Ecaps High-Performance Green Propulsion – Enabling Tactically Responsive Space Missions, Wilhelm Dingertz, Peter Thormählen, Odysseas Christofi

Small Satellite Conference

In a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape where space is increasingly viewed as the fourth operational domain, tactically responsive launch capabilities and in-orbit maneuverability are critical. The ability to pre-load spacecraft and maintain them in a ready-to-launch state enables quicker response times, essential for strategic operations. Longterm storable, non/low-hazardous "green" propellants, such as ECAPS’ LMP-103S based on Ammonium DiNitramide (ADN), are key to this agility. These propellants offer improved performance, reduced environmental and operational risks, and facilitate faster spacecraft processing and storage. ECAPS High-Performance Green Propulsion (HPGP) technology has achieved extensive flight heritage with its 1N thruster, across 30+ missions, typically …

Consolidated Simultaneous Ranging And Clock Synchronization With Application To Positioning In Cis-Lunar Space, Junichiro Kawagichi, Shingo Nishimoto

Small Satellite Conference

The AOWR scheme functions as a set of transceivers connecting two entities: the ground station and the spacecraft. The phase difference information obtained from both sides intrinsically contains data related not only to the range but also to the clock difference simultaneously. The AOWR scheme can synchronize the clock onboard the spacecraft regardless of the distance. In cis-lunar space due to poor geometric configurations, until the position is determined, the clock difference cannot be established. It drastically improves and reduces the dilution-of-precision index. The paper will present the outcomes confirmed through demonstration experiments utilizing hybrid devices related to the GNSS …

Standards And Schematics For Intelligent Extensible Mission Architectures In Space, Evana Gizzi, Alan Gibson, James Marshall, Shannon Bull, Timothy Chase Jr., Jonathan Davis, Matthew Dosberg, Michael Johnson, Peter Knudtson, John Lucas, Michael Monaghan, Chris Robberts, Daniel Rogers, Bethany Theiling, Julie Breed, Larry Kepko, Carrie Vuyovich, Connor Firth, Lily Clough, Aaron Woodard, Brian Kempa, Caleb Adams, Robin Onsay, Sam Pedrotty, James Berck

Small Satellite Conference

As the space sector trends toward complex mission types, the demand for multi-asset, multi-generational, and multi-organizational paradigms has grown. It is critical that the spaceflight community builds the infrastructure needed to realize these mission architecture goals. To this end, we present a standard and schematic for intelligent extensible mission architectures, which will allow missions of the future to be distributed, heterogeneous, incremental, and interoperable for enhanced flexibility, adaptability, and responsiveness in space. We begin by describing a motivation for intelligent extensibility, followed by a review of related work in standards and autonomous multi-agent systems. Next, we present the theoretical definition …

Quarcs Light: Validation Of An Abbreviated Assessment Of Undergraduate Numeracy And Mathematics Affect, Isaac S. Rosenthal, Kate Follette, Vonna L. Hemmler, Catherine Sarosi, Sanlyn Buxner, Erin Galyen, Margaret Shea, Soon-Young Shimizu, Brendan Seto

Numeracy

In this study, we present evidence for the validity of a shortened form of the Quantitative Reasoning for College Science (QuaRCS) Assessment, a validated instrument assessing the numeracy and math-related affect of undergraduate students in general education/introductory science courses. Previously published analyses of QuaRCS data revealed that 1) roughly 30% of students found the assessment boring, leading to lower self-reported effort and 2) affective factors (e.g. numerical self-efficacy) were significant predictors of QuaRCS score. As a result, we reduced the length of the assessment from 25 to 15 quantitative items, and expanded the affective variable selection from three to eight …

Building Oklahoma’S First Cubesat Program: A Student’S Perspective, John O'Hara, Imraan Faruque, Peter Lopresti, Cannon Kilcrease

Small Satellite Conference

OKSat is a student-led, multi-university effort to launch Oklahoma’s first CubeSat. Built from the ground up, the program has provided students with hands-on experience in space systems engineering, leadership, and cross-institutional collaboration. This poster shares lessons learned from establishing and growing the program, highlighting strategies that support sustainable, student-driven satellite development—especially in regions without established aerospace programs.

