Session
Technical Session VII: New Mission or Bus Concepts I
Abstract
FalconSat-l is the first of a series of small satellites being designed, built, and operated by cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy. FalconSat-1 's primary mission is to carry the Charging Hazard and Wake Studies-Long Duration (CHAWS-LD) space physics experiment. This mission is accomplished by cadets from various academic departments working with faculty mentors and experts from industry and other universities. The culmination of this work will come on 15 Sep 99, when FalconSat-1 is lifted into a nearly sun-synchronous orbit atop the Air Force's new Minotaur launch vehicle. This paper summarizes the design of each major subsystem. The electrical power system consists of solar panels mounted on 5 of 6 sides of the cubic-like structure of the satellite supplemented by rechargeable batteries. The communication system uses Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying for modulation of signals along with a hybrid coupler for polarization purposes to drive it two transmitters and receivers. A cadet team has developed the software for the spacecraft and ground control as well as operations procedures for the cadet run ground station. The attitude determination and control system uses a magnetometer and an electromagnetic torque rod to keep the satellite aligned with the earth's field lines.
Pre-Flight Characteristics of the U.S. Air Force Academy's FalconSat-1
FalconSat-l is the first of a series of small satellites being designed, built, and operated by cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy. FalconSat-1 's primary mission is to carry the Charging Hazard and Wake Studies-Long Duration (CHAWS-LD) space physics experiment. This mission is accomplished by cadets from various academic departments working with faculty mentors and experts from industry and other universities. The culmination of this work will come on 15 Sep 99, when FalconSat-1 is lifted into a nearly sun-synchronous orbit atop the Air Force's new Minotaur launch vehicle. This paper summarizes the design of each major subsystem. The electrical power system consists of solar panels mounted on 5 of 6 sides of the cubic-like structure of the satellite supplemented by rechargeable batteries. The communication system uses Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying for modulation of signals along with a hybrid coupler for polarization purposes to drive it two transmitters and receivers. A cadet team has developed the software for the spacecraft and ground control as well as operations procedures for the cadet run ground station. The attitude determination and control system uses a magnetometer and an electromagnetic torque rod to keep the satellite aligned with the earth's field lines.
