresponding author


Authors' affiliations


DOI: https://doi.org/10.15866/irease.v13i2.18317

Abstract


CubeSats have achieved a place of relevance in the modern space missions. However, CubeSats need improvements in terms of new technologies, mission and system reliability, and management of the entire product life cycle. A major lack of knowledge exists about the operations of past and current CubeSats in orbit. Operations planning and re-planning, failures and anomalies management, step-by-step procedures and rules of execution are crucial but poorly analyzed aspects that can increase the success rate of a mission. Moreover, information about the programmatic and technical achievements and lessons learned during the operation phases is often not available or incomplete. However, the sharing of the results, especially for educational programs, becomes fundamental to improve the quality of missions and to prevent mistakes. This paper aims at reducing this gap of knowledge and at sharing the experience and the lessons learned gained by the CubeSat Team of Politecnico di Torino over the three years of in-orbit operations of the E-ST@R-II mission. The flexible approach adopted for the operations planning, the management of anomalies and the re-planning of the operations are presented. Simple yet effective tools have been developed for mission planning and root causes identification, and they are presented through the discussion of the main technical and educational results. The paper provides also a list of good practices and recommendations applicable to future CubeSat missions.
Copyright © 2020 Praise Worthy Prize - All rights reserved.

Keywords


CubeSat Operations; Operations Planning and Re-Planning; CubeSat In-Orbit Results; Educational Project

Full Text:

PDF


References


H. Heidt, J. Puig-Suari, A. Moore, S. Nakasuka, R. Twiggs, CubeSat: A new generation of picosatellite for education and industry low-cost space experimentation. In Proceedings of the AIAA/USU Conference on Small Satellites, Logan, UT, USA, 11–26 September 2000.

J. Puig-Suari, C. Turner, W. Ahlgren, “Development of the standard CubeSat deployer and a CubeSat class PicoSatellite”, Aerospace Conference, 2001, IEEE Proceedings, ISBN: 0-7803-6599-2, Big Sky, MT, USA, 10-17 March 2001.
https://doi.org/10.1109/aero.2001.931726

NASA's CubeSat Launch Initiative https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/heo/home/CubeSats_initiative (last access: 28 October 2019).

ESA. CubeSats—Fly Your Satellite! Available online: http://www.esa.int/Education/CubeSats_-_Fly_Your_ Satellite (last access 26 October 2019).

The University of Nairobi Hands the First KiboCUBE CubeSat over to JAXA under UNOOSA-JAXA KiboCUBE Programme https://global.jaxa.jp/press/2018/01/20180119_kibocube.html (last access 28 October 2019).
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-21938-3_8

J. Praks, A. Kestilä, T. Tikka, T.; H. Leppinen, O. Khurshid, M. Hallikainen, Aalto-1 Earth Observation CubeSat mission educational outcomes. In Proceedings of the IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, Valencia, Spain, 26–31 July 2018
https://doi.org/10.1109/igarss.2015.7326023

A. Poghosyan, A. Golkar, CubeSat evolution: Analyzing CubeSat capabilities for conducting science missions, Progress in Aerospace Sciences, 88, pp 59-83, 2017.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paerosci.2016.11.002

L.Jasper, D. Nuding, E. Barlow, E. Hogan, S. O'Keefe, P. Withnell, T. Yunck, "CICERO - A Distributed Small Satellite Radio Occultation Pathfinder Mission," Proceedings of the 27th AIAA/USU Conference, Small Satellite Constellations, Logan, Utah, USA, 10-15 August 2013.

