Digital Commons Network^™

Lessons Learned From Development Of Web-Based Mission Operations Software, Nathan Chow, Logan Pulley, Michael Lembeck

Small Satellite Conference

The Laboratory for Advanced Space Systems at Illinois (LASSI) is responsible for the development of, and mission operations for, a series of student built CubeSats. The Steven R. Nagel Mission Operations Center (MOC) provides the facilities and software systems required to track and communicate withthe satellites. Mission operations software has been designed with a flexible and familiar user experience supporting not just traditional workstations but also mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. This paper discusses the motivation behind choosing a web-based architecture for the scalable, full-stack design underlying the MOC software system. Also presented is the deliberate selection of …

Automated Fault-Detection For Small Satellite Pointing Control Systems Using One-Sided Learning, Yujia Huang, Philip A. Ferguson

Small Satellite Conference

In this paper, we propose a ground-based automated novelty detection system for a small satellite attitude dynamics control system using a one-sided learning algorithm: One-Class Support Vector Machine (OC-SVM) method. This fault-detection system was designed to only learn from nominal behavior of the satellite during the commissioning phase and to identify and detect anomalies when there was a subtle behavioral failure in the attitude control system. The detection system was trained by only observing the nominal attitude dynamics behavior of a small satellite for a period of time. Training data was obtained from reaction wheel outputs in a healthy attitude …

Osam-2 Capabilities, Trey Clinton, Sean Lantto

Small Satellite Conference

Archinaut Development

• Phase 1: Additive Manufacturing proven in a simulated LEO environment in June 2017
• Phase 1 Option: Combination demonstrated in a simulated LEO environment in September 2018
• Phase 2: Class D NASA flight demonstration mission to autonomously manufacture polymer beams on orbit

Proliferated Leo Constellation Modeling & Simulation With Information Assurance, Leigh Anderson, David Anderson, Jeremy Fix

Small Satellite Conference

Proliferated Low Earth Orbit (pLEO) constellations allow for network, on-orbit processing, and battlefield management resiliency through disaggregation of the traditionally small number of high-value space assets. pLEO constellations present unique challenges. Developing a complex mesh network able to dynamically recover from active counterspace, cyber-security, and environmental threats, while providing uninterrupted data-center-like processing, requires advanced modeling capability throughout its buildout. Management of resource utilization, task migration, data fusion, software and firmware updates, and distribution of intelligence across the constellation requires complex integration and autonomy. Mission execution requires secure communication between the pLEO constellation and all consumers. The path to developing solutions …

Attitude And In-Orbit Residual Magnetic Moment Estimation Of Small Satellites Using Only Magnetometer, Raunak Srivastava, Roshan Sah, Kaushik Das

Small Satellite Conference

Attitude estimation or determination is a fundamental task for satellites to remain effectively operational. This task is furthermore complicated on small satellites by the limited space and computational power available on-board. This, coupled with a usually low budget, restricts small satellites from using high precision sensors for its especially important task of attitude estimation. On top of this, small satellites, on account of their size and weight, are comparatively more sensitive to environmental or orbital disturbances as compared to their larger counterparts. Magnetic disturbance forms the major contributor to orbital disturbances on small satellites in Lower Earth Orbits (LEO). This …

Coordinating Development Of The Swarm-Ex Cubesat Swarm Across Multiple Institutions, Rohil Agarwal, Braden Oh, David Fitzpatrick, Anton Buynovskiy, Shane Lowe, Celvi Lisy, Anargyros Kriezis, Berwin Lan, Zoe Lee, Austen Thomas, Brodie Wallace, Emanuele Costantino, Grant Miner, Jeffrey Thayer, Simone D'Amico, Kristina Lemmer, Whitney Lohmeyer, Scott Palo

Small Satellite Conference

The Space Weather Atmospheric Reconfigurable Multiscale Experiment (SWARM-EX) is a National Science Foundation (NSF) sponsored CubeSat mission distributed across six colleges and universities in the United States. The project has three primary goals: (1) contributing to aeronomy and space weather knowledge, (2) demonstrating novel engineering technology, and (3) advancing higher education. The scientific focus of SWARM-EX is to study the spatial and temporal variability of ion-neutral interactions in the equatorial Ionosphere-Thermosphere (I-T) region. Since the mission consists of three spacecraft operating in a swarm, SWARM-EX will take in-situ measurements of the neutral and ion composition on timescales of less than …

Small Satellite Reliability: A Decade In Review, Raja Pandi Perumal, Holger Voos, Florio Dalla Vedova, Hubert Moser

