• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
• /
• 제34권2호
• /
• pp.127-138
• /
• 2017

The current study designs the mission orbit of the lunar CubeSat spacecraft to measure the lunar local magnetic anomaly. To perform this mission, the CubeSat will impact the lunar surface over the Reiner Gamma swirl on the Moon. Orbit analyses are conducted comprising ${\Delta}V$ and error propagation analysis for the CubeSat mission orbit. First, three possible orbit scenarios are presented in terms of the CubeSat's impacting trajectories. For each scenario, it is important to achieve mission objectives with a minimum ${\Delta}V$ since the CubeSat is limited in size and cost. Therefore, the ${\Delta}V$ needed for the CubeSat to maneuver from the initial orbit toward the impacting trajectory is analyzed for each orbit scenario. In addition, error propagation analysis is performed for each scenario to evaluate how initial errors, such as position error, velocity error, and maneuver error, that occur when the CubeSat is separated from the lunar orbiter, eventually affect the final impact position. As a result, the current study adopts a CubeSat release from the circular orbit at 100 km altitude and an impact slope of $15^{\circ}$, among the possible impacting scenarios. For this scenario, the required ${\Delta}V$ is calculated as the result of the ${\Delta}V$ analysis. It can be used to practically make an estimate of this specific mission's fuel budget. In addition, the current study suggests error constraints for ${\Delta}V$ for the mission.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
• /
• 제32권3호
• /
• pp.257-268
• /
• 2015

Characteristics of delta-V requirements for deploying an impactor from a mother-ship at different orbital altitudes are analyzed in order to prepare for a future lunar CubeSat impactor mission. A mother-ship is assumed to be orbiting the moon with a circular orbit at a 90 deg inclination and having 50, 100, 150, 200 km altitudes. Critical design parameters that are directly related to the success of the impactor mission are also analyzed including deploy directions, CubeSat flight time, impact velocity, and associated impact angles. Based on derived delta-V requirements, required thruster burn time and fuel mass are analyzed by adapting four different miniaturized commercial onboard thrusters currently developed for CubeSat applications. As a result, CubeSat impact trajectories as well as thruster burn characteristics deployed at different orbital altitudes are found to satisfy the mission objectives. It is concluded that thrust burn time should considered as the more critical design parameter than the required fuel mass when deducing the onboard propulsion system requirements. Results provided through this work will be helpful in further detailed system definition and design activities for future lunar missions with a CubeSat-based payload.

• Advances in aircraft and spacecraft science
• /
• 제9권3호
• /
• pp.195-215
• /
• 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.

• 항공우주시스템공학회지
• /
• 제6권4호
• /
• pp.34-39
• /
• 2012

CubeSats classified as pico-class satellite require a ground station to track the satellite, transmit a command, and receive an on-orbit data such as SOH (State-of-Health) and mission data according to the operation plan. For this, ground station system has to be properly designed to perform a communication to with the satellite with enough up- and down-link budgets. In this study, a conceptual design of the ground station has been performed for the CubeSat named as STEP Cube Lab. (Cube Laboratory for Space Technology Experimental Project). The paper includes a ground station hardware interface design, link budget analysis and a ground station software realization. In addition, the operation plan of the ground station has been established considering the STEP Cube Lab. mission requirements.

• 우주기술과 응용
• /
• 제2권1호
• /
• pp.41-51
• /
• 2022

큐브위성은 기존의 인공위성과 마찬가지로 지구 관측뿐만 아니라, 우주탐사 분야에도 폭넓게 활용되는 인공위성 플랫폼이다. 또한 우주 공간물리현상을 관측하기 위한 자기장관측 임무에서도 다양한 형태로 제작되어 활용되고 있다. 자기장 측정의 경우, 일반적으로 위성의 자기 교란을 최소화하기 위해 자기장측정기가 위성 몸체로부터 멀리 떨어져 있다. 그러나 큐브위성과 같은 작은 위성의 경우 공간적인 제약으로 인해 자기장 센서의 위치 설정이 제한적이다. 이에 이 논문에서는 큐브위성에서 생성된 자기장 간섭을 추정하여 자기장 측정의 신뢰성에 얼마나 영향을 줄 수 있는지 분석하였다. 주요 잡음원으로는 상대적으로 높은 소비전력을 가진 반작용 휠과 자기 토크로드를 대상으로 조사하였다. 이러한 부품의 자기 쌍극자 모멘트는 제조업체의 데이터 시트에 제공된 정보를 사용하였다. 외부 자기장이 없는 공간에서 3 U 큐브위성 중간에 위치한 자기 토크로드의 잔류 모멘트의 영향은 위성의 몸체 최 외곽 끝에서 약 36,000 nT까지 나타날 수 있음을 확인했다. 또한, 1 nT 미만의 정확한 자기장 측정의 임무라면, 자력계는 위성 본체에서 약 0.6 m 반경 거리 외곽에 있어야 함을 알 수 있었다. 이러한 분석 방법은 자기장 측정을 수행하기 위해 CubeSat을 설계할 때 자기 청결도 분석의 중요한 역할이 될 것으로 기대한다.

