A High-Fidelity Ground-Based Space Environment Testbed Utilizing Magnetic Levitation for Fully Integrated Small Spacecraft

A High-Fidelity Ground-Based Space Environment Testbed Utilizing Magnetic Levitation for Fully Integrated Small Spacecraft

Utah State University, Logan, UT

Orbital debris has been, and will continue to be an issue for all space-bound systems and technologies. Small spacecraft are an increasing contribution to this issue with high rates of on-orbit failures. Developing a ground-based planar testbed with a near frictionless, vacuum environment for small spacecraft allows for higher fidelity, 3 degree of freedom (3DOF) testing of fully integrated propulsion systems and control algorithms prior to launch. Ultimately, this provides empirical data at a relatively low cost that can be used to reduce risk of on-orbit failures thereby mitigating contributions of small spacecraft to the growing orbital debris issue. A team at NASA’s White Sands Test Facility (WSTF) is investigating the use of high temperature super conducting (HTSC) materials to induce magnetic levitation of a small spacecraft, or a constellation of small spacecraft, to provide this 3 DOF testbed within one of WSTF’s existing space environment simulation chambers.