Small Satellite Conference

Advances in the small satellite combined with the availability of low-cost launches have led to an increasing number of space missions. As space is more accessible than ever before, new and innovative missions arise. A broad understanding of reliability trends on satellites can guide these future missions towards success. As a result, more and more space industries are focusing on reliability in the early stages of the design. The goal of this paper is to investigate the reliability of small satellites launched over the last three decades. Satellites launched between January 1990 - December 2019 and weighing between 40kg - …

Mata-Rl: Continuous Reaction Wheel Attitude Control Using The Mata Simulation Software And Reinforcement Learning, Vanessa Tan, John Leur Labrador, Marc Caesar Talampas

Small Satellite Conference

As earth observation satellites, Diwata microsatellites need to have a high degree of target pointing accuracy. Additionally, being in low orbit, they could experience strong external disturbances. Current methods for attitude control have proven to be effective. However, they are prone to changes in control and mass parameters. In this paper, we explore using Deep Reinforcement Learning (RL) for attitude control. This paper also leverages on Diwata’s simulator, MATA: Mission, Attitude, and Telemetry Analysis (MATA) software, in training the RL agent. We implemented two RL algorithms: Proximal Policy Optimization (PPO) and Soft Actor-Critic (SAC). We then simulated different scenarios and …

Improving Ground Station By Reducing System Noise And Losses, Peter W. Pachowicz, Paul Chominski, Jay Deorukhkar

Small Satellite Conference

This paper presents the GMU SatCom Ground Station design and implementation which is dedicated to increasing the quality of a communication downlink by reducing system noises and losses in the receiver path. The design follows practices of the Earth-Moon-Earth (EME) communication community. This effort was focused on the design of the LFA-type Yagi antennas, lightweight ultra-low noise amplifiers, small BPF filters, and combining polarizations through Software Define Radio (SDR) rather than at the antenna feed. All designs presented were implemented and tested. While the UHF path had a priority in our effort, a design of the VHF path is also …

Connecting Mission Profiles And Radiation Vulnerability Assessment, Richard H. Nederlander, Kaitlyn L. Ryder, Arthur F. Witulski, Gabor Karsai, Nag Mahadevan, Brian D. Sierawski, Ronald D. Schrimpf, Robert A. Reed, Michael J. Campola, Rebekah A. Austin

Small Satellite Conference

Radiation vulnerability assessment early in spacecraft development is cheaper and faster than in late development phases. RGENTIC and SEAM are two software platforms that can be coupled to provide this type of early assessment. Specifically, RGENTIC is a tool that outputs descriptions of radiation risks based on a selected mission environment and the system’s electronic part portfolio, while SEAM models how radiation-induced faults in electronic parts propagate through a system. In this work, we propose a spacecraft evaluation flow where RGENTIC’s outputs, which are radiation vulnerabilities of electronic parts for a given mission, become inputs to SEAM, resulting in an …

The Active Cryocubesat Project: System Modeling And Control Design, Bruno Mattos, Lucas Anderson, Randy Christensen, Charles Swenson

Small Satellite Conference

Utah State University together with the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory have been developing new cooling technology for high power CubeSats. This effort has been funded by the NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate in an effort to enable CubeSats with extraordinary thermal control needs for subsystems such as computing, telemetry, or cryogenics and where passive techniques are insufficient. The approach is to use a pumped fluid loop to remove heat from an internal heat exchanger and transport it to an external radiator on the CubeSat. Recently, Utah State has thermal vacuum-tested prototype systems collecting significant amounts of data on the thermodynamics …

On-Orbit Eldrs Instrument: Bjts On Nasa Space Environment Testbed, Adalin R. Benedetto, Hugh J. Barnaby, Cheyenne Cook, Michael J. Campola, Anna Tender

Small Satellite Conference

Flight data on bipolar junction transistors (BJTs) are recorded to characterize the effect of low dose rate (LDR) space irradiation; results are comparable to ground-based LDR and elevated temperature tests. Additionally, Gummel plots of mission data are compared for different device under test (DUT) experiment variables.

Heater-Free, Lowest Power Consumption & Highest Volume Availability Gas-Generator Propulsion System - Most Suitable For Micro To Nano Satellites, Tiago Monteiro Padovan, Junichiro Kawaguchi

Small Satellite Conference

Patchedconics, LLC. of Japan successfully delivered a gas generator propulsion system to a Japanese venture satellite company, ALE, in 2019, and now presents the new product featuring Heater-free, Lowest Power Consumption & Highest Volume Availability Gas-Generator Propulsion System. It is the most suitable solution for Micro to Nano Satellites with significant cost reduction.

