Digital Commons Network^™

Large, Wafer-Thin Optical Apertures Leveraging Photonic Integrated Circuits To Replace Telescopes For Communications, Cale M. Gentry, Marcus Bagnell, Shon Cook, Colby Bellew, Christopher Holland, Ify Achu, Aliyah Matthews, Navin Lingaraju, Lucas Cohen, Alessia Scotto Di Luzio, Nicole Heidel

Small Satellite Conference

To aid in driving down the size, weight, and power (SWaP) of space-based optical communications terminals, we present a large-aperture telescope-replacement technology that reshapes a beam from a single-mode fiber to ~5 cm and larger apertures on a silicon wafer by using photonic integrated circuit (PIC) components. We achieve multi-centimeter apertures by sacrificing wide-angle steering in favor of good beam quality and manageable controls. Light from a single-mode fiber is coupled to a silicon chip consisting of low-loss silicon nitride waveguides for signal distribution to large phase-controlled emitters. Our demonstrations of beam phasing across a 1.8-cm-diameter, 16-emitter phased array show …

Ohb-I Nanosatellite Constellation For Earth Observation: A Contribution To Iride, Matteo Battilana, Claudio Angelone, Alessio Lo Presti, Salvatore Raiano, Roberto Montedori, Giuseppe Filomeno, Francesco Camuso, Giulia Capuani

Small Satellite Conference

IRIDE is an End-To-End System consisting of:

• Several LEO constellations (Upstream Segment).
• A ground operational infrastructure (Downstream Segment).
• Services for the Italian public administration (Service Segment).

IRIDE is unique since it provides microwave imaging (Synthetic Aperture Radar, SAR), optical imaging at various spatial resolutions and in different frequency ranges, including panchromatic, multispectral, hyperspectral, and infrared bands.

Ultra Precise Modular Reaction Wheel Operation For Optical And Radar Satellites, M. G. Taul, I. Penchev, J. D. C. Christiansen, K. Kaas, T. Durbin, J. Demonty

Small Satellite Conference

With the new space arena evolving towards serious science and defense missions, the availability of new space avionics with high-end performance is becoming a prerequisite for modern and future satellite missions.

This puts requirements for very accurate speed and torque control of modern reaction wheels used to perform attitude control of modern spacecraft.

• Nearly vibration free operation (optical payloads)
• Extremely trum of frequencies
• Modularity
• Fast delivery
• Scalability

Nasa Electronic Parts And Packaging (Nepp) Program –Innovative Eeee Parts Resource For The Future, Rebekah A. Austin

Small Satellite Conference

Key 1: Define what makes “success” for your mission and risk posture

Key 2: Identify highest “bang for the buck” tests and analyses using model-based flows that meet mission success criteria

Key 3: Provide accessible infrastructure for tools, data sharing, etc.

Confronting Or Linking Csp And Ccsds? A View On How To Operate Small Satellites Today, Pierre-Alexis Lagadrillière, Tobias Brügge, Kay Müller

Small Satellite Conference

CubeL was launched early 2021 and is the first COTS cubesat which the German Space Operations Center (GSOC) of DLR is operating. It carries 3 of the most typical space-to-ground communication systems with its UHF transceiver, its S-band transceiver and its laser terminal. Main aim is to demonstrate the capabilities of the miniaturized laser terminal for high speed communications up to 100Mbps. The second aim of this cubesat is to test operations between the on-board S-band transceiver with its native CSP and GSOC’s multi-mission environment based on CCSDS and ECSS protocols and standards, e.g. the CCSDS space packet protocols.

