On-Orbit Performance of the BCT XB-1 Spacecraft and GN&C Components
Session
Session 4: Lessons Learned
Abstract
Blue Canyon Technologies (BCT) currently has a variety of hardware operating in space with multiple missions launched in 2016. The deployment of the Miniature X-ray Solar Spectrometer (MinXSS) 3U CubeSat from ISS on May 16, 2016 was the first mission to operate the high accuracy pointing, complete GN&C subsystem XACT. The first on-orbit operation of the BCT XB-1 spacecraft bus occurred with the launch of the APL Radiometer Assessment using Vertically Aligned Nanotubes (RAVAN) 3U Cubesat on November 11, 2016. Finally, the NASA Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) constellation of eight microsatellites was deployed from an Orbital ATK Pegasus XL rocket on December 15, 2016 and each spacecraft has a BCT Nano Star Tracker and three p015 reaction wheels. This paper reviews on-orbit performance of these components and systems. Detailed analysis of on-orbit telemetry is used to assess performance, with an emphasis on pointing accuracy but also including momentum control, safe mode operations, and other aspects. The results indicate a variety of solutions, ranging from high performing GN&C components to a complete spacecraft bus, capable of providing high-accuracy pointing for small satellites.
Presentation
On-Orbit Performance of the BCT XB-1 Spacecraft and GN&C Components
Blue Canyon Technologies (BCT) currently has a variety of hardware operating in space with multiple missions launched in 2016. The deployment of the Miniature X-ray Solar Spectrometer (MinXSS) 3U CubeSat from ISS on May 16, 2016 was the first mission to operate the high accuracy pointing, complete GN&C subsystem XACT. The first on-orbit operation of the BCT XB-1 spacecraft bus occurred with the launch of the APL Radiometer Assessment using Vertically Aligned Nanotubes (RAVAN) 3U Cubesat on November 11, 2016. Finally, the NASA Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) constellation of eight microsatellites was deployed from an Orbital ATK Pegasus XL rocket on December 15, 2016 and each spacecraft has a BCT Nano Star Tracker and three p015 reaction wheels. This paper reviews on-orbit performance of these components and systems. Detailed analysis of on-orbit telemetry is used to assess performance, with an emphasis on pointing accuracy but also including momentum control, safe mode operations, and other aspects. The results indicate a variety of solutions, ranging from high performing GN&C components to a complete spacecraft bus, capable of providing high-accuracy pointing for small satellites.
