Digital Commons Network^™

Development Of Gas Multiplier Counters (Gmcs) Onboard The 6u Cubesat X-Ray Observatory Ninjasat, Tomoshi Takeda, Naoyuki Ota, Syoki Hayashi, Sota Watanabe, Arata Jujo, Amira Aoyama, Yuanhui Zhou, Keisuke Uchiyama, Yuto Yoshida, Toru Tamagawa, Takao Kitaguchi, Yo Kato, Tatehiro Mihara, Kentaro Taniguchi, Teruaki Enoto, Wataru Iwakiri, Masaki Numazawa, Hiroki Sato, Chin-Ping Hu, Hiromitsu Takahashi, Hirokazu Odaka, Tsubasa Tamba

Small Satellite Conference

We report the development of Gas Multiplier Counters (GMCs) onboard the 6U CubeSat X-ray observatory NinjaSat, scheduled to be launched in October 2023. GMC is a 1U-size non-imaging gas X-ray detector sensitive to 2–50 keV X-rays, and two identical GMCs are mounted on NinjaSat. GMC consists of a gas cell filled with a xenon/argon/dimethyl ether (75%/24%/1%) gas mixture with a pressure of 1.2 atm at 0^◦C, a high voltage supply and analog signal processing board, a digital signal processing board, an X-ray collimator of a 2.1◦ field of view, and an iron-55 calibration source. The most significant feature …

Cadence: Cubesat Autonomous Detection And Enhanced Networked Computing Experiment, Michael Pham, Zachary Gaines, Pragun Bethapudi, Tarek Elsharhawy

Small Satellite Conference

With the growing proliferation of Earth Observing small satellite platforms, access to remote sensing data has never been greater. Although the collection of remote sensing data has improved significantly, there still exists a significant bottle neck in converting the collected remote sensing data into valuable insights for the end users that need them. In particular a few factors significantly choke the flow of satellite data into insights: limited down-link bandwidth and ground station availability, difficulties associated with responsive tasking, and a general need for human-in-the-loop analysis of the data collected. The proposed CADENCE (Cubesat Autonomous Detection and Enhanced Networked Computing …

Development And Implementation Of Automated Planning In Cubesats, Liam Riley, Vedika Ghildyal, Cameron Bonesteel, Deepak Mishra

Small Satellite Conference

The University of Georgia’s (UGA) Small Satellite Research Laboratory (SSRL) is developing two CubeSat missions, each with ambitious operational goals that require accounting for a large number of variables. Given the inherent difficulty of fulfilling these requirements without complex onboard autonomous decision-making software, an automated ground-based solution is desirable. To meet this demand, SSRL is implementing an operational pipeline to effectively integrate the newly authored Multi-aspect Automated Satellite Scheduler (MASS) into both missions. MASS is administered and tested by SSRL’s Mission Operations and Flight Software teams. MASS implements a complex decisional tree informed by CubeSat operational requirements, and determines operational …

Communication, Localization And Synchronization Of Spacecraft For Swarm Missions, Yoan Grégoire, Hervé Guillon, Clément Dudal, David Valat, Bernard Pontet

Small Satellite Conference

Swarm missions are based on the use of several spacecraft working together to pursue a specific task for a specific mission. To allow these elements to work together, it is necessary for them to be able to communicate with each other and to synchronize themselves within the swarm. Moreover, the mission may likely require knowing the relative or absolute positions of the spacecraft in the swarm.

In order to collect simultaneous measurements allowing computing localization and synchronization in the swarm, a full duplex CDMA communication method is studied by CNES. An Inter Satellite Link (ISL) transmitter prototype is currently under …

Technology Challenges Of Surround: A Constellation Of Small Satellites Around The Sun For Tracking Solar Radio Bursts, Nicholas H. Crisp, Alejandro Macario Rojas, Ciara N. Mcgrath, Shane Maloney, L. Alberto Cañizares, Dale M. Weigt, Sophie Murray, Eoin Carley, Peter Gallagher

Small Satellite Conference

The SURROUND mission proposes the operational monitoring and forecasting of space weather events using a constellation of five small satellites in orbit around the Sun. This unique mission concept would enable the localisation and tracking of solar events with unprecedented accuracy. The small payload combined with high launch requirements makes this an ideal candidate mission for a distributed constellation of small spacecraft and provides an opportunity for technical development in the areas of deep space communication, propulsion, and survivability. The baseline configuration for SURROUND proposes the deployment of spacecraft to Earth-Sun Lagrange points L1, L4, and L5, and two additional …

Sar-Disksat For Mega-Constellation, Hirobumi Saito, Mitsuteru Kaneoka, Richard P. Welle, Anastasia Muszynski