J. F. Munoz-Martin, L. Fernandez, J. Ruiz-de-Azua and A. Camps, The Flexible Microwave Payload -2: Architecture and Testing of a Combined GNSS-R and L-Band Radiometer With RFI Mitigation Payload For Cubesat-Based Earth Observation Missions, IGARSS 2019, Yokohama, Japan, 2019, pp. 5185-5188.
https://doi.org/10.1109/igarss.2019.8898402

C. Rodriguez, H. Boiardt and S. Bolooki, "CubeSat to commercial intersatellite communications: Past, present and future," 2016 IEEE Aerospace Conference, Big Sky, MT, 2016, pp. 1-15.
https://doi.org/10.1109/aero.2016.7500525

Oi, D.K., Ling, A., Vallone, G. et al. CubeSat quantum communications mission. EPJ Quantum Technol. 4(6), 2017.
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjqt/s40507-017-0060-1

R. Welle et alii, A CubeSat-Based Optical Communication Network for Low Earth Orbit, Proceedings of 31th Small Satellite Conference, Paper #98, Logan (Utah-US), August 2017.

Muri P., McNair J., "A Survey of Communication Sub-systems for Intersatellite Linked Systems and CubeSat Missions ," Journal of Communications, vol. 7, no.4, pp.258-264, 2012.
https://doi.org/10.4304/jcm.7.4.290-308

C. Pirat, M. Richard-Noca, C. Paccolat, F. Belloni, R. Wiesendanger, D. Courtney, R. Walker, V. Gass, Mission design and GNC for In-Orbit Demonstration of Active Debris Removal technologies with CubeSats, Acta Astronautica, Volume 130, pp 114-127, 2017.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2016.08.038

C. Lorenzen, M. Stich, S.K. Robinson, Low-Risk Spacecraft-Inspection CubeSat, in: 30th Annu. AIAA/USU Conf. Small Satell., 2016.

J. Willis, P. Walton, D. Wilde and D. Long, "Miniaturized Solutions for CubeSat Servicing and Safety Requirements," in IEEE Journal on Miniaturization for Air and Space Systems, pp. 1-7, 2019.
https://doi.org/10.1109/tgrs.2019.2954807

P.Walton; J. Cannon; B. Damitz; T. Downs; D. Glick; J.Holtom; N. Kohls; A. Laraway; I. Matheson; J. Redding; C. Robinson; J. Ryan; N. Stoddard; J. Willis; K. Warnick; M. Wirthlin; D. Wilde; B. D. Iverson; D. Long, Passive CubeSats for remote inspection of space vehicles, J. of Applied Remote Sensing, 13(3), 032505 (2019).
https://doi.org/10.1117/1.jrs.13.032505

S.Pastorelli et alii, Control of a noncooperative approach maneuver based on debris dynamics feedback, Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, 41(2), Pages 431-448, 2018.
https://doi.org/10.2514/1.g002685

P. Kaaret et alii, First Results from HaloSat - A CubeSat to Study the Hot Galactic Halo, 33rd Annual AIAA/USU, 33th Conference on Small Satellites, Conference on Small Satellites, Logan (Utah-US), August 2019.

Ewang, E., Miyahara, A., Khan, A., Toyoda, K., Cho, M., Photoelectron Current Measurement in Low Earth Orbit Using a Lean Satellite, HORYU-IV, (2017) International Review of Aerospace Engineering (IREASE), 10 (3), pp. 140-153.
https://doi.org/10.15866/irease.v10i3.12394

Cheong, J.W., Southwell, B.J., Andrew, W. et al. A Robust Framework for Low-Cost Cubesat Scientific Missions. Space Sci Rev 216(8), 2020.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-019-0632-8

Sakraker et al., QARMAN: an Atmospheric Entry Experiment on Cubesat Platform, 8th European Symposium on Aerothermodynamics for space vehicles, 2-6 March 2015, Lisbon Portugal.

