Session
Session I: Existing and Near Term Missions
Abstract
TU Sat 1 is a multipurpose nanosatellite scheduled for launch on the first CubeSat mission, a 650 km polar orbit. TU Sat 1 provides a low-cost store and forward email communication system for individuals in 3rd world nations. The satellite includes a 115 Kbps primary transceiver and a 1.2 Kbps secondary Ham transceiver. The primary data link uses a 900 MHz COTS data transceiver with a lightweight patch antenna. The satellite 386 CPU on a board processes scientific data, emails and attachments into a 32 Mbyte flash drive. The scientific data is also stored on the 386 before downlink to the ground support equipment. Certain satellite systems are duty cycled to keep the total power usage under 100 watt-hours per day. The main radio link requires a semi-stable attitude, which is achieved through the 30 m gravity gradient tether. In addition, TU Sat 1 measures space plasma density, tether field electrodynamics, and 3-axis magnetic field variations. The technology of TU Sat 1 makes it a good test bed for future solo and constellation missions. Integrated technologies and efficient power control allow TU Sat 1 to be a highly functional satellite despite its small size, 2000 cubic cm, and mass, 1.5 kg. This paper focuses on the design of TU Sat 1 and how these technologies could be used in future low-cost missions.
TU Sat 1: A Novel Communications and Scientific Satellite
TU Sat 1 is a multipurpose nanosatellite scheduled for launch on the first CubeSat mission, a 650 km polar orbit. TU Sat 1 provides a low-cost store and forward email communication system for individuals in 3rd world nations. The satellite includes a 115 Kbps primary transceiver and a 1.2 Kbps secondary Ham transceiver. The primary data link uses a 900 MHz COTS data transceiver with a lightweight patch antenna. The satellite 386 CPU on a board processes scientific data, emails and attachments into a 32 Mbyte flash drive. The scientific data is also stored on the 386 before downlink to the ground support equipment. Certain satellite systems are duty cycled to keep the total power usage under 100 watt-hours per day. The main radio link requires a semi-stable attitude, which is achieved through the 30 m gravity gradient tether. In addition, TU Sat 1 measures space plasma density, tether field electrodynamics, and 3-axis magnetic field variations. The technology of TU Sat 1 makes it a good test bed for future solo and constellation missions. Integrated technologies and efficient power control allow TU Sat 1 to be a highly functional satellite despite its small size, 2000 cubic cm, and mass, 1.5 kg. This paper focuses on the design of TU Sat 1 and how these technologies could be used in future low-cost missions.