Small Satellite Conference

We have developed and demonstrated in 2021 small SAR satellites of 1-m ground resolution with novel deployable slot array antennas. This paper newly proposes a novel concept of quasi-two-dimensional SAR satellites, SAR-DiskSats with this deployable passive slot array antenna. The deployable slot array antennas can be compactly folded in the quasi-two-dimensional satellite body. Also, it is possible to install flexible solar cell sheets on the back side of the antenna because the antennas do not dissipate heat. This quasi-two-dimensional satellite configuration is suitable to for stacking in a rocket faring for mega-constellation launching. Another advantage of the SAR-DiskSat is the …

Saturn: A Technological Demonstration Mission For Distributed Sar Imaging, Matteo Battilana, Giulia Capuani, Vito Lamarca, Luca Maioli, Vincenzo Mancini, Maria Lucia Tampellini, Fabio Gerace, Davide Giudici, Pietro Guccione, Julien Marini, Luciano D’Agristina, Domenico Di Lanzo, Andrea Monti Guarnieri, Alberto Fedele, Roberto Luciani, Francesco Tataranni, Silvia Natalucci

Small Satellite Conference

The OHB-Italia S.p.A-led consortium is in the midst of Phase B of SATURN (Synthetic AperTure radar cUbesat foRmation flyiNg), part of ALCOR, an Italian Space Agency (ASI) programme promoting the development of the next generation Italian CubeSats. SATURN is a demonstration mission that features Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) technology applied to a Swarm of CubeSats equipped with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) for Earth Observation. MIMO is based on cooperative active sensors, where each one transmits signals and receives the illuminated common area backscatter related to the entire swarm, increasing measurement performances with a trend approximatively equal to the square of …

Developing Intelligent Space Systems: A Survey And Rubric For Future Missions, Mary Dahl, Christine Page, Kerri Cahoy, Evana Gizzi

Small Satellite Conference

Space exploration continues to inspire the development of advanced technologies to explore the universe. From moon landings and the Mars rovers to the recent successful deployment of the James Webb Telescope, space exploration continues to push the limits of what is possible in both science and technology and to pave new ways for the discovery of our galaxy. While we have seen great advancements and barriers broken, we remain limited in our ability to optimize science discovery without onboard intelligent capabilities to enable complex system missions. In this paper, we focus on AI technologies and cross-disciplinary directions for sparking research …

Comparison Of Tracking-By-Detection Algorithms For Real-Time Satellite Component Tracking, M. Nehru J. Attzs, Trupti Mahendrakar, Mackenzie J. Meni, Ryan T. White, Isaac Silver

Small Satellite Conference

With space becoming more and more crowded, there is a growing demand for increasing satellite lifetimes and performing on-orbit servicing (OOS) at a scale that calls for autonomous missions. Many such missions would require chaser satellites to autonomously execute safe and effective flightpath to dock with a non-cooperative target satellite on orbit. Performing this autonomously requires the chaser to be aware of hazards to route around and safe capture points through time, i.e., by first identifying and tracking key components of the target satellite. State-of-the-art object detection algorithms are effective at detecting such objects on a frame-by-frame basis. However, implementing …

Thermal Operation For The 6u Deep Space Cubesat Equuleus In The Initial Critical Phase, Kazuki Toma, Toshihiro Shibukawa, Shunhei Matsushita, Shingo Nishimoto, Hokuto Sekine, Aoma Fujimori, Isamu Moriai, Ryu Funase

Small Satellite Conference

EQUULEUS (EQUilibriUm Lunar-Earth point 6U Spacecraft) was launched to deep space by NASA's SLS (Space Launch System) on November 16, 2022. It has an engineering mission to demonstrate low-energy orbit maneuvering to EML2, a libration orbit around the second Earth-Moon Lagrange Point using the water propulsion system “AQUARIUS” (AQUA ResIstojet propUlsion System). The initial critical phase in EQUULEUS refers to a series of operational procedures associated with the first delta-V(DV1), which generated the largest thrust throughout the entire mission, taking place about 38 hours after separation for entering the transfer orbit to EML2. Thisorbit control was followed …

A Bistatic Ground Station For Concurrent Spacecraft Operations, Kerry Clapham, Chris Bull, Robin Mcneill, Chris Hann

Small Satellite Conference

It is common for SmallSat and CubeSat operators to implement telecommunication systems using a half-duplex UHF system to reduce the cost and complexity of spcecraft hardware. This half-duplex configuration requires transmission and reception of the spacecraft signals at the same frequency, with the 402 MHz to 403 MHz band being a popular choice.

