Digital Commons Network^™

Development And Validation Pipeline For In-Orbit App Deployment, Oskar Flordal, Marco Capuccini, Vinutha Magal Shreenath, Pablo Gómez, Gabriele Meoni

Small Satellite Conference

No abstract provided.

An Attempt To Improve Educational Effectiveness In University Cubesat Programs By Balancing Commercial Product And Diy, Toshihiro Kameda

Small Satellite Conference

The goal of CubeSat project at university is not only mission success in space, in addition, it must satisfy many educational aspects. We should not categorize CubeSat project into mere assembling routine work. Well balanced DIY would be suitable for educational CubeSat projects in many universities.

Distributed Spacecraft Mission (Dsm) Plume Design Reference Mission (Drm) Inter-Satellite Link Modeling, Analysis, And Simulation, Yen Wong, Robert Morgenstern, Jose Velazco

Small Satellite Conference

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) Radical Innovation Initiative (R12) plans to focus intently on DSM capability advancements in FY22-24. A DSM mission involves multiple spacecraft, arranged in a constellation, to achieve one or more common goals via the use of inter-satellite links (ISL) between the satellites. Recently, the GSFC Internal Research & Development (IRAD) program established Enceladus as a design reference mission (DRM) for the current DSM effort to foster the conceptual development of communication architecture, requirements, and solutions for future DSM ISL, as well as being able to push other research areas of interest. Enceladus is an icy …

Development And Delivery Of A Custom Versal Board For Space Applications, Thomas Bradshaw, Jeffrey Mccasland, Joshua Donckels, James Meub, John Dickinson

Small Satellite Conference

The Versal can help enable rapid advancement to the next generation of radiation tolerant computing, drastically improving the processing capability of small satellites.

Jaxa-Smash Program: Jaxa's New Co-Creation Program For Small Satellite Missions, Kenshi Sechi, Shinichi Takata, Yuya Kobayashi, Masuo Takahashi

Small Satellite Conference

JAXA-SMASH (JAXA-Small Satellite Rush) Program is a research and development program that encourages universities, private companies and JAXA to collaborate to realize small satellite missions utilizing commercial small launch opportunities, and to diversify transportation services in Japan.

Combination Of Palsar-2 Observation And Vdes Operation For Monitoring Illegal, Unreported And Unregulated Fishing Activities, Shinsaku Nakamura

Small Satellite Conference

Indonesian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is the sixth largest in the world. Fisheries in Indonesian EEZ are active and producing high amount of products, but illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities are also recognized. For monitoring and covering large area quantitatively, satellites are effective. The Indonesian government inspected 2,827 IUU fishing vessels and arrested 167 of them in 2021. It was also estimated that one illegal trawl fishing vessel would be able to lead 1.2 million USD of economic losses in Indonesia annually. The author put forward to use two different types of satellites for monitoring and managing wide …

Aquarius: The World's First Water-Based Thruster Enabled 6u Cubesat To Complete Lunar Flyby, Aoma Fujimori, Hokuto Sekine, Yasuho Ataka, Isamu Moriai, Mariko Akiyama, Masaya Murohara, Hiroyuki Koizumi, Ryu Funase

Small Satellite Conference

This paper presents the outcomes of the initial operations and on-orbit performance of AQUARIUS (AQUA ResIstojet propulsion System), a micro-propulsion system. AQUARIUS utilizes water as a propellant and is designed for trajectory control and reaction wheel desaturation of a 6U CubeSat, EQUULEUS (EQUilibriUm Lunar-Earth point 6U Spacecraft). The spacecraft was launched in November 2022 by SLS, following which the initial operations commenced. Both the spacecraft and the propulsion system were confirmed to be in good health during the checkout process. Performance evaluation of the propulsion system confirmed that it met the requirement to execute the first delta-V maneuver scheduled 38 …