To create such propulsion units, which fit especially for micro to nano satellites, key intellectual assests were developed. This system continuously vaporizes a liquidized gas in space. Vaporizing systems are not new technology. However, Patchedconics way is different, and allows gas generation without heater, through its proprietary …

An Exploration Of The Small Satellite Value Chain And The Future Of Space Access, Kishen Raghunath, Jin S. Kang

Small Satellite Conference

“Space is hard” is a saying that has been made popular in the last few years. It is not just the engineering that is challenging, but also applies to the business of space as well. From supply chain to regulation, the space industry’s infrastructure is not prepared to handle the influx of demand forecasted through the next decade, especially in the small satellite segment. Accordingly, space businesses are looking to cost effectively and quickly build and deploy space payloads while being able to refresh their technologies as advancements are made on Earth. In this paper, we will explore a small …

Miura 5: The European And Reusable Microlauncher For Cubesats And Small Satellites, Pablo Gallego Sanmiguel

Small Satellite Conference

PLD Space is a European company with the goal of providing easy and frequent access to space. The company aims to provide launch services for suborbital applications such as scientific research or technology development as well as orbital launches for small satellites. For this, PLD Space is developing two dedicated, reusable launch vehicles named MIURA 1 and MIURA 5.

MIURA 1 was conceived as a one-stage suborbital sounding rocket which uses a liquid propulsion system fully designed and built by PLD Space. MIURA 5 –is a two-stages launch vehicle for small satellites with also fully in-house propulsion, structures and avionics …

Smallsat Booming Growth Realized With Cost-Effective Cots In Space, Pratish Shah, Anthony Lai

Small Satellite Conference

Space is one of the harshest environments that electronics need to operate in and is also one of the hardest to sustain repeating success. These reasons underscore the importance of testing and validation of mission critical systems used in space. Success in a space system is defined by its continued reliability, autonomous operation, and unwavering communication within its limited uplink and downlink network bandwidth for the missions.

A growing challenge among satellite and payload builders, from privately-funded organizations to government entities, is to meet aggressive development-to-deployment schedules with a tight budget. The industry pushes for designs with increased computing performance …

Constellation Design Of Remote Sensing Small Satellite For Infrastructure Monitoring In India, Roshan Sah, Raunak Srivastava, Kaushik Das

Small Satellite Conference

A constellation of remote sensing small satellite system has been developed for infrastructure monitoring in India by using Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Payload. The low earth orbit (LEO) constellation of the small satellites is designed in a way, which can cover the entire footprint of India. Since India lies a little above the equatorial region, the orbital parameters are adjusted in a way that inclination of 36 degrees and RAAN varies from 70-130 degrees at a height of 600 km has been considered. A total number of 4 orbital planes are designed in which each orbital plane consisting 3 small …

Model Based Systems Engineering For Cubesat Mission Reliability, Tatyana Rakalina, Michel Izygon, Lui Wang, Isabelle Conway, Silvana Radu, Naoki Ishihama, Martin Feather, Arthur Witulski, John Evans

Small Satellite Conference

Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) is moving to the forefront of small spacecraft development. The benefits of SysML as a language for the elucidation of the system architecture for CubeSats is well understood and is implemented in standard model formats. Concurrently, the benefits of the evolving development of MBSE for assurance has been recognized and is emerging as Model Based Mission Assurance (MBMA), which promises the development of integral assurance stakeholder views into the model as well as the production of useful products from the model. In this regard, the assurance organizations of NASA, ESA, and JAXA are exploring jointly …

Mata-Cloud: A Cloud Detection And Dynamic Attitude Correction Evaluation Software, Vanessa Tan, Julie Ann Banatao, John Leur Labrador, Lia Cristina Mabaquiao, Floyd Ferrant Fortes, Marc Caesar Talampas

Small Satellite Conference

With the increasing demand for high-resolution images from earth observation satellites, there is a need to optimize the usability of the images being downloaded in the ground stations. Most captured satellite images are not usable for certain applications due to high cloud cover percentage. To address this problem, this research demonstrates a cloud detection and dynamic attitude correction evaluation software. This software explores two key experiments. First is evaluating different image processing and machine learning-based approaches to detect cloud cover. The cloud detection algorithms were evaluated based on their accuracy, latency, and memory consumption. The second is exploring dynamic attitude …