Due to practical filter limitations, it is impossible to produce an analogue filter for a ground-based receiver which can sufficiently attenuate transmissions from neighboring transmitters also operating in the same 402-403 MHz, band while still retaining a sufficiently low insertion loss to clearly receive tranmissions from a …

Freeze-Drying As Chromobacterium Violaceum's Preservation Method For The Bixo Mission, Martín Blanco Prego, Zavier Manuel De Rada Piñeiro, Manuel Diz-Folgar, Daniel García-Lojo

Small Satellite Conference

Over the past few years, the space sector has witnessed a growing interest in exploring how biological organisms, such as Escherichia coli or Saccharomyces cerevisiae, respond to high radiation and microgravity environments. Among the various biological space missions, CubeSats, particularly SmallSats, have emerged as a popular platform for conducting such experiments owing to their reduced size and cost-effectiveness, which allows for the integration of miniaturized labs to study microorganisms onboard. However, the biggest challenge facing such missions is the preservation of living organisms for extended periods before the start of the experiments.

The UVigo SpaceLab team is currently developing a …

Concepts And Considerations For Small Satellite Constellation Deployment Via Momentum Exchange Tethers, Ben Campbell

Small Satellite Conference

For the small satellite community, establishing new satellite constellations using traditional practices can be costly, require a long time to perform, and be logistically difficult to accomplish. Most existing satellite constellations have been established using methods involving either multiple independent launches of member satellites, the inclusion of propulsion systems aboard ride-sharing satellites capable of providing significant ΔV to increase spread, or a combination of the two involving space tugs. One approach that can potentially enable the small satellite community to more easily execute missions involving their own constellations is to implement a rotating momentum exchange tether deployment system launched using …

Scintillation And Ionosphere Extended (Scion-X): A 12u Cubesat For Ionospheric And Atmospheric Science, Yu-Shun Wang, Binson S. Lee, Ruo-Yu Wang, Glenn Franco Gacal, Hsin-I Tu, Kai-Jye Hou, Wei-Yi Lin, Loren C. Chang

Small Satellite Conference

SCION-X (SCintillation and IONosphere eXtended) is a 12U CubeSat that is being designed and developed by Upper Air Dynamics Laboratory, National Central University (NCU). SCION-X is the second funded CubeSat project being developed by NCU and is the largest self-developed spacecraft to date.

This mission will help to further understand the variation of ionospheric irregularities, remote sensing methods for PM2.5 pollution distribution, and thermospheric photochemistry while serving as a relay station for amateur radio. Furthermore, it will help increase the communication and cooperation between universities in developing spaceflight capacity.

Control Of Small Spacecraft By Optimal Output Regulation: A Reinforcement Learning Approach, Joao Leonardo Silva Cotta, Omar Qasem, Paula Do Vale Pereira, Hector Gutierrez

Small Satellite Conference

The growing number of noncooperative flying objects has prompted interest in sample-return and space debris removal missions. Current solutions are both costly and largely dependent on specific object identification and capture methods. In this paper, a low-cost modular approach for control of a swarm flight of small satellites in rendezvous and capture missions is proposed by solving the optimal output regulation problem. By integrating the theories of tracking control, adaptive optimal control, and output regulation, the optimal control policy is designed as a feedback-feedforward controller to guarantee the asymptotic tracking of a class of reference input generated by the leader. …

Data Sharing In Satellite Systems: Review Of The Past And Opportunities In The Age Of Large Leo Constellations, Anargyros Kriezis, Nicolas Lee, Sigrid Elschot, Kaitlyn Fleming, Zayn Patel, Neel Dhulipala, Whitney Lohmeyer

Small Satellite Conference

Since 1957, more than 14,000 satellites have been launched into space; 2022 marks a record year with the launch of 2,163 satellites [1]. The increased number of satellites in combination with technological advancements in satellite communications has enabled operators to collect vast amounts of science data and satellite telemetry. These large data sets can be utilized to ensure coexistence between the ever-increasing number of satellite systems, potentially reducing both the risk of harmful interference and in-orbit collisions. Additionally, they can act as decentralized information sources, improving our understanding of the space environment and increasing the reliability of satellites. Modern data …

Characterization And Modeling Of Rectifying Antennas For Space-To-Space Power Transmission, Leilani Baker, Zack Daniels, Samantha Korfe, Will Hamel, Chad Rathbun, Ricardo Quintana, Dante Orona Yang, Hailey Holder, Joseph Likar, Steve Lindsley, Rachel Delaney, Constance Moyer, Christopher Rodenbeck, Brian Tierney