Lessons Learned During The Implementation Of A Cold Gas Propulsion System For The Sunrise Mission, Ryan Martineau, Tyson Smith, Matt Felt, Cameron Weston, Blake Rusch, Robert Fowler, Emma Brown, Adam Farmer, Tim Neilsen, Craig Thompson, Alex Kirkman, Paul Fluckiger, Shawn Morrison, Dave Wittner, Frank Picha, Jeffrey Weiss, Nathan Daniel, Samuel Wood, Mackenzie Glaser

Small Satellite Conference

The SunRISE mission utilizes a two-phase cold gas propulsion system, which provides several advantages over other cold gas systems but experienced challenges during assembly and testing. Since 2020, Georgia Tech Research Corporation (GTRC), Utah State University Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL), and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (FPL) have implemented several improvements to the SunRISE propulsion system.

The SunRISE propulsion system leverages an additively manufactured monolithic structure, commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) valves and transducers, and the benign working fluid R-236fa to provide a suitable propulsion system for the SunRise mission. While the GTRC propulsion system had been developed for other missions, the multi-organizational …

The Journey Of The Lunar Flashlight Propulsion System From Launch Through End Of Mission, Celeste Smith, Nathan Cheek, Christopher Burnside, John Baker, Philippe Adell, Frank Picha, Matthew Kowalkowski, Glenn Lightsey

Small Satellite Conference

The Lunar Flashlight Propulsion System (LFPS) was developed as a technology demonstration to enable the Lunar Flashlight spacecraft to reach Lunar orbit and to desaturate onboard reaction wheels. While the system produced over 16 m/s of delta-v and successfully managed momentum, variable thrust performance, most likely due to debris in the propellant flow path, kept the spacecraft from reaching the Moon. This paper details the in-flight journey of the LFPS, highlighting both successes and challenges met throughout the mission, and provides lessons learned applicable to future CubeSat missions and additively manufactured propulsion systems.

On-Orbit Demonstration Of The Water Resistojet Propulsion System On Commercial 6u-Sat Sphere-1 Eye, Yuichi Nakagawa, Akira Iwakawa, Shogo Kameyama, Takeo Kikuchi, Kazuya Yaginuma, Jun Asakawa, Hiroyuki Koizumi

Small Satellite Conference

SPHERE-1 EYE, a 6U CubeSat developed by Sony Group Corporation, was launched at the beginning of 2023. The satellite included a water resistojet propulsion system, which is designed for orbit raising after the initial checkout. The water resistojet propulsion system consists of a tank, a vaporizer, nozzles, a control board, and a power processing unit. The form factor of the propulsion system is 1.25 U, the wet mass is 1.4 kg, and the achievable total impulse of the system is 170 Ns or higher. A unique design of the water propulsion system is a vaporization chamber generating steam at room …

Nasa Spacecube Next-Generation Artificial-Intelligence Computing For Stp-H9-Scenic On Iss, Alessandro Geist, Gary Crum, Cody Brewer, Dennis Afanasev, Sebastian Sabogal, David Wilson, Justin Goodwill, James Marshall, Noah Perryman, Nick Franconi, Timothy Chase Jr., Travis Wise, Sarah Flanagan, Michael Monaghan, Jeff Hosler, Leyland Young, Judy Kuntz, Lindsey Seo, Joseph Schreck, Tracy Price, Munther Hassouneh, Steven Kenyon, Samuel Price, Christopher Wilson, Nicole Thai, Madison Hobbs, Andrew Keene, Sammy Lin, Michael Nemerouf, Evan T. Kain, Francisco O. Viramontes, Tyler M. Lovelly

Small Satellite Conference

Recently, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) capabilities have seen an exponential increase in interest from academia and industry that can be a disruptive, transformative development for future missions. Specifically, AI/ML concepts for edge computing can be integrated into future missions for autonomous operation, constellation missions, and onboard data analysis. However, using commercial AI software frameworks onboard spacecraft is challenging because traditional radiation-hardened processors and common spacecraft processors cannot provide the necessary onboard processing capability to effectively deploy complex AI models. Advantageously, embedded AI microchips being developed for the mobile market demonstrate remarkable capability and follow similar size, weight, …