In …

Simulation And Experimental Validation Of An Electropermanent Magnetic Capturesystem, Mark Muktoyuk, Jack Huun, Geoffrey Licciardello, David D. King, Sean Lewis

Small Satellite Conference

A critical enabling technology for on-orbit servicing is the secure yet reversable capture of a client vehicle so that it can be released after being maneuvered or otherwise serviced. Astroscale has demonstrated on-orbit capture and release with a permanent magnetic capture mechanism and a mechanical release on their ELSA-d mission. Altius Space Machines (Altius) have created an alternative capture and release solution with their patented technology featuring electropermanent magnet (EPM) elements. An EPM capture mechanism can alternately a) establish a permanent magnetic field for capture of a client vehicle and b) eliminate this magnetic field for release of the client …

Leo Ground Segment Testing: Addressing The Challenge, Joakim Espeland, Andrian Buchi

Small Satellite Conference

The rise of new Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) satellite constellations requires dynamic tracking and seamless handover from one satellite to another without causing interruptions or signal degradations. This trend is increasing the complexity of the ground segment that is now adapting first with the reutilization of existing on-the-move tracking technology and moving into new developments of commercially viable electronically steered antennas (ESA).

The issue investigated is the lack of clear guidelines on testing the performance of such antennas, which are not currently standardized.

The testing procedure is a qualification methodology for muti orbit tracking antennas based on an Unmanned Aerial Vehicles …

A Digital Risk Twin For The Design And Certification Of A Distributed Space Based Space Surveillance System, Samuel Hilton

Small Satellite Conference

Objectives

• Development of a Digital Risk Twin (DRT) of a Distributed Satellite System Mission to perform Preliminary Mission Reliability Estimates
• Quantify mission reliability considering platform reliability and required System of System s (SoS) configuration for mission assurance
• Provide ability to perform rapid trade studies on Mission Reliability given varied SmallSat platform and distributed configuration requirements

Towards Comprehensive Ai-Based Onboard Fdir: System Design And First Results, Luca Manca, Gianluca Campagna, Riccardo Maderna, Gabriele Giordana

Small Satellite Conference

Health monitoring of spacecrafts is a crucial task in Space operations. Fault Detection, Isolation and Recovery (FDIR) plays a critical role in ensuring the safety and successful operation of a spacecraft by detecting and isolating faults, and then executing recovery actions. Currently, the FDIR process is carried out mostly on ground, with only anomaly detection typically performed onboard the spacecraft using out-of-limit (OOL) threshold techniques, whereas fault isolation and recovery is managed by operators on the ground.

This approach has two major limitations. Firstly, OOL approach is not capable of identifying subtle anomalies that occur within the parameters’ nominal operational …

Earth Observation Groundsystems In The Cloud, Kelly Modrick, Austin Cooner, Lizzie Wilde, Marc Lichtman, Christian Rodriguez

Small Satellite Conference

DEFINITION:

A pooled set of compute resources that can be centrally managed and dynamically provisioned to provide the required computation power or storage for a specific task

WHY USE IT:

• Enhanced compute resource management
• High data-rate applications requiring pooled compute resources
• Remote ground terminals that cannot support processing at the antenna

Toward Autonomous Guidance And Control: A Robust Ai-Based Solution For Low-Thrust Orbit Transfers, Matteo Stoisa, Luca Romanelli, Federica Paganelli Azza, Pietro De Marchi, Mattia Varile

Small Satellite Conference

The focus of our initial application scenario centers around a low-thrust orbit transfer in Low-Earth Orbit (LEO). This specific use-case has been chosen due to its inherent challenges, including the requirements for robustness and real-time computation.

We propose an AI-based solution capable of autonomous and robust on-board G&C. The core of our approach leverages a Deep Neural Network (DNN) trained through Reinforcement Learning (RL) techniques. Our method aims at enhancing a traditional guidance approach by managing environmental perturbations, it processes the on-board navigation coordinates and provides the thrust to be imposed by the propulsion subsystem.

Our approach demonstrates effectiveness in …

Development Of Monopropellant 98% Htp Thrusters For Small Satellite Propulsion Modules: Technical Challenges And Solutions, Pawel Surmacz, Adrian Parzybut, Zbigniew Gut, Mariusz Rosiak, Michal Alaszkiewicz

Small Satellite Conference

No abstract provided.

