Session
Technical Session V: Getting There
Abstract
Gaining access to space is currently a major challenge facing small satellites. Developers must find reliable, affordable, and most importantly compatible rideshares to put their small satellites on orbit. Commercial Resupply Service (CRS) missions to the International Space Station (ISS) have the potential to provide a robust and repetitive platform for small satellite rideshares. There are currently nine planned missions of the Cygnus spacecraft to the ISS extending through 2016, with a strong potential for additional missions beyond 2016. Cygnus enables hosting and rideshare opportunities at a regular interval, thus filling the void left after the retirement of the space shuttle. The Cygnus spacecraft can potentially accommodate up to the equivalent of 18U of CubeSat volume. Cygnus rideshares would be capable of utilizing power generated from its solar arrays, TT&C capacity, and attitude control capability prior to deployment. The Antares launch vehicle which provides access to space for Cygnus also has the capability to support deployable rideshares at low altitudes. This paper details the opportunities for rideshares on CRS missions and the unique capabilities of the Cygnus rideshare platform to enable low cost, regularly scheduled rides for small satellites and small satellite technology. Current research on the mission concept of operations, rideshare accommodation interfaces and mechanisms, mission lifetime trades, integration and test flow, and ground architecture are investigated in the paper.
Presentation Slides
Small Satellite Rideshares on Commercial Resupply Missions to the International Space Station
Gaining access to space is currently a major challenge facing small satellites. Developers must find reliable, affordable, and most importantly compatible rideshares to put their small satellites on orbit. Commercial Resupply Service (CRS) missions to the International Space Station (ISS) have the potential to provide a robust and repetitive platform for small satellite rideshares. There are currently nine planned missions of the Cygnus spacecraft to the ISS extending through 2016, with a strong potential for additional missions beyond 2016. Cygnus enables hosting and rideshare opportunities at a regular interval, thus filling the void left after the retirement of the space shuttle. The Cygnus spacecraft can potentially accommodate up to the equivalent of 18U of CubeSat volume. Cygnus rideshares would be capable of utilizing power generated from its solar arrays, TT&C capacity, and attitude control capability prior to deployment. The Antares launch vehicle which provides access to space for Cygnus also has the capability to support deployable rideshares at low altitudes. This paper details the opportunities for rideshares on CRS missions and the unique capabilities of the Cygnus rideshare platform to enable low cost, regularly scheduled rides for small satellites and small satellite technology. Current research on the mission concept of operations, rideshare accommodation interfaces and mechanisms, mission lifetime trades, integration and test flow, and ground architecture are investigated in the paper.