Applications Of Systems Engineering Methodologies To An Undergraduate Student Volunteer-Led Cubesat Constellation, Joanna Cai, Ethan Ledig, Joshua Lazaruk

Small Satellite Conference

The Northern Space Program for Innovative Research and Integrated Training (Northern SPIRIT) satellite consortium launched in March 2023 and consists of three CubeSats designed, assembled, and operated by AlbertaSat, a University of Alberta student group:

• Ex-Alta 2: a 3U CubeSat containing an open-source, multispectral imager designed for wildfire prediction, detection, and prevention.
• YukonSat and AuroraSat: 2U CubeSats developed in collaboration with Yukon University and the Aurora Research Institute, each with an educational outreach payload that can receive, display, and photograph community submitted artwork and messages.
• All three satellites have digital fluxgate magnetometer payloads, and nearly identical buses composed …

Cubesat System Reference Model (Csrm) As An Omg Specification, David Kaslow, Daniel Brookshier, Alejandro Levi, Steven A. Maclaird

Small Satellite Conference

This paper describes the transformation of the CubeSat Reference Model™ (CSRM™) into an Object Management Group® (OMG®) specification, as effected by the International Committee on System Engineering (INCOSE) Space System Working Group (SSWG) from 2016 to 2022.

The CSRM is a logical model of engineering artifacts used by a CubeSat mission team to build its mission-specific logical and physical models according to its individual engineering methodology. It is based on Model-Based System Engineering (MBSE) principles, is OMG System Modeling Language (SysML) compliant, is hosted on a graphical modeling tool, and is intended to foster completeness and economies of scale associated …

Initial Results For Science Instruments Onboard Equuleus During The Cruising Phase Toward The Earth Moon Lagrange Point, Ryota Fuse, Kazuo Yoshioka, Masaki Kuwabara, Hajime Yano, Takayuki Hirai, Shinsuke Abe, Masahisa Yanagisawa, Ryu Funase

Small Satellite Conference

EQUULEUS (EQUilibriUm Lunar-Earth point 6U Spacecraft) is a spacecraft to explore the cis-lunar region including the Earth-Moon Lagrange point L2 (EML2). The spacecraft is being jointly developed by JAXA, the University of Tokyo, and several other universities in Japan. After being launched into a lunar transfer orbit by NASA's SLS (Space Launch System) Artemis-1 on November 16, 2022, the spacecraft successfully performed a first Delta-V and a trajectory correction maneuver. This enabled a precise lunar flyby and successful insertion into the orbit toward EML2.

Although the size of EQUULEUS is only 6U CubeSat, the spacecraft carries three different science instruments. …

Maveric: Exploring Space Visualization Technology Through Academic Flight Programs, C. Garrido, S. Lin, J. Di, J. Bergstrom, B. Rios, B. Byrne, S. Clements, A. Dhabekar, B. Dadhich, D. Barnhart

Small Satellite Conference

Magnetic Vector and Remote Imaging Communication satellite (MAVERIC) is a science and technology CubeSate designed and built by students at the University of Southern California (USC) and Space Engineering Research Center (SERC). MAVERIC is a student-led and built CubeSat under the Department of Astronautical Project Class for Microsatellites, with a mission to test out science and technology.

Astronomical 6u Cubesat Mission Vertecs, Kei Sano

Small Satellite Conference

No abstract provided.

Afrl Recurve Mission Success, Loss, Diagnosis, And Lessons Learned, Tyler De Caussin, Kate Yoshino, Lee Jasper, Franklin Hinckley, Brandon Shirley

Small Satellite Conference

Small satellites are making leaps in capability and are more often successful than even 5 years ago. However, there are many practices and approaches that are fairly new and deserve consideration for their efficacy. AFRL’s Small Satellite Portfolio (SSP) has been researching both first-of-their-kind technology demonstrations and the practices/approaches for their implementation. This paper discusses those practices and their results on the recent flight mission Recurve.