Te Pūnaha Ātea -1 (Tpa-1), A Capability Development And Validation Mission From New Zealand, Benjamin Taylor, Vernon Lewis, Jason Shore, Sebastian Schaffler, Annalisa Tresoldi, Mattia Longato, Sha Luo, Guglielmo Aglietti

Small Satellite Conference

Operation goals:

• Capturing identifiable imagery of NZ landmass.
• Upload and use of student and researcher image processing tools.
• Inspecting exposed surfaces and elements of the CubeSat.
• Demonstrating and monitoring the deployable structures.
• Monitoring the thermal profile inside the CubeSat.
• Demonstrating timely de-orbit at end of life.

Mission objectives:

• Commissioning and demonstration of TPA-SI facilities.
• Establishment and validation of mission delivery processes.
• Outreach, education and training in mission delivery and operations.
• Generation of core mission documentation set.
• Flight heritage for in-house spacecraft platform avionics and structures.

0.5u Cubesat Form Factor Pressurized Module Development For On-Orbit Biological Experiment, Shuma Sugimoto, Yoshihiro Tsuruda, Masaaki Kawamura

Small Satellite Conference

National research institutes are exploring the Moon and Mars and studying the space environment near Earth. ISS (International Space Station) is scheduled to end its operation in 2030, and it is said that experiments using the space environment, such as biological-missions conducted on ISS, may not be able to be carried out after 2030. Teikyo University aims to propose new space experiment platforms with two different mass-class space systems; “Micro-ISS” (50kg-class microsatellite) and “Nano-ISS” (1U ~ 6U CubeSat).

Lessons Learned On Building And Operating Software Defined Cubesat For Scalable Satellites, Minsik Lee, Naeem Altaf, Hanna Sohn

Small Satellite Conference

Software Defined CubeSats are small and low-cost satellites that utilize software-based technologies for their operations and functionalities. While traditional hardware based CubeSats in large-scale systems have limitations for scalability due to their fixed environments, Software Defined CubeSats offer many advantages such as flexibility, scalability, cost-effectiveness, reliability, and rapid deployments.

IBM Endurance CubeSat is a Software Defined CubeSat that aims to pave the way for future space missions. On May 25th, 2022, IBM Endurance CubeSat launched successfully in Florida, USA, and now it provides CubeSat as a Service to users who need to conduct space missions or experiments. The CubeSat uses …

Machine Learning Radio-Frequency-Based Anomaly Detection For Ground Station And Satellite Telecommunication, Raffaele Bua, Lucia Necchi, Pietro Corrado, Matteo Cappella, Bérenger Villat, Giovanni Pandolfi

Small Satellite Conference

Satellite-to-ground station telecommunication is a crucial aspect of satellite missions, representing a single point of failure of the entire space system.

Each failed contact is an issue for all satellite missions, leading to a potential data loss. The detection and forecasting of data transfer failures are critical challenges in satellite operations, given the unpredictability and variety of potential causes for such anomalies.

Considering the spectral waterfall plot the most appropriate tool to describe the anatomy of satellite contacts, an automatic waterfall analysis could help satellite mission operators, by promptly discovering potential data transmission failures between satellites and ground stations, and …

Signal-Agnostic Technique For Satellite Doppler Correction, Salwan Damman, Nazia Mozaffar, Brendan Hill

Small Satellite Conference

Low Earth Orbit satellites impart a Doppler shift on transmitted signals. This Doppler shift imposes challenges on the receiver design. Optimum band-edge filters can measure the Doppler offset, and frequency-locked loops (FLLs) containing them can correct the Doppler offset. However, optimum band-edge filters require knowledge of the structure of the signal of interest in order to compute the filter coefficients. Prefilter delay-multiply elements can be used to generate a Doppler tone that can be placed in an FLL, but this technique also requires knowledge of the signal structure and is not well suited for frequency shift keyed signals. It is …

Breaking The Smallsat Barriers To Sub-50cm Imaging, Hamilton Law, Alex Da Silva Curiel, Andrew Haslehurst, Steven Knox, Victoria Irwin, Martin Sweeting

Small Satellite Conference

New cutting-edge imaging sensors can now reduce instrument size and mass, leading to mission cost savings, and bring sub-50cm imaging capability into the realm of small satellites. Whilst aperture is essential to achieving resolution, half-pixel shifted sensor architectures decouple achievable Ground Sampling Distance (GSD) from the native ground projected pixel. This facilitates the deployment of Very High Resolution (VHR) small satellite constellations featuring improved Signal-to-Noise performance and increased area collection rates compared to push-frame systems.