Northern Spirit Consortium - Canadian Collaboration Through Student-Led Cubesat Constellation, Abigail Hoover, Thomas Ganley, Charles Nokes, Katelyn Ball, Joshua Lazaruk, Callie Lissinna, Michael Lipsett, Ian R. Mann, Steven Knudsen, Duncan Elliott, Patrick Gall, Matthew Dares, Francis Reid, Brian Horton

Small Satellite Conference

The Northern Space Program for Innovative Research and Integrated Training (Northern SPIRIT) is a unique collaboration of three Canadian post-secondary institutions that will design, build, and operate a constellation of three CubeSats. The consortium, beginning in 2017, comprises Yukon University, Aurora College, and the University of Alberta (U of A). The partnership will develop three CubeSats: YukonSat (2U), AuroraSat (2U) and Ex-Alta 2 (3U) which will be launched into Low Earth Orbit in 2022. Northern SPIRIT strives to use space technology development to inspire motivated youth across Canada to engage in student-led collaboration and hands-on education, research, training, and to …

Development And Launch Of The World's First Orbital Propellant Tanker, James Bultitude, Zach Burkhardt, Maya Harris, Mark Jelderda, Srinivasan A. Suresh, Logan Fettes, Daniel Faber, Jeremy Schiel, James Cho, David Levitt, Devin Kees, Sergio Gallucci

Small Satellite Conference

This paper describes the development of Orbit Fab’s Tanker-001 Tenzing mission, the world’s first orbital propellant tanker. The development of a robust orbital propellant supply chain is critical to accelerating the growth of government and commercial space activities. The widespread availability of spacecraft refueling has the potential to provide a number of revolutionary benefits. High-value space assets could have their operational lives extended, as they would no longer be constrained by the amount of propellant stored onboard for maneuvering. On-orbit servicing missions would become more efficient, as servicing vehicles could be refueled and repeatedly used. A large orbital propellant supply …

Results From Testing Low-Cost, High-Performance Terrestrial Processors For Use In Low-Cost High-Performance Space Missions, Anita Bernie, Paul Madle, Jamie Bayley, John Paffett, Keith Ryden, Benjamin Clewer, Alex Hands, Chris Bridges

Small Satellite Conference

There has been a significant and exciting increase in the use of microsatellites and cubesats in the past decade.

However, it has proved difficult to scale up current cubesat avionics systems to enable larger, longer, more complex missions, and challenging to scale down traditional microsatellites to an affordable price point. The need exists for a system that provides the capability of a microsatellite at a cubesat cost; KISPE Space (“KISPE”) is developing the Next Generation Microsatellite Platform (“NGMP”) to address this need and is releasing the design as an open source resource via the Open Source Satellite Programme (“OSSAT”)

A …

Low-Power Boards Enabling Ml-Based Approaches To Fdir In Space-Based Applications, James Murphy, John E. Ward, Brian Mac Namee

Small Satellite Conference

Modern satellite complexity is increasing, thus requiring bespoke and expensive on-board solutions to provide a Failure Detection, Isolation and Recovery (FDIR) function. Although FDIR is vital in ensuring the safety, autonomy, and availability of satellite systems in flight, there is a clear need in the space industry for a more adaptable, scalable, and cost-effective solution. This paper explores the current state of the art for Machine Learning error detection and prognostic algorithms utilized by both the space sector and the commercial sector. Although work has previously been done in the commercial sector on error detection and prognostics, most commercial applications …

Raise-2 For Agile On-Orbit Demonstration Of Innovative Satellite Technologies: Program Strategy, Mission Definition, And Preliminary Design, Yuki Tsutsui, Kentaro Nishi, Yasuyuki Takahashi, Matsuaki Kato, Tsuyoshi Toriumi, Yutaka Kaneko, Takanori Iwata

Small Satellite Conference

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has provided the second demonstration opportunity of the Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration Program. In this second mission, JAXA develops the Rapid Innovative Payload Demonstration Satellite-2 (RAISE-2) that carries six components and parts as on-orbit demonstration themes. This paper presents an overview of the RAISE-2’s demonstration themes, mission definition including standard platform specifications, results of Phase-A study and preliminary design.