Freeman, A. Exploring our solar system with CubeSats and SmallSats: the dawn of a new era, CEAS Space J, 2020.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12567-020-00298-5

J. Klesh, J. Krajewski, MarCO: CubeSats to Mars in 2016, Small Satellite Conference, Logan, USA, August 2016.

D.C. Folta, et al., The Lunar IceCube Mission Design: Construction of Feasible Transfer Trajectories with a Constrained Departure, Proceedings of 26th AAS/AIAA Spaceflight Mechanics Meeting; February 14, 2016 - February 18, 2016; Napa, CA; United States

Zannoni, M., Tommei, G., Modenini, D., Tortora, P., Mackenzie, R., Scoubeau, M., Herfort, U., Carnelli, I., 2018. Radio science investigations with the Asteroid impact mission. Adv. Sp. Res., in press.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2017.12.003

Benedetti G. et alii, Interplanetary CubeSats for asteroid exploration: Mission analysis and design, Acta Astronautica, 154, pp 238-255, 2019.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2018.05.011

A. Chin, R. Coelho, R. Nugent, R. Munakata, J. Puig-Suari, The CubeSat: The Picosatellite Standard for Research and Education. In Proceedings of the AIAA SPACE Conference & Exposition, San Diego, CA, USA, 9–11 September 2008.
https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2008-7734

M. Zhang et al., "The Demonstrations of Flux Pinning for Space Docking of CubeSat Sized Spacecraft in Simulated Microgravity Conditions," in IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity, vol. 29, no. 6, pp. 1-16, Sept. 2019, Art no. 3601816.
https://doi.org/10.1109/tasc.2018.2890706

F. Stesina, Validation of a Test Platform to Qualify Miniaturized Electric Propulsion Systems, Aerospace, 6(9), 99; 2019.
https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace6090099

C. Conigliaro, D. Calvi, L. Franchi, F. Stesina, S. Corpino, Design and analysis of an innovative cubesat thermal control system for biological experiment in lunar environment, Proceedings of 69th International Astronautical Congress, Code 147415, September 2018.

Obiols Rabasa G. Corpino S., Mozzillo R., Stesina F. (2015), “Lessons learned of a systematic approach for the E-ST@R-II CUBESAT environmental test campaign”, Proceedings of 66th International Astronautical Congress, Jerusalem, Israel, October.

J.P Monteiro, R.M. Rocha, A. Silva, R.Afonso, N. Ramos, Integration and Verification Approach of ISTSat-1 CubeSat. Aerospace, 6,131, 2019.
https://doi.org/10.3390/aerospace6120131

V.Lappas, A. Ampatzoglou, V. Kostopoulos, Design, Analysis, Optimization, Manufacturing, and Testing of a 2U Cubesat, International Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 2018.
https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/9724263

Stesina, F., Corpino, S., Feruglio, L., An In-The-Loop Simulator for the Verification of Small Space Platforms, (2017) International Review of Aerospace Engineering (IREASE), 10 (2), pp. 50-60.
https://doi.org/10.15866/irease.v10i2.10593

L. Alminde, M. Bisgaard, D. Vinther, T. Viscor, K.Z. Østergaard, Educational Value and Lessons Learnt from the AAU-cubesat Project, IEEE Proceedings of Recent Advances in Space Technology, Recent Advances in Space Technology - Istanbul, Turkey, 20-23 November 2003.
https://doi.org/10.1109/rast.2003.1303391

M.Noca et al., “Lessons Learned from the First Swiss Pico-Satellite: SwissCube. In Proceedings of the AIAA/USU Conference on Small Satellites, Logan, UT, USA, 10–13 August 2009.

C. Nieto-Peroy, M.R. Emami, CubeSat Mission: From Design to Operation, Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(15), 3110.
https://doi.org/10.3390/app9153110

J. Guo, J. Bouwmeester, E. Gill, In-orbit results of Delfi-n3Xt: Lessons learned and move forward, Acta Astronautica, vol. 121, pp 39–50, 2016.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2015.12.003

S. Corpino, G. Obiols Rabasa, R. Mozzillo, F. Nichele, E-st@r-I experience: Valuable knowledge for improving the e-st@r-II design, Acta Astronautica, Vol. 121, pp 13-22, April-May 2016.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2015.12.027

J.P. Mason, T.N. Woods, P.C. Chamberlin, A. Jones, R. Kohnert, B. Schwab, R. Sewell, A. Caspi, C.S. Moore, S. Palo, S.C. Solomon, H. Warren, MinXSS-2 CubeSat mission overview: Improvements from the successful MinXSS-1 mission, Advances in Space Research, 11(2), 2019.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2019.02.011

K- Cahoy, A.K. Kennedy, Initial Results from ACCESS: An Autonomous CubeSat Constellation Scheduling System for Earth Observation, Proceedings of 31th Small Satellite Conference, Paper #98, Logan (Utah-US), August 2017.