The Portfolio, somewhat uniquely, has the ability to execute flight demonstrations starting from concept and ending in operations, literally under one roof. Recurve was comprised of in-house developed and vendor supplied subsystems; in-house flight …

An Autonomous Agent Framework For Constellation Missions: A Use Case For Predicting Atmospheric Co2, Mark Moussa, Matt Brandt, Daniel Rogers, Bethany P. Theiling, Shannon Bull, James Mackinnon, Timothy Chase, Ethan Haengel

Small Satellite Conference

Distributed systems missions (DSM), also known as swarm or constellation missions, is an upcoming class of mission design that is changing the current landscape.Swarms enable multipoint observations and higher fidelity science data collection. Autonomy is a critical feature that DSM will require in order to run successfully, especially beyond earth-centric missions and in dynamic environments due to increased delays between ground and space.

Parametric Assessment To Fully Deploy Autonomous Small Satellite Constellations For Cislunar Space, Mohammed Irfan Rashed, Hyochoong Bang, Nate Mccoun

Small Satellite Conference

In this new age of cislunar competition for attaining the optimal solutions for Earth and the Moon, NewSpace stakeholders have leaned toward sustainable operations. Both industry and academia play major roles in this era of challenging space survival with the growing number of missions and debris. This paper focuses on scaling and optimizing small satellite ( < 500 kilograms) constellations and utilizing them in cislunar space by evaluating earth observation missions’ constellations for support in Artemis-2-like missions for Lunar orbits. From an astrodynamics point of view, a significant amount of scaling of constellations is done by identifying the parameters affecting the performance, which are mission-specific to their environments with fewer satellites. A detailed parametric analysis of medium-sized constellations, operable in cislunar space, for critical applications like communication (Lunar region) and disaster management (Earth region) is presented. Literature, related dynamics, discussions of the possible futuristic scenarios, discussions, and conclusions are explored.

Imaging Spectrometer Implementation On A Small Satellite Platform For Aquatic Ecosystems Science, Corrie Smeaton, Ronald Lockwood, Michael Chrisp, Charles Bachmann, Laura Kennedy, Steve Gillmer, Linda Fuhrman, Derrick Brouhard, Jade Wang

Small Satellite Conference

The implementation of Imaging spectrometers with state-of-the-art performance on small satellites is challenging due to the size, weight, and power (SWaP) limitations. We have recently developed a compact form, the Chrisp Compact VNIR/SWIR Imaging Spectrometer (CCVIS), that facilitates their usage without sacrificing performance. The CCVIS enables a modular implementation that, combined with a freeform telescope, produces a wide field of view with high signal to noise ratio (SNR) performance. The targeted scientific application is the study of aquatic ecosystems. The imaging spectrometer is designed to address carbon sequestration in coastal margins and wetlands, kelp and seagrass studies, coral reefs, harmful …

Prototype Testing Results Of Charged Particle Detectors And Critical Subsystems For The Esra Mission To Gto, Carlos A. Maldonado, Jonathan Deming, Brooke N. Mosley, Justin Mcglown, Anthony Nelson, Philip A. Fernandes, Anthony J. Rogers, Douglas Patrick, Martin Kroupa, Michael Caffrey, Susan Mendel, Kerry Boyd, August Gula, Kim Katko, Markus P. Hehlen, Daniel Arnold, Jonathan Barney, Ted Schultz, Daniel B. Reisenfeld, Ruth Skoug, Angus Guider, Michael Holloway, Heidi Morning, John T. Steinberg, Erik Krause, Andrew Kirby, Darrel Beckman, Justin Tripp, Keith S. Morgan, Zachary Miller, Robert Merl, Paul S. Graham, Joshua Ortner, Quinten Cole, Chuck Clanton, Brian A. Larsen, Tom Fairbanks, Jeffrey George, Rory Scobie, Kasidit Subsomboon, Kristina Mckeown, Katherine Alano, John Michel, Darren Harvey, Andrew Harvilla, Donathan Ortega

