• Journal of Satellite, Information and Communications
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.94-100
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• 2017

In this paper, we suggest a design method of a metamaterial-based low-profile antenna working at 425 MHz for LEO/Cube satellites. Satellites play an important role in linking th remote nodes in a wireless communication network and covering wide areas of the globe. Especially, an increasing number of universities or individuals aspire having their own satellites and build low-budget structures such as cube satellites in LEO and the ways to reduce the sizes of their satellites. Since the antenna occupies a major portion of the satellite surface, the antenna should be miniaturized for lighter weight. The proposed metamaterial low-profile antenna, unlike the conventional patch antenna, produces such a zeroth-order resonance to create an omnidirectional radiation pattern. Also, it is connected to a UHF waveguide bandpass filter as the feeding system to examine the possible change in the situation that the antenna is combined with the system. The performances of the monopole and proposed metamaterial antennas are compared to one another.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.1-6
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• 2021

The non-explosive holding and release mechanism is used to prevent damage to the mission component caused by explosives when the deployment structure for Cube Satellites is separated. However, among the several types available, the non-explosive holding and release mechanism system using nylon wires depend on the nylon wire knot method and tightening power of the worker. Therefore, in this study, we conducted experiments with the operation of a new holding and release mechanism system by conceptualizing the Boa System Dial, which can provide a constant tightening force regardless of worker proficiency and deploying a imitational solar panel. In this study, the process of binding and unbinding with constant tension was recorded while applying the novel non-explosive holding and release mechanism using the Boa System Dial proposed. In addition, required advances are indicated for the application of the proposed system to actual Cube Satellites.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.104-109
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• 2023

The Cube Satellite Contest has been held six times as of August 2023, and a total of 21 teams have been selected. Fifteen Cube Satellites selected in previous contests were successfully launched and entered into low-Earth orbit. The six Cube Satellites selected in the sixth contest in 2022 are currently undergoing detailed design, and are scheduled to be launched in 2025 using a Korean launch vehicle. In this study, we analyzed the initial operation reports submitted by the selected teams of the Cube Satellite Contest in 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2019 to assess mission performance and identify causes of mission failure. Based on the submitted reports, an improvement scheme to enhance mission success for future Cube Satellites is proposed.

• Journal of Positioning, Navigation, and Timing
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.357-366
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• 2020

This paper addressed a relative navigation method for autonomous rendezvous and docking of cube-satellites using single frequency Differential GPS (DGPS) under the intermittent communication between satellites. Since the ionospheric error of GPS measurement is variable depending on the visible satellites, a few meters error of relative navigation is occurred in the Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) environment. Therefore, it is essential to remove the ionospheric error to perform relative navigation. Besides, an intermittent communication period for receiving GPS measurements of the target satellite is limited for getting information every sampling time. To solve this problem, a method combining range domain DGPS and orbit propagation is proposed in this paper. The proposed method improves the performance of DGPS by using Hatch filter and solves an intermittent communication problem by estimating the relative position and velocity using Hill-Clohessy-Wiltshire Equation. Through the simulation, it is verified that the suggested algorithm provides the relative position error within RMS 0.5 m and the relative velocity error within RMS 3 cm/s. Furthermore, it has the advantage that it is suitable for real-time implementation using single-frequency GPS measurements and is computationally efficient.

• Advances in aircraft and spacecraft science
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• v.6 no.5
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• pp.427-442
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• 2019

Small satellites represent an emerging opportunity to realize a wide range of space missions at lower cost and faster delivery, compared to traditional spacecraft. However, small platforms, such as CubeSats, shall increase their actual capabilities. Miniaturized electric propulsion systems can provide the satellite with the key capability of moving in space. The level of readiness of miniaturized electric propulsion systems is low although many concepts have been developed. The present research intends to build a flexible test platform for the assessment of selected small propulsion systems in relevant environment at laboratory level. Main goal of the research is to analyze the mechanical, electrical, magnetic, and chemical interactions of propulsion systems with the modern CubeSat-technology and to assess the performance of the integrated platform. The test platform is a 6U CubeSat hosting electric propulsion systems, providing mechanical, electrical and data interfaces, able to handle a variety of electric propulsion systems, thanks to the ability to regulate and distribute electric power, to exchange data according to several protocols, and to provide different mechanical layouts. The test platform is ready to start the first verification campaign. The paper describes the detailed design of the platform and the main results of the AIV activities.