K. Rankin, I. McNeil, I. Rankin, S. Stochaj, How Not to Build a CubeSat – Lessons Learned from Developing and Launching NMSU’s First CubeSat., 33th Conference on Small Satellites, Conference on Small Satellites, Logan (Utah-US), August 2019.

R. Funase, S. Ikari, R. Suzumoto, N. Sako M. Sanada, S. Nakasuka, On-orbit Operation Results of the World's First CubeSat XI-IV. Lessons Learned from Its Successful 15-years Space Flight, 33rd Annual AIAA/USU, Conference on Small Satellites, Logan (Utah-US), August 2019.

L. Berthoud, M. Swartwout, J. Cutler, D. Klumpar, J. Larsen, J. Dalsgaard Nielsen, University CubeSat Project Management for Success 33th Conference on Small Satellites, Conference on Small Satellites, Logan (Utah-US), August 2019.

J. Bouwmeester, M. Langer, E. Gill, Survey on the implementation and reliability of CubeSat electrical bus interfaces, CEAS Space J 9, pp 163, 2017.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12567-016-0138-0

J- Puig-Suari et alii, A Failure Analysis of the ExoCube CubeSat, Proceedings of 13th Annual Cubesat Workshop, San Luis Obispo, CA, April 2016

F. Stesina, S.Corpino, “Analysis of the communication anomaly during e-st@r-2 mission operations”, International Astronautical Congress 2017, IAC 2017, Adelaide, Australia, 25-29 September 2017, Vol. 9, pp 5840-5847.

J. Bouwmeester, M. Langer, E. Gill. Survey on the implementation and reliability of CubeSat electrical bus interfaces, CEAS Space J, 9(163). 2017.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12567-016-0138-0

K.M. Brumbaugh and E.G. Lightsey, Application of Risk Management to University CubeSat Missions, Journal of Small Satellites, 2(1), pp. 147-160, 2010.

A. Busso, M. Mascarello, S. Corpino , F. Stesina, R. Mozzillo, The communication module on-board E-ST@R-II CubeSat, 7th ESA International Workshop on Tracking, Telemetry and Command Systems for Space Applications, TTC 2016; ESTEC Noordwijk; Netherlands; 13-16 September 2016.
https://doi.org/10.1109/ttc.2019.8895451

R.F. Campbell, "Analysis of Various Algorithmic approaches to Software-Based 1200 Baud Audio Frequency Shift Keying Demodulation for APRS", a thesis presented to the Faculty of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, 2016.
https://doi.org/10.15368/theses.2016.99

S. Toledo, A High-Performance Sound-Card AX.25 Modem, School of Computer Science, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv 69978, Israel.
https://doi.org/10.25082/ahb.2020.01.003

T. Capitaine et al., Robust Satellite AX25 Frames Demodulation”, Pestana Conference Centre, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal, 31 May – 4 June 2010.

A. Busso, M. Sousa, M. Mascarello and F. Stesina, "A procedure to recover data of a cubesat mission at very low S/N ratio," 2019 8th International Workshop on Tracking, Telemetry and Command Systems for Space Applications (TTC), Darmstadt, Germany, 2019, pp. 1-8.
https://doi.org/10.1109/ttc.2019.8895451


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.



Please send any question about this web site to info@praiseworthyprize.com
Copyright © 2005-2024 Praise Worthy Prize