Janus And Lunar Trailblazer: Lockheed Martin Deep Space Smallsats For Nasa Simplex Missions, Joseph Shoer, Joshua B. Hopkins, Edward B. Bierhaus

Small Satellite Conference

NASA’s Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration (SIMPLEx) program is a principal investigator-led planetary science program focusing on small spacecraft. In the SIMPLEx-2 opportunity, the cost cap for SIMPLEx missions is approximately 1/10th the cost of the next larger class of planetary exploration missions, the Discovery Program. Unlike Discovery missions, SIMPLEx missions launch as rideshare payloads with other NASA primary missions. Lockheed Martin has developed a science-capable deep space small spacecraft architecture to support two missions selected for the SIMPLEx-2 opportunity: Janus and Lunar Trailblazer. Janus is a two-spacecraft mission to fly by two different binary Near Earth Asteroids, partnered …

Design And Development Of A Ps4-Op Payload For Solar Spectral Irradiance Measurements And Technology Demonstration Of Small-Satellite Subsystems, Anant Kandala, Priyadarshnam Hari, Harsha Simha, Mallikarjun Kompella, Amal Chandran, Spencer Boyajian, Bennet Schwab, Mayuresh Sarpotdar

Small Satellite Conference

This article describes the design and development of INSPIRE-0, a payload on the spent stage of the ISROs PSLV. Recently, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) released an announcement of opportunity inviting proposals to develop payloads that can be tested on the PS4-Orbital Platform (PS4-OP). This platform is a novel idea formulated by ISRO to use the spent fourth/final stage of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), called the PS4, to conduct in-orbit scientific experiments and technology demonstration of small-satellite subsystems. INSPIRE-0 is a PS4-OP payload, jointly developed by the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at the University …

Smartsat Constellation - A Deep Reinforcement Learning Approach For Decentralized Coordination, Rajesh Aggarwal, Junghwan Kim, Deepanshu Agarwal, Ayushi Tiwari, James Baldo

Small Satellite Conference

With rapid advancements in satellite technology, the amount of low earth orbit satellites has grown significantly which are primarily deployed for weather monitoring, earth observation or military purposes. Due to this reason, there has been an increased interest in enhancing the level of autonomy and cognition, onboard satellites to achieve optimal data collection. Optimal data is said to be collected when the satellites in a small sat constellation work together to collect information. This means that even if one of the satellites has missed out on some important information, the others can still collect them. A satellite constellation can be …

Design Of An Imaging Payload For Earth Observation From A Nanosatellite, Elliot Saive, Liam Droog, Katelyn Ball, Jari Swanson, Elizabeth Chao, Michael G. Lipsett, Amina E. Hussein, Carlos F. Lange, Bruce F. Cockburn, Duncan G. Elliott

Small Satellite Conference

A compact imaging payload consisting of visible-near infrared and short-wave infrared capability is being developed to demonstrate low-cost wildfire monitoring among other Earth observations. Iris is a 1U multispectral push-broom imager that is capable of generating spectral data pertinent for wildfire science and wildfire risk analysis from a CubeSat platform. This payload is slated to fly on-board Ex-Alta 2, the University of Alberta’s second CubeSat and Alberta’s contribution to the Canadian CubeSat Project, to be deployed from the International Space Station in 2022. Iris features four closely integrated designs: optical, structural, electronics, and firmware. The mechanical and electronic interfaces of …

The Near-Earth Space Radiation Environment During Solar Cycle 25: Consequences For The Alabama Burst Energetics Explorer, Michael Halvorson, Tyler Tolbert, Kody Ehlers, Ross Anderson, Chris Howell, Keller Stallings

Small Satellite Conference

The Alabama Burst Energetics eXplorer (ABEX) is a 12U mission to enhance the detection of low energy Gamma Ray Burst (GRB) components and provide improved, rapid localization of short GRBs for multiwavelength follow up via GRB measurements outside the Van Allen Belts (VAB). The ABEX launch date is Q4 2024 during the peak of solar cycle 25; the ABEX science orbit is 300 km perigee by 60,000 km apogee with an inclination of 27°. This orbit defines distinct radiation environments in Low Earth Orbit, crossing the VABs, performing science operations outside the VABs, and Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) conditions. Numerical …

Lack Of Cybersecurity In The United States’ Critical Infrastructure, Dean Santos, Jonathan Kovacev, Kinsey Larson

Student Papers in Public Policy

Technology has revolutionized the nature of information, remote control, and communication itself, but it has also brought with it tangible dangers. Top minds in the United States, as well as the rest of the world, have seen those dangers and dedicated their work to mitigate them, developing the ideas and policies necessary to protect the nation from those dangers, and yet the actual implementation of safety measures within the nation lags behind.

In the meantime, as U.S. critical infrastructure remains woefully unprotected, the nation opens itself up to a plethora of cyber-attacks. These attacks can cause damage in many ways. …