Small Satellite Conference

The Experiment for Space Radiation Analysis (ESRA) is the latest of a series of Demonstration and Validation (DemVal) missions built by the Los Alamos National Laboratory, with the focus on testing a new generation of plasma and energetic paritcle sensors along with critical subsystems. The primary motivation for the ESRA payloads is to minimize size, weight, power, and cost while still providing necessary mission data. These new instruments will be demonstrated by ESRA through ground-based testing and on-orbit operations to increase their technology readiness level such that they can support the evolution of technology and mission objectives. This project will …

Leveraging Smallsat Technology At Noaa For Space Weather Observations, Nai-Yu Wang, Irfan Azeem, Richard Ullman, Elsayed Talaat

Small Satellite Conference

Space weather observations is a strategic priority for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Services (NESDIS). In 2023, NOAA NESDIS established the Office of Space Weather Observations (SWO) to manage NESDIS' space weather satellite portfolio. SWO is formulating a new Space Weather Next (SW Next) program under the joint NOAA/National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Space Weather Observations Programs Division. The SW Next program will provide critical space weather data products, making observations from a variety of orbits and utilizing diverse platforms and sensors. The SW Next program reference architecture is expected to …

Analysis Of An Energetic Electron Injection At Geo Using Falconseed: A Low Swap-C, Cubesat-Compatible Instrument For Space Environments, Anthony J. Rogers, Carlos A. Maldonado, John D. Williams, Matthew G. Mcharg, Robert A. Vincent, Richard Balthazor

Small Satellite Conference

We present a detailed analysis of an energetic electron injection (10s - 100s keV) observed at geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) on March 5, 2022 in order to highlight the capabilities of the Falcon Solid-state Energetic Electron Detector (SEED). The high time- and energy-resolution of SEED are used to quantify the dispersion of the injection front and to explore the morphology of the energy distribution throughout the injection encounter. Observations of the same event from nearby platforms are included for context. The SEED is a CubeSat compatible, single element particle telescope, designed to measure 14 to 145keV electrons in GEO. The …

The Pandora Smallsat: Mission Overview, Jordan Karburn, Pete Supsinskas, Hilary Johnson, Maricris Schneider, Elisa Quintana, Jessie Dotson, Knicole Colon, Tom Barclay, Christina Hedges, Jessie Dotson

Small Satellite Conference

The NASA Pioneers Program is tasked with performing compelling astrophysics science at lower cost, with smaller hardware, compared to Explorers Program missions. The Pandora SmallSat was selected as an inaugural Pioneers mission. Pandora uses an aluminum, 45-cm, dual channel Cassegrain telescope as its scientific instrument. The instrument will obtain the first dataset of simultaneous, multiband, long-baseline observations of exoplanets and their host stars. The goal is to use these data to reliably characterize planetary atmospheres by disentagling star and planet signals in transmission spectra.

Early in project formulation, the Pandora team developed a suite of high-fidelity parametrized simulation and modeling …

An Overview Of Distributed Spacecraft Autonomy At Nasa Ames, Caleb Adams, Brian Kempa, Michael Iatauro, Jeremy Frank, Walter Vaughan

Small Satellite Conference

Autonomous decision-making significantly increases mission effectiveness by mitigating the effects of communication constraints, like latency and bandwidth, and mission complexity on multi-spacecraft operations. To advance the state of the art in autonomous Distributed Space Systems (DSS), the Distributed Spacecraft Autonomy (DSA) team at NASA's Ames Research Center is developing within five relevant technical areas: distributed resource and task management, reactive operations, system modeling and simulation, human-swarm interaction, and ad hoc network communications. DSA is maturing these technologies - critical for future large autonomous DSS - from concept to launch via simulation studies and orbital deployments. A 100-node heterogenous Processor-in-the-Loop (PiL) …

