Differential Optical Shadow Sensor CubeSat Mission

Presenter Information

Andreas Zoellner, Hansen Experimental Physics Laboratory, Stanford University
Sasha Buchman, Hansen Experimental Physics Laboratory, Stanford University
John Conklin, Hansen Experimental Physics Laboratory, Stanford University
Dan DeBra, Hansen Experimental Physics Laboratory, Stanford University
Shally Saraf, Hansen Experimental Physics Laboratory, Stanford University
Seiya Shimizu, Hansen Experimental Physics Laboratory, Stanford University
Hamoud Aljibreen, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology

Session

Technical Session IX: Advanced Technologies II

Abstract

A CubeSat mission is proposed to demonstrate in orbit performance of the Differential Optical Shadow Sensor (DOSS), a high precision, compact, low-cost position sensor. The DOSS is used as displacement sensor in the Modular Gravitational Reference Sensor (MGRS). GRS technology enables advances in Earth science and precision distributed Earth-observing sensors, as well as space science, precise orbit determination and maintenance, and precision spacecraft formation flying. To reduce the overall mission risk for a proposed drag-free small satellite mission built around the MGRS, the DOSS is tested in a 2U CubeSat. The main mission objective is to raise the Technology Readiness Level for the sensor. The performance goal is a sensitivity of 1 nm at 1 mHz. This is over one order of magnitude improvement over the current setup which is largely limited by environmental noise. In order to achieve the low frequency stability, lock-in detection is used. The real-time signal processing required for drag-free control is demonstrated on a digital signal processor (DSP). This paper gives a system level overview of the proposed mission.