Revolutionizing Space Thermal Control: The Breakthroughs And Applications Of Pulsating Heat Pipes, Matt Schultz, Jimmy Hughes, Mckenzie Sandberg

Small Satellite Conference

The development of Pulsating Heat Pipes (PHP) offers significant advancements in thermal control technologies. This poster reviews the fundamental mechanisms of PHPs, manufacturing processes, and focuses on how PHPs fit into the current thermal architecture for satellite, payload, and instrument thermal control to identify the best use cases and application of the emerging technology.

Propelling The Future Of Satellite Mobility: In-Orbit Demonstration Of The Go-2 Electric Propulsion System, Kevin Lausten

Small Satellite Conference

As satellite deployment accelerates across both commercial and institutional missions, the limitations of onboard propulsion, especially in SmallSats, are emerging as a key constraint in mission flexibility and sustainability. In 2023, more than 2,860 SmallSats were launched, accounting for 97% of all spacecraft and 63% of total orbital mass [1].

Despite this expansion, propulsion remains a critical constraint in the SmallSat development ecosystem. As of 2024, only 222 nanosatellites out of 2714 nanosatellites launched had confirmed onboard propulsion systems [5], limiting maneuverability, increasing deployment risks, and contributing to orbital debris. This gap reflects not a lack of technological capability, but …

Streamlined Calibration For Small Satellite Optical Payloads, Deron Scott, Cole Miller, Eli Shay, Shane Canfield, Scott Hansen, Matt Berghout, Jan Kunzler, Duane Miles

Small Satellite Conference

Poster presented during the 2025 SmallSat Conference.

Three-Dimensional Radiation Patterns Of Cubesats And Link Budget Without Attitude Control, Daisuke Nakayama, Kei Sano, Rin Sato, Yusuke Iwaki, Shunya Hayashi, Arisa Oho, Sayanju Sirash

Small Satellite Conference

As CubeSat missions demand higher data rates, directional patch antennas have increasingly replaced traditional monopole or dipole antennas, and ensuring omnidirectional coverage—especially under tumbling conditions—has become critical. To address this, we developed a three-dimensional radiation pattern measurement system that enables the evaluation of antenna characteristics across all possible CubeSat attitudes. To apply these measurements to practical operations, we introduce the Coverage Ratio of CubeSat Attitude (CRCA), which intuitively represents the percentage of satellite orientations that exceed a given required gain. In this study, we apply this methodology to the S-band downlink antenna system of VERTECS, a 6U CubeSat developed by …

Nexosim, An Open-Source, Rust-Based Digital Twinning Framework For Hardware-In-The-Loop Testing And Virtual Flatsats, Serge Barral, Adam Chikha, Maciej Główka, Jakub Gramatyka, Illia Manzelha, Stanisław Massalski, Jaŭhien Piatlicki

Small Satellite Conference

Digital twinning has become a cornerstone of modern space systems, enabling robust in-orbit operations and ground verification and validation. For over two decades, major spacecraft manufacturers and space agencies have relied on Discrete Event Simulation (DES) to achieve these goals. The C++-based Simulation Modelling Platform (SMP), now an ECSS standard, has emerged as a unifying framework for these efforts. Despite the tremendous benefits of simulation-assisted spacecraft development, the complexity, rigidity, and lack of vendor-neutral implementations of SMP have limited its adoption in academia and the NewSpace sector. This gap is particularly concerning given the high failure rate of SmallSat missions, …

Novel Pressure-Based Electric Propulsion Discovery, Wesley Faler, Brad Berkson

Small Satellite Conference

This paper presents a novel electric propulsion system that uses pulsed plasma and ion- electron recombination to generate thrust primarily from internal pressure, using water vapor as propellant. In-space testing of the Poseidon^™ thruster demonstrated 37.49 mN average thrust and over 4,800 seconds specific impulse at under 1.5 W input power. A physics-based model captures the full mass, energy, and momentum balances and matches experimental results, supporting pressure as the dominant thrust mechanism. Experimental detection of proton–boron fusion in the exhaust plume further validates the system's plasma behavior and confirms a key element of its operating cycle.