A Small Satellite Constellation For Monitoring Of The Aurora, Giada Staniscia, Bastiaan Lagaune, Sten Berge, Milan Battelino, Stefan Kraft

Small Satellite Conference

As part of the European Space Agency's D3S (Distributed Space Weather Sensor System), a small satellite constellation is currently being designed by OHB Sweden which will observe space weather impacts in Earth's vicinity by monitoring of the auroral oval. The primary objective of the Aurora mission is to observe the Aurora Borealis and Australis continuously and as complete as possible. The auroral emissions are the result of interactions of the Solar Wind and Coronal Mass Ejections with the Earth which drive the location and strength of electron precipitation on the ionosphere. Such observations will thereby allow the identification, characterization and …

A Multi-Faceted Approach To Enabling Large-Scale Science In A Microsat Constellation, Ronnie Killough, Craig Deforest, Daniel B. Seaton, Keith Smith, J. Marcus Hughes, Chris Lowder, Ritesh Patel, Matthew J. West

Small Satellite Conference

The Polarimeter to UNify the Corona and Heliosphere (PUNCH) mission is a constellation of microsatellites that combines advances in several areas of technology enabling the use of simple imaging instrumentation to measure, to-date, inaccessible aspects of the outer corona and solar wind. The primary PUNCH measurement is brightness and polarization state of light scattered by electrons entrained in solar wind features. This measurement is made possible in the context of a small explorer budget by leveraging a combination of three key elements: (a) a constellation of four small satellites conducting synchronized observations, (b) availability of low-cost off-the-shelf components, and (c) …

Active Swarm Resiliency In The Helioswarm Mission, Maxwell Joyner, Laura Plice

Small Satellite Conference

Designed to observe plasma turbulence dynamics in solar wind over a distributed volume of space, the HelioSwarm mission comprises a primary chief spacecraft and eight smaller deputy satellites in uniquely assigned "loops" of periodic relative motion in a P/2 lunar resonant orbit. If one or more deputies fail, this multi-satellite architecture facilitates resiliency for science goals through repositioning of satellites to contingency loops. This strategy of Active Swarm Resiliency mitigates risk by modeling quantitative results ahead of time for mission operators to make informed decisions. Responsive actions meet minimum science objectives based on past and predicted system performance, an approach …

Helioswarm: The Swarm Is The Observatory, Butler Hine, Brittany Wickizer

Small Satellite Conference

The HelioSwarm Mission will transform our understanding of space plasma turbulence by being the first-of-its-kind simultaneous, multiscale observatory comprising multiple spacecraft. HelioSwarm was competitively selected under the Heliophysics Explorers Program 2019 Medium-Class Explorer (MIDEX) Announcement of Opportunity. The central powered-ESPA Hub spacecraft is co-orbited by eight SmallSat Node spacecraft, together moving through a High Earth Orbit to obtain data in various solar wind regimes. The mission architecture is that of hub-and-spoke, with the larger hub serving as a communications relay between the Nodes and DSN. Mission operations, management, and technical oversight are provided by NASA Ames Research Center; the spacecraft …

Over-The-Vacuum Update – Starlink’S Approach For Reliably Upgrading Software On Thousands Of Satellites, Akash Badshah, Natalie Morris, Matthew Monson

Small Satellite Conference

Starlink operates the world's largest constellation of over 4000 satellites, all of which receive regular software updates to deliver new capabilities, improve reliability and performance, and maintain security. Updating the software across the constellation requires solving two core challenges: safely updating an individual satellite in the harsh environment of space, and orchestrating thousands of updates without impacting users of the system.

Variations on these problems have been addressed for large scale terrestrial compute systems by the broader software industry, and we have leveraged practices of that state of the art to develop a novel spacecraft software update system that delivers …