Small Satellite Conference

Wireless electrical power transmission, also known as power beaming, is an old idea with renewed interest that has the potential to create a new solar power infrastructure. COSMIAC, a research center of The University of New Mexico School of Engineering, in partnership with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and Operational Energy – Innovation (OE-I) fund is developing a ground-based experiment aimed at supporting space-based wireless power transmission called Wolf. In parallel, AFRL is developing Arachne to demonstrate space-based power transmission to various receivers. The Wolf project is evaluating design concepts for potential rectenna-powered CubeSats by demonstrating ground-based power beaming …

Feasibility Of Long Range Wide Area Network (Lorawan) Technology For Leo Applications, Jason Combs, Jose Garcia, Benjamin Malphrus

Small Satellite Conference

Long Range (LoRa) is a widely used technology for terrestrial communications and is increasingly utilized for space related applications. On the ground, the LoRaWAN protocol allows gateways connected to the internet to serve as transceivers for any eligible end device in range of LoRa modulated signal. Certified gateways are produced by a variety of manufacturers with a range of capabilities, and publicly available networks contain thousands of gateways distributed around the world. Now, we propose to utilize the worldwide network of LoRaWAN gateways as a distributed ground station network capable of significantly reducing delays in link availability for a satellite …

Development And Characterization Of A Vectored Electrospray Thruster, Ivan Savytskyy, Manish Jugroot

Small Satellite Conference

Next-generation nanosatellite missions will require precise linear impulse and torque bits for optimized attitude and trajectory control. To address this requirement, a Vectored Electrospray Thruster (VET) that provides high-resolution multi-axis attitude actuation via thrust vector control was investigated at the Royal Military College of Canada Advanced Propulsion and Plasma Exploration Laboratory (RAPPEL). The VET employs arrays of linear porous wedge emitters and uses pulse-width modulation to produce stepped emission differentials across the nanosatellite propulsion plane. A two-emitter prototype offering single-axis attitude actuation was developed to validate the thruster concept, and a custom power processing unit and complementary diagnostics suite were …

Early Wildfire Detection With Cubesat Images Using Single Image Super-Resolution, Jimin Choi, Jaemyung Ahn

Small Satellite Conference

Early detection of wildfires is crucial for preventing the spread of fires and protecting lives and properties. In recent years, satellite-based wildfire detection is becoming popular because of the coverage area and cost limitations of traditional detection methods such as ground-based observation and aerial surveillance. In particular, using CubeSat has the advantage of real-time monitoring and early detection of wildfires in a large area at a low cost. However, the CubeSats have limited image quality due to physical limitations such as size, weight, and power, which reduce detection performance. Therefore, this paper proposes a novel approach for early wildfire detection …

A Summary Of Neural Radiance Fields For Shadow Removal And Relighting Of Satellite Imagery, Caleb Adams, Ignacio Lopez-Francos, Ellemieke Van Kints, Aiden Hammond

Small Satellite Conference

Multi-view stereo photogrammetric techniques are conventionally utilized to generate Global Digital Elevation Models (GDEM) of planetary and lunar surfaces. However, these methods, relying on conventional feature detectors, are often subject to inaccuracies caused by changes in lighting conditions, including diffuse reflection and harsh shading. This has limited the ability of these methods to accurately reconstruct shadowed regions in orbital imagery, such as highly shaded urban areas and the permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) located on the lunar surface, which are critical targets for NASA’s Artemis program. Neural Radiance Fields (NeRFs) offer a novel solution to these limitations by breaking away from …

The Kihm-9: A Novel Self-Deploying Picosat Antenna Design For Reflectarray Antennas, Nathan Coleman, Mitchel Skinner, Collin Ynchausti, Spencer Magleby, Larry Howell, Akash Biswas

Small Satellite Conference

Reflectarray antennas are popular on satellites for their ability to achieve similar performance to parabolic antennas in a more compact volume. This project shows how integrating novel technologies achieves the benefits of larger antennas while maintaining the advantages of small satellites. The objective of this research is to create a reflectarray antenna for a holographic metasurface that utilizes the volume surrounding a CubeSat when stowed, incorporates a novel pin-less hinge, includes a self-deploying and stabilizing joint, and is manufactured out of space-grade materials. By using hinges embedded with membranes and magnets, issues with lubrication and outgassing may be avoided, and …

Designing A Rubric For Evaluating Curricular Resources In Montana's Indian Education For All Repository: A Design-Based Research Approach, Megan M. Hamilton