Compact Satellites For Big Insights: Mission Analysis Of A 16u Cubesat For High-Resolution Earth Observation, Abdelmadjid Lassakeur, Kamel Djamel Eddine Kerrouche, Imène Taleb, Abdelhak Benikhlef, Mohammed Amine Meghabber

Small Satellite Conference

The demand for high-resolution Earth observation data has been growing rapidly, driven by applications in environmental monitoring, disaster response, urban planning, and defense. Governments, research institutions, and private companies increasingly rely on detailed satellite imagery to make informed decisions. However, traditional Earth observation satellites are often expensive and require long development timelines, creating a need for more compact and cost-effective solutions. Recent advancements in CubeSat technology, particularly in high-performance Attitude Determination and Control Systems (ADCS), have significantly expanded the capabilities of nanosatellites. These improvements have made it possible for smaller satellites to achieve imaging performance once limited to larger spacecraft. …

Big Data Solutions For Cubesat Mission Operations: A Case Study From The Michigan Exploration Lab, Daniil Voloshin, James W. Cutler

Small Satellite Conference

As space missions generate increasingly vast and complex datasets, efficient data management and processing solutions are critical. At the Michigan eXploration Lab (MXL) at the University of Michigan, where we design, build, and operate CubeSats, we have adopted big data technologies, specifically a Hadoop and Spark-based cluster, to address challenges in handling and analyzing large-scale data. These challenges include processing raw I/Q sample recordings from CubeSat satellite passes and suborbital missions, as well as mission-long spacecraft telemetry. The cluster leverages the distributed storage capabilities of the Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS) and the in-memory data processing power of Apache Spark, …

Exploring Beamed Energy Propulsion: Development And Application Of A Configurable Simulation Tool, Charles Cundiff, Michael Harrington, Victoria Coverstone, John Larosa

Small Satellite Conference

Laser sailing enables propellantless spacecraft propulsion by transferring momentum from a directed energy beam to a reflective sail. Unlike traditional chemical or electric propulsion systems, laser sails decouple propulsion performance from onboard mass and stored energy, presenting an opportunity for lightweight, scalable spacecraft maneuvering. This work develops and applies a simulation framework in FreeFlyer to evaluate the performance of laser sailing across a range of orbital missions, with emphasis on low-mass systems, such as CubeSats.

The simulation model incorporates several critical physical effects, including beam divergence, atmospheric attenuation, sail material reflectivity and emissivity, thermal loading, and realistic station visibility. The …

A Dynamic Wireless Channel Emulator For Realistic Cubesat Testing, David Michelson, Eisha Khan, Max Xiang, Yun Xing, Ada Li, Ryan Manak

Small Satellite Conference

Failure of the communication subsystem has been responsible for approximately 20% of small satellite mission failures over the period between 2000 and 2019. Insufficient system-level integration and testing has been cited as one reason why corrective actions weren’t taken before launch to prevent such failures. Here, we introduce a relatively inexpensive GTEM-cell-based dynamic channel emulator that will permit designers of CubeSats operating at frequencies up to 20 GHz to evaluate their spacecraft’s communications over multiple simulated passes with the spacecraft in as close to over-the-air flight condition as possible, including fully deployed antennas. Using this over-the-air channel emulator allows the …

Impact Of Physical Interfaces And Interconnectivity On Cubesat Complexity, Development Schedule, And Cost: A Comparative Analysis Of Curtis 3u, Kitsune 6u, And Vertecs 6u, Eyoas Ergetu Areda, Rodrigo Cordova-Alarcon, Hriokazu Masui, Necmi Örger, Kei Sano, Mengu Cho, Takao Nakagawa

Small Satellite Conference

Background

• CubeSat designs vary in their physical interfaces and subsystem interconnectivity, significantly affecting assembly effort, design complexity, and mission reliability.
• This study aims to quantify these effects using standardized assembly and complexity metrics combined with reliability assessment.

Squidsat: Preparing Future Workforce Using Competition, Joe Dubois, Aaron Bournias, Joe Dukowitz

Small Satellite Conference

SquidSat is a 3u student-led CubeSat mission funded and mentored by the Interplanetary Initiative Lab (IPL) at Arizona State University (ASU). The Overarching goal of SquidSat is to streamline CubeSat development and make payload integration as simple as possible for as large of a range of payload requirements as possible. This idea encourages a wide range of development within the space industry and universities, as it provides ways for professors and students alike to make a satellite payload without needing to know how to make an entire satellite. SquidSat utilizes the spirit of competition to encourage students, labs, and companies …

The Remote Capability-Auctioning Planner (Recap): A Decentralized Multi-Agent Control System Using Classical Planning, Behavior Trees, And Remote Task Auctions, Connor Firth, Miles Bengtson, Lorin Achey, Alex Barrie

Small Satellite Conference

Poster presented during the 2025 SmallSat Conference.