A fundamental limitation to the theoretical performance of an optical system is imposed by its aperture diameter; hence, for a given aperture, the aim is …

Data Compression Methods For On-Board Software Updates For The Innocube Satellite, Sergio Montenegro, Erik Dilger, Felix Sittner, Michael Strohmeier

Small Satellite Conference

The main objective of InnoCube is to show the feasibility of the following three novel systems:

• EPISODE: SDR-GNSS for CubeSats (antenna, FPGA, SKITH pcb & software)
• SKITH: wireless satellite bus & protocol
• WALL#E: battery as supporting structure

Innocube consists of 7 different computing nodes which are connected by our novel wireless satellite bus. As having that many nodes presents a challenge in case of an in-orbit software update, we explored various methods for compression and data reduction in order to minimize the time required for software uploads.

Enabling Artificial Intelligence On-Board For Image Processing Applications, Pablo Ghiglino, Mandar Harshe

Small Satellite Conference

A novel approach to on-board artificial intelligence (AI) is presented here that is based on state-of-the-art academic research of the well known technique of data pipeline. Algorithm pipelining has seen a resurgence in the high performance computing work due its low power use and high throughput capabilities. The approach presented here provides a very sophisticated threading model combination of pipeline and parallelization techniques applied to deep neural networks (DNN), making these type of AI ap-plications much more efficient and reliable. This new approach has been validated with several DNN models developed for Space application (including asteroid landing, cloud detection and …

Optimization Of Command Execution Testing Procedures, Akhila Yellapragada, Vedika Ghildyal, Sydney Whilden, Deepak Mishra

Small Satellite Conference

• Current Command Execution Testing (CET) procedures are conducted manually and can be arduous and impractical for frequent testing
• Inefficiency of an integral testing procedure can lead to delays within the other teams involved in the development of the cube satellite

Moon Orbiter "Izumi" For Lunar Water Exploration, Kentaro Taniguchi, Miwa Tsurumi, Ryusei Komatsu

Small Satellite Conference

NASA's Artemis program focuses on the water resources on the Moon. As lunar exploration probes with high spatial resolutions can identify potential drilling points on the lunar surface, this study proposes a mission that focuses on neutrons generated by galatic cosmic rays that leak into space and contain information regarding the amount of water within the lunar subsurface. Neutron detectors used in previous lunar exploration mission probes have encountered challenges in achieving both high spatial resolution and statistical reliability. To overcome these challenges, the proposed mission satellite is equipped with the world's first imager proposed for thermal neutrons. The satellite …

Lost: An Open-Source Suite Of Star Tracking Software, Mark Polyakov, Edward Zhang, Karen Haining

Small Satellite Conference

We present LOST: Open-source Star Tracker (LOST), a suite of star tracking software particularly suitable for small satellite missions with limited computing resources and low-cost cameras. LOST contains implementations of a number of previously-proposed star tracking algorithms and a flexible framework for running and evaluating these algorithms. Our evaluation finds that LOST's algorithms are simultaneously able to maintain a strong combination of accuracy, runtime, and memory usage. In scenarios representative of a low-cost star tracker, LOST correctly identifies over 95% of images, and importantly, performs the entire star tracking pipeline in less than 35 milliseconds on a Raspberry Pi while …

Development Of Tactical And Strategic Operations Software For Nasa's Lunar Flashlight Mission, Mason Starr

Small Satellite Conference

Lunar Flashlight (LF) is an interplanetary CubeSat mission designed to demonstrate the use of a novel green monopropellant propulsion system and characterize lunar surface ice with a near-infrared laser array and reflectometer. LF is also the first Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) mission to be operated entirely by students. While JPL provided baseline tools to Georgia Tech (GT), bespoke tools and software were developed by GT operators. Four tools developed by the author are discussed in this paper: (1) Downlink Helper is a Graphical User Interface (GUI) tool which improves the tactical downlink of recorded spacecraft telemetry. The tool automatically creates …