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this research study was to create an initial rubric to evaluate social studies lesson plans prior to their addition to Montana Office of Public Instruction’s online repository for Indian Education for All (IEFA) curriculum. In the first phase of this study, I examined Montana’s IEFA curriculum thematically to gain a better understanding of how Indigenous histories and perspectives are being represented using combined theoretical lenses of Tribal Critical Race Theory and culturally sustaining/ revitalizing pedagogy. In the second phase of this study, I used my thematic findings to inform the design of a theory-informed evaluative rubric. The …

Statistical Graph Quality Analysis Of Utah State University Master Of Science Thesis Reports, Ragan Astle

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Graphical software packages have become increasingly popular in our modern world, but there are concerns within the statistical visualization field about the default settings provided by these packages, which can make it challenging to create good quality graphs that align with standard graph principles. In this thesis, we investigate whether the quality of graphs from Utah State University (USU) Plan A Master of Science (MS) thesis reports from the years 1930 to 2019 was affected by the rise of graphical software packages. We collected all data stored on the USU Digital Commons website since November 2021 to determine the specific …

By Other Means: The Political And Economic Motivations For The Formation Of The Anglo-Japanese Alliance Of 1902 In The United Kingdom, David Cornell

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This thesis is an attempt to answer the question of why British political leaders made the Anglo-Japanese Alliance of 1902. To answer this question, I have used primary sources such as government communications, newspaper articles, and articles from scholarly journals. Also, I have consulted the works of past historians to better understand the complex topic of the Anglo-Japanese alliance. This thesis is divided into three chapters. Chapter One explains the events that led up to the creation of the treaty between Britain and Japan and clarifies why this treaty was so unusual for the British Empire in the early 1900s. …

Evaluating The Effects Of A Teacher-Implemented Mindfulness-Based Intervention On Teacher Stress And Student Prosocial Behavior, Mary L. Phan

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

High levels of teacher stress have a negative impact on teacher performance, maintenance, and student outcomes. Given the escalation in teacher stress levels, it is important to decrease teacher stress to improve their wellbeing. One intervention that has received growing attention in reducing teacher stress is mindfulness training. However, few studies have focused on teachers implementing mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) both with themselves and with school-age children within their classrooms. Additionally, few studies have examined the fidelity, feasibility, and social validity of teacher-implemented MBIs in a classroom setting. Through a single-case multiple baseline design across four teachers, the current study evaluated …

Multispecies Genomic Sex Identification Using Ddx3 Gene Polymorphisms, Jessica Felts

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

PCR sex determination assays must be reliable and cost effective due to the frequent and integral use of these assays in biological research and the animal production industry. Thus, the design of proof of a primer pair with a built-in control is warranted to not only bypass the extra cost of a multiplex reaction, but also to prevent anomalous results that have been documented with other primer pairs.

The objective of this study was to design primer pairs with built in PCR amplification control to identify sex in Equus caballus (domestic horse), Homo sapiens (humans), Macaca mulatta (rhesus macaque), and …

Developing Firmware For Space Weather Probes 2 Using Hdl Coder, Nicholas L. Wallace

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

GPS and wireless communications are affected by interference from the ionosphere. Space weather affects plasma in the ionosphere, causing communication disruptions and reliability issues. To better understand how space weather affects the ionosphere, instruments are flown in space to collect data about the electrical characteristics of plasma in the ionosphere. Space systems require a lot of time and effort to develop and test. This thesis explores how a high level tool can be used to simplify the process and some obstacles that still exist with developing some space systems. To do this, the firmware architecture of a new version of …

Using Natural Language Processing To Quantify The Efficacy Of Language Simplification As A Communication Strategy, Brian Nalley

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

People with communication disorders often experience difficulties being understood by unfamiliar listeners or in noisy environments. A common strategy for effectively communicating in these scenarios is to use simpler and more predictable language. Despite the prevalence of this strategy, there has been little to no research to date focused on the effectiveness of language simplification as a communication strategy. This study seeks to begin filling that gap by using natural language processing to determine whether speakers with early-stage Parkinson’s disease and age-matched neurotypical speakers are able to successfully simplify their language while still maintaining the original message.

Simplification was measured …

#Bodypositivity Or #Bodypolitics?: A Rhetorical Analysis Of The Body Positivity Myth Formed By Narratives Of Political Myth, Sydney Berenyi Lasike

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Body Positivity movement is well-known for advocating for the acceptance of all body types—including size, shape, color, and ability. Images online in support of the movement often showcase stretch marks, cellulite, and other “unattractive” bodily features to protest against the thin-ideal and strict standards of beauty placed upon women. Despite the goal to inspire self-love and celebration of all bodies, the hashtag #BodyPositivity has been taken-over by white, female influencers who have the idolized, female body. They contradict the original message of the movement through their posts on Instagram that centralize white feminine features and thin, Eurocentric bodies. This …