Eeetester – Reliable Cubesat Platform For In-Orbit Testing Of The Space Heritage Of Korean-Made Eee Parts, Ki-Ho Kwon, Sanggoo Kim, Geuk-Nam Kim, Jooin Lee, Jungkyu Lee, Seongwhan Lee

Small Satellite Conference

Poster presented during the 2025 SmallSat Conference.

Night Sky Brightness Caused By Orbital Reflectors, Erkin Sidick, Ben Nowack, Tristan Semmelhack

Small Satellite Conference

We are in the process of developing a system which redirects the incoming sunlight to a stationary ground target after sunset and before sunrise. One of the purposes is to extend operating hours of solar-farms to after sunset and before sunrise. Our system contributes to light pollution as a by-product. We have developed an optical model to predict the night sky glow caused by the light coming from an orbital reflector. In this paper we will review some work done by others on the night sky brightness caused by artificial city lights first, then present our results of model predictions …

Pioneering Multi-Band Communication For Smallsats: Overcoming Technical Barriers With Innovative Solutions, Lucas Felderhoff, Mathias Reibe

Small Satellite Conference

Communication links are required to be more flexible and more efficient. A multi-band, multi-protocol, and multi-way communication architecture for telemetry/telecommand (TM/TC) functionalities as well as high-speed-data-rate broadband payload transmission is shown. The focus is set on hybrid configurations such as S-Band transceivers paired with X-Band transmitters and combinations of S- and Ka-Band systems, which offer enhanced operational flexibility. Such solutions will be provided in a compact single unit for efficient communication.

Mosaic - A Modular Orbital Satellite For Advanced Innovation And Curriculum, Evan Jellison

Small Satellite Conference

This paper presents MOSAIC (Modular Orbital Satellite for Advanced Innovation and Curriculum), an open-source, modular satellite platform designed to advance space technology education and to accelerate satellite mission design. MOSAIC is a demonstrator satellite, or “mocksat” that leverages commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components and a modular hardware ecosystem to make satellite technology accessible, affordable, and adaptable for educational institutions and research teams. This work details the technical architecture of MOSAIC, its potential educational benefits, cost analysis, and open-source philosophy, demonstrating its goals to democratize access to satellite engineering and foster the next generation of space professionals.

Near Real-Time Optimal Trajectory Design For Active Debris Removal With Verification And Validation Using Kompsat-1, Shawn Choi, Taeyeon Choe, Peter Ryu, Hyeongjun Park, Douglas Deok-Soo Kim

Small Satellite Conference

Geospace is getting busier with an increasing amount of debris, and their removal of such debris is becoming important for the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of geospace. The need for safe and sustainable removal has drawn significant attention to Active Debris Removal (ADR). When a chaser performs a fly-around maneuver to approach a target, it should solve the following optimization problem (OPT): (i) Minimize collision risk against other flying space objects, (ii) minimize fuel consumption, and (iii) maximize mission accomplishment. However, solving OPT is known to be very challenging, as it is at least NP-hard. This is because the trajectories …

A Radio Payload For In-Space Sub-Terahertz Communications, Andrew Benincasa, Sergi Aliaga, Albert Diez-Comas, Josep Miquel Jornet

Small Satellite Conference

This paper presents the first fully integrated design of a CubeSat-compatible sub-terahertz (sub-THz) radio payload for in-space communications at 225 GHz. Addressing the growing congestion in traditional RF bands and the limitations of Free Space Optical systems, the proposed system leverages recent breakthroughs in compact high-frequency front-ends, horn antenna arrays, and RFSoC-based digital processing to unlock multi-GHz bandwidths in the underutilized sub-THz spectrum. A detailed feasibility study confirms link closure from low Earth orbit using state-of-the-art components, and the payload’s architecture is engineered for real-time high-speed uplink/downlink under stringent CubeSat size, weight, and power (SWaP) constraints. The proposed payload will …

4096-Element Ka-Band Deployable Active Phased Array Transceivers In A 6u Cubesat, Hiroki Hayashi, Delburg Mitchao, Yasuto Narukiyo, Sena Kato, Keito Yuasa, Jill Mayeda, Hiraku Sakamoto, Kenichi Okada, Atsushi Shirane