Cost-Effective Payload Operations Planning Software For Complex Small Spacecraft Mission Operations, Willard Farmer

Small Satellite Conference

As small spacecraft become more capable, so does the complexity of their operations. Searching for potential concurrent observation or access opportunities and ensuring they are compatible with one another may become tedious and repetitive for operators to manually compute. Currently available commercial-off-the-shelf tools that automate this process are capable but expensive. To address this problem, a new payload operations planning tool has been developed by the Space Flight Laboratory to handle the deterministic aspects of mission planning, such as: detecting observation opportunities, validating observations in a schedule, and generating lists of commands to be sent to satellites. This lightweight tool …

Star Tracker Algorithm Improvements To Restore Performance After Radiation Exposure, Abigail Lee

Small Satellite Conference

Rocket Lab's ST16-RT2 star tracker uses a CMOS detector to image stars in the sensor's field of view, software to isolate the stars in the image from the background, and an on-board catalogue to identify the stars in the image and, thus, determine the attitude of the satellite. High temperatures and radiation effects raise the black level and standard deviation of the noise on the sensor. This results in a loss of dynamic range and complicates the pixel classification between star candidates and the background. Pixels improperly designated as part of a star are referred to as false positives, and …

Evaluating Rotation-Equivariant Deep Learning Models For On-Orbit Cloud Segmentation, Alex Meredith

Small Satellite Conference

Cloud detection in satellite imagery is key for autonomously taking and downlinking cloud-free images of a target region as well as studying cloud-climate interactions and calibrating microwave radiometers. We propose a C₈-equivariant dense U-Net, a rotation-equivariant deep learning model, trained on visible-spectrum, long-wave infrared (LWIR), and short-wave infrared (SWIR) imagery for on-orbit cloud detection. We train this model on the SPARCS¹ dataset of Landsat 8 images and compare it to three related deep learning models, two rule-based algorithms, and to the literature. Additionally, we compare a C₈-equivariant dense U-Net trained on VIS, LWIR, and SWIR …

Sprite, A Modular Template Of In-Space Propulsion, Mackenzie Kilcoin, Daniel Cavender, Nathan Daniel, Allison Lentz

Small Satellite Conference

Huntsville, AL is home to Plasma Processes, a materials company that creates high temperature material solutions for aerospace and defense applications. Their capabilities include several thermal spray coating techniques, near-net shape refractory metal fabrication, and an array of government and commercial customer entities. A Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract received in 2016 pushed the development of Plasma's first fully integrated thruster assembly using component processes for thrust chambers, injector heads, and high temperature parts that Plasma creates daily for various entities. The thruster assembly used the ASCENT, or AF-M315E, propellant, which was first demonstrated on the Green Propulsion Infusion …

Implementation Of A Microthruster Using Pcbmems, José M. Quero, Gonzalo Quero

Small Satellite Conference

This paper describes the implementation of microthrusters using PCBMEMS technology. PCBMEMS is the engineering of MEMS devices based on standard printed circuit board (PCB) technology. The reduced thickness of the copper layers together with the high resolution of the features on a PCB allow the implementation of micrometer-sized devices. A solid fuel microthruster including a tank, detonator and throat has been designed, simulated, manufactured, and tested using this PCBMEMS technology.

Assessment Of Evolving Conjunction Risk For Small Satellite Missions, Rachit Bhatia, Darren Mcknight, Erin Dale, Mohin Patel

Small Satellite Conference

This study presents an assessment of evolving conjunction risk for small satellite missions (5U or smaller) by using the suite of LeoLabs' products. The aim is to (1) quantify the growth of small satellites population in the low Earth orbit (LEO), (2) assess the impact of on-orbit break-up events and small debris (sub-10 cm) objects on small satellite missions, and (3) present an optimal risk mitigation timeline for small satellite missions, based on conjunction alerts issued in 2023. The global network of S-band radars built and operated by LeoLabs provides a 24/7 data feed to power this assessment and help …