• 항공우주시스템공학회지
• /
• 제8권3호
• /
• pp.27-33
• /
• 2014

The CubeSat, which was first launched to verify new technologies and for educational purposes, is now widely used as an educational tool since it makes possible development of manpower through practical training to produce the satellite at low development costs. At present, research and development on the CubSat is rapidly expanding in domestic and foreign universities. As one of the final 3 teams selected in the 2013 CUBE SATELLITE CONTEST organized by the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning, Chosun University is also currently conducting R & D of STEP Cube Lab, which is a CubeSat scheduled to be launched in 2015 and whose main task is to verify space-based technologies in orbit. The present paper tries to present an overview of the CubeSat of Chosun University whose development is being led by its undergraduate students, and further, introduce the strengths of the present development program for developing space experts, based on the educational achievements from the R & D.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
• /
• 제33권4호
• /
• pp.335-344
• /
• 2016

Scientific CubeSat with Instruments for Global Magnetic Fields and Radiations (SIGMA) is a 3-U size CubeSat that will be operated in low earth orbit (LEO). The SIGMA communication system uses a very high frequency (VHF) band for uplink and an ultra high frequency (UHF) band for downlink. Both frequencies belong to an amateur band. The ground station that communicates with SIGMA is located at Kyung Hee Astronomical Observatory (KHAO). For reliable communication, we carried out a laboratory (LAB) test and far-field tests between the CubeSat and a ground station. In the field test, we considered test parameters such as attenuation, antenna deployment, CubeSat body attitude, and Doppler frequency shift in transmitting commands and receiving data. In this paper, we present a communication performance test of SIGMA, a link budget analysis, and a field test process. We also compare the link budget with the field test results of transmitting commands and receiving data.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
• /
• 제36권3호
• /
• pp.213-223
• /
• 2019

This paper analyzes delta-Vs to maintain an extremely low altitude on the Moon and investigates the possibilities of performing a CubeSat mission. To formulate the station-keeping (SK) problem at an extremely low altitude, current work has utilized real-flight performance proven software, the Systems Tool Kit Astrogator by Analytical Graphics Inc. With a high-fidelity force model, properties of SK maneuver delta-Vs to maintain an extremely low altitude are successfully derived with respect to different sets of reference orbits; of different altitudes as well as deadband limits. The effect of the degree and order selection of lunar gravitational harmonics on the overall SK maneuver strategy is also analyzed. Based on the derived SK maneuver delta-V costs, the possibilities of performing a CubeSat mission are analyzed with the expected mission lifetime by applying the current flight-proven miniaturized propulsion system performances. Moreover, the lunar surface coverage as well as the orbital characteristics of a candidate reference orbit are discussed. As a result, it is concluded that an approximately 15-kg class CubeSat could maintain an orbit (30-50 km reference altitude having ${\pm}10km$ deadband limits) around the Moon for 1-6 months and provide almost full coverage of the lunar surface.

• 항공우주시스템공학회지
• /
• 제16권6호
• /
• pp.81-89
• /
• 2022

큐브위성 관제를 위해 국제전기통신연합(ITU, International Telecommunication Union)에서 할당하고 있는 아마추어 주파수 가운데 3개의 주파수 대역(VHF/UHF/S-band)에 대하여, 큐브위성 지상국을 보유하고 있는 국내 10개 기관 사이트의 전파환경을 24시간 동안 각각 측정하였다. 측정된 결과를 바탕으로 큐브위성의 하향 교신주파수에서의 지상국 주변 전파잡음과 큐브위성 RF 통신링크에서 허용가능한 지상국 주변의 간섭잡음 요구조건을 비교하여 영향성을 분석하였다. 분석 결과 S 대역 환경은 다양한 무선 기기의 주파수가 혼재되어 사용되므로 지상국 주변 전파환경을 고려하여 큐브위성의 하향 교신주파수를 선정하여야 하고 아울러 RF 통신링크 설계나 지상국 시스템을 구성하여야 함을 확인하였다.

• 항공우주시스템공학회지
• /
• 제9권4호
• /
• pp.37-42
• /
• 2015

The CubeSats is classified as a pico-class satellite which requires a ground station to track the satellite, transmit commands, and receive an on-orbit data such as SOH (State-of-Health) and mission data according to the operation plan. In order to this, the ground station system has to be properly designed to perform a communication to with the satellite with enough up- and down-link budgets. In this study, a conceptual design of the ground station has been performed for the CubeSat named as STEP Cube Lab. (Cube Laboratory for Space Technology Experimental Project). The paper includes a ground station hardware interface design, a link budget analysis and a ground station software realization. In addition, the operation plan of the ground station has been established considering the STEP Cube Lab. mission requirements.