Small Satellite Conference

This paper proposes a 4096-element deployable phased-array transceiver for LEO constellations, operating in the Ka-band frequency range. The system is designed for a 6U satellite platform, with the deployable membrane stored within a 2U volume and deploying to form a 670 mm × 670 mm aperture. The antenna features a central active area of 360 mm × 360 mm, with additional regions allocated for heat dissipation. A 7-layer rigid-flex printed circuit board (PCB) is used in the fabrication for the antenna array. A 256-element phased-array antenna was successfully fabricated on this rigid-flex PCB and demonstrates the feasibility of scaling up, …

Optical Observation Of Mola Cubesat In Orbit Using Ground Telescope, Jeffrey Larsen, Christine Maceo, Isabella Fernald, Matthew M. Knight, Jim Kang, Michael Sanders, Alex Savattone, Giovanni Minelli, Wenschel Lan

Small Satellite Conference

The proliferation of satellites and satellite constellations in orbit, combined with the rapid expansion of telecommunications and wireless “smart” devices on Earth, has led to congestion in the radio frequency spectrum, adversely affecting data transmission and security. Although technological advances in small satellite technology and new commercial models for rocket launches have lowered the barrier for accessing space, the licensing process to use radio frequencies for satellite communications remains an obstacle. Free Space Optical Communication (FSOC) using the near-infrared and visible parts of the unlicensed optical spectrum offers higher bandwidth, faster data rates, and improved security (near-IR). In 2024, the …

Uncoupling Batteries From Eps Design — A Power System For The Modern Era, Andrew E. Kalman

Small Satellite Conference

Space electrical power system (EPS) architectures have often been strongly tied to the voltage of the batteries they employ; the battery operating voltages often dictate the solar cell string lengths and the voltage of the primary buses used for power distribution throughout the spacecraft, as well as internal particulars. This paper presents an alternative space EPS architecture that is independent of battery voltage, and instead, simply treats the connected batteries as a source of power and energy which can be drawn from as desired, and recharged as required. This EPS architecture utilizes a ring bus topology, wherein energy sources feed …

Development Of Emerin Mrna Lipid Nanoparticles To Rescue Myogenic Differentiation., Nicholas Marano, Liza Elif Guner, Rachel S Riley, James M Holaska

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy 1 (EDMD1) arises from mutations in EMD. Most EDMD1 patients lack detectable emerin expression. They experience symptoms such as skeletal muscle wasting, joint contractures, and cardiac conduction defects. Currently, physicians rely on treating patient symptoms without addressing the underlying cause-lack of functional emerin protein. Thus, there is a need for therapeutic approaches that restore emerin protein expression to improve patient outcomes. One way would be to deliver emerin mRNA or protein directly to affected tissues to restore tissue homeostasis. Here, we evaluated the utility of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to deliver emerin mRNA to diseased cells. LNPs …

The Byu Advocate, J. Reuben Clark Law School

The BYU Advocate (& Annual Reports)

"BYU Law prioritizes the development of both capacity and character. As our mission statement declares, 'we seek to be and develop people of integrity who combine faith and intellect in lifelong service to God and neighbor.'"

– David H. Moore

Variability In Long Covid Definitions And Validation Of Published Prevalence Rates, Lauren E. Wisk, Michelle L'Hommedieu, Kate Diaz Roldan, Imtiaz Ebna Mannan, Erica S. Spatz, Robert A. Weinstein, Arjun K. Venkatesh, Michael Gottlieb, Ryan Huebinger, Kristin L. Rising, Juan Carlos C. Montoy, Kari A. Stephens, Robert M. Rodriguez, Mandy J. Hill, Kelli N. O'Laughlin, Nicole L. Gentile, Ahamed H. Idris, Shu-Xia Li, Michelle Santangelo, Efrat R. Kean, Samuel A. Mcdonald, Kristyn Gatling, Joann G Elmore

Jefferson Center for Connected Care Faculty Papers

IMPORTANCE: Long COVID definitions vary widely, and no consensus exists on how to accurately measure its prevalence, complicating both clinical care and research.

OBJECTIVE: To assess long COVID prevalence using various definitions from published literature.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This prospective, multicenter cohort study used data from the longitudinal Innovative Support for Patients With SARS-CoV-2 Infections Registry (INSPIRE). Participants aged 18 years or older with symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 illness at the time of their index SARS-CoV-2 test enrolled at 8 sites across the US from December 11, 2020, through August 29, 2022, with follow-up surveys collected through February 28, …