• Journal of Space Technology and Applications
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.41-51
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• 2022

CubeSat is a satellite platform that is widely used not only for earth observation but also for space exploration. CubeSat is also used in magnetic field investigation missions to observe space physics phenomena with various shape configurations of magnetometer instrument unit. In case of magnetic field measurement, the magnetometer instrument should be far away from the satellite body to minimize the magnetic disturbances from satellites. But the accommodation setting of the magnetometer instrument is limited due to the volume constraint of small satellites like a CubeSat. In this paper, we investigated that the magnetic field interference generated by the cube satellite was analyzed how much it can affect the reliability of magnetic field measurement. For this analysis, we used a reaction wheel and Torque rods which have relatively high-power consumption as major noise sources. The magnetic dipole moment of these parts was derived by the data sheet of the manufacturer. We have been confirmed that the effect of the residual moment of the magnetic torque located in the middle of the 3U cube satellite can reach 36,000 nT from the outermost end of the body of the CubeSat in a space without an external magnetic field. In the case of accurate magnetic field measurements of less than 1 nT, we found that the magnetometer should be at least 0.6 m away from the CubeSat body. We expect that this analysis method will be an important role of a magnetic cleanliness analysis when designing a CubeSat to carry out a magnetic field measurement.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.631-642
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• 2009

The sun is a useful reference direction because of its brightness relative to other astronomical objects and its relatively small apparent radius as viewed by spacecrafts near the Earth. Most satellites use solar power as a source of energy, and so need to make sure that solar panels are oriented correctly with respect to the sun. Also, some satellites have sensitive instruments that must not be exposed to direct sunlight. For all these reasons, sun sensors are important components in spacecraft attitude determination and control systems. To minimize components and structural mass, some components have multiple purposes. The solar cells will provide power and also be used as coarse sun sensors. A coarse Sun sensor is a low-cost attitude determination sensor suitable for a wide range of space missions. The sensor measures the sun angle in two orthogonal axes. The Sun sensor measures the sun angle in both azimuth and elevation. This paper presents the development of a model to determine the attitude of a small cube-shaped satellite in space relative to the sun's direction. This sensor helps small cube-shaped Pico satellites to perform accurate attitude determination without requiring additional hardware.

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.1143-1145
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• 2003

Some of satellites such as IKONOS don't provide the orbital elements so that we can’ utilize the physical sensor model. Therefore, Rational Function Model(RFM) which is one of mathematical models could be a feasible solution. In order to improve 3D geopositioning accuracy of IKONOS stereo imagery, Rational Polynomial Coefficients(RPCs) of the RFM need to be updated with Ground Control Points(GCPs). In this paper, a method to improve RPCs of RFM using GCPs and 3D cube is proposed. Firstly, the image coordinates of GCPs are observed. And then, using offset values and scale values of RPC provided, the image coordinates and ground coordinates of 3D cube are initially determined and updated RPCs are computed by the iterative least square method. The proposed method was implemented and analyzed in several cases: different numbers of 3D cube layers and GCPs. The experimental results showed that the proposed method improved the accuracy of RPCs in great amount.

• Advances in aircraft and spacecraft science
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.195-215
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• 2022

The increasing interest in CubeSat platforms ant their capability of enlarging the frontier of possible missions impose technology improvements. Miniaturized electrical propulsion (EP) systems enable new mission for multi-unit CubeSats (6U+). While electric propulsion systems have achieved important level of knowledge at equipment level, the investigation of the mutual impact between EP system and CubeSat technology at system level can provide a decisive improvement for both the technologies. The interaction between CubeSat and EP system should be assessed in terms of electromagnetic emissions (both radiated and conducted), thermal gradients, high electrical power management, surface chemical deposition, and quick and reliable data exchanges. This paper shows how a versatile CubeSat Test Platform (CTP), together with standardized procedures and specialized facilities enable the acquisition fundamental and unprecedented information. Measurements can be taken both by specific ground support equipment placed inside the vacuum facility and by dedicated sensors and subsystems installed on the CTP, providing a completely new set of data never obtained before. CTP is constituted of a 6U primary structure hosting the EP system, representative CubeSat avionics and batteries. For the first test campaign, CTP hosts the ambipolar plasma propulsion system, called Regulus and developed by T4I. After the integration and the functional test in laboratory environment, CTP + Regulus performed a Test campaign in relevant environment in the vacuum chamber at CISAS, University of Padua. This paper is focused on the test campaign description and the main results achieved at different power levels for different duration of the firings.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.100-107
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• 2001

Miro propulsion device is a literally very small propulsion system The reason why such a small propulsion system is required is that micro satellites are considered as substitutions for conventional satellites to reduce cost; the fabrication of micro satellites enables us to produce mass production Microrockets have relatively high values of thrust/weight ratio due to the cube law; weight is proportional to volume and thrust is proportional to area. Accordingly, downsizing makes the ratio of thrust/weight ratio high However, conventionally ignorable facts are not negligible any more in small scale systems. for chemical micro rockets, downsizing causes lots of heat loss as surface to volume ratio increases, which results in the destruction of radical ions. For thrusters using plasma, the generation of strong magnetic field for plasma is very difficult. Also, in the aspect of flow dynamics, the effects of drag and viscosity are important parameters in low Re flows. When these problems are solved, micro propulsion systems can be commercialized and result in spin-off effects in many fields.