Session
Session I: Existing and Near Term Missions
Abstract
University of Michigan students, with the mentoring support of engineers from NASA, Michigan, and elsewhere, have developed a small endmass satellite—dubbed Icarus—for NASA’s ProSEDS (Propulsive Small Expendable Deployer System) electrodynamic-tether propulsion mission. The ProSEDS experiment will be launched in late 2002 as a secondary payload attached to the second stage of a Delta–II launch vehicle. Following the completion of the Delta–II primary mission, the second stage will initiate a series of burns to place ProSEDS into a 360-km, near-circular orbit at an inclination of 35°. The Icarus endmass satellite will be cast off from the Delta–II second stage and be deployed in the zenith direction. The endmass will remain connected to the Delta–II via a combination space tether consisting of 5-km aluminum conducting tether nearest the Delta–II attached to 10-km nonconducting Spectra fiber, connected to the endmass. Throughout tether deployment, and for the duration of the ProSEDS mission, Icarus will collect and transmit data on tether deployment and dynamics. The endmass is responsible for providing tetherendbody location information (using a GPS receiver) and endbody attitude dynamics (using an aspect magnetometer). The data from these instruments will be stored and transmitted to ground telemetry stations. Power to the endmass will be provided by rechargable batteries and solar cells; an onboard command and data handling system will provide control functions. The endmass will continue to record and transmit data as ProSEDS lowers its altitude. Icarus also serves as a backup for mission location information to the main ProSEDS GPS receiver located on the Delta-II second stage.
The Icarus Student Satellite - A Fully Autonomous Student Built Small Satellite for NASA
University of Michigan students, with the mentoring support of engineers from NASA, Michigan, and elsewhere, have developed a small endmass satellite—dubbed Icarus—for NASA’s ProSEDS (Propulsive Small Expendable Deployer System) electrodynamic-tether propulsion mission. The ProSEDS experiment will be launched in late 2002 as a secondary payload attached to the second stage of a Delta–II launch vehicle. Following the completion of the Delta–II primary mission, the second stage will initiate a series of burns to place ProSEDS into a 360-km, near-circular orbit at an inclination of 35°. The Icarus endmass satellite will be cast off from the Delta–II second stage and be deployed in the zenith direction. The endmass will remain connected to the Delta–II via a combination space tether consisting of 5-km aluminum conducting tether nearest the Delta–II attached to 10-km nonconducting Spectra fiber, connected to the endmass. Throughout tether deployment, and for the duration of the ProSEDS mission, Icarus will collect and transmit data on tether deployment and dynamics. The endmass is responsible for providing tetherendbody location information (using a GPS receiver) and endbody attitude dynamics (using an aspect magnetometer). The data from these instruments will be stored and transmitted to ground telemetry stations. Power to the endmass will be provided by rechargable batteries and solar cells; an onboard command and data handling system will provide control functions. The endmass will continue to record and transmit data as ProSEDS lowers its altitude. Icarus also serves as a backup for mission location information to the main ProSEDS GPS receiver located on the Delta-II second stage.
