Session
Pre-Conference Workshop Session 1: Coordinating Successful Educational Programs
Location
Utah State University, Logan, UT
Abstract
The California Polytechnic State University’s Aerospace Engineering Department is developing a CubeSat Kit for educational, professional training, and capacity building purposes. The development of the CubeSat Kit follows phases and since its initiation in Fall 2019, eleven undergraduate students and three graduate students have been involved in the initiative. The first phase, CubeSat Kit Mk I, is planned to be completed by spring 2021. For Mk I, the Kit includes a structure, integrated payload processing module (IPPM), electrical power subsystem (EPS), and a backplane. The Kit’s Mk I structure was designed to enable additive and subtractive manufacturing. Hence, a wide range of the CubeSat community is able to manufacture the structure depending on their use case, manufacturing capabilities, and overall availability of resources. The IPPM is the interface between the CubeSat bus and payloads. The functions of the IPPM are to autonomously manage and operate all the payloads mounted on the CubeSat Kit, such as CMOS camera and thermal sensors. The EPS is based on direct-energy transfer, includes 5V and 3.3V voltage regulation, and implements lithium-ion battery pack. The IPPM and EPS boards are integrated on the CubeSat Kit using the backplane concept. In parallel to the structure, IPPM, EPS, and backplane, flight software is being developed to be integrated on the Kit’s on-board computer for Mk II. Upon completion, the flight software will enable the tasks management of the various elements of the CubeSat Kit. This paper details the design, performances, and verification of the Cal Poly CubeSat Kit Mk I and introduces the design plan for the CubeSat Kit Mk II.
Cal Poly CubeSat Kit - A Technical Introduction to Mk I
Utah State University, Logan, UT
The California Polytechnic State University’s Aerospace Engineering Department is developing a CubeSat Kit for educational, professional training, and capacity building purposes. The development of the CubeSat Kit follows phases and since its initiation in Fall 2019, eleven undergraduate students and three graduate students have been involved in the initiative. The first phase, CubeSat Kit Mk I, is planned to be completed by spring 2021. For Mk I, the Kit includes a structure, integrated payload processing module (IPPM), electrical power subsystem (EPS), and a backplane. The Kit’s Mk I structure was designed to enable additive and subtractive manufacturing. Hence, a wide range of the CubeSat community is able to manufacture the structure depending on their use case, manufacturing capabilities, and overall availability of resources. The IPPM is the interface between the CubeSat bus and payloads. The functions of the IPPM are to autonomously manage and operate all the payloads mounted on the CubeSat Kit, such as CMOS camera and thermal sensors. The EPS is based on direct-energy transfer, includes 5V and 3.3V voltage regulation, and implements lithium-ion battery pack. The IPPM and EPS boards are integrated on the CubeSat Kit using the backplane concept. In parallel to the structure, IPPM, EPS, and backplane, flight software is being developed to be integrated on the Kit’s on-board computer for Mk II. Upon completion, the flight software will enable the tasks management of the various elements of the CubeSat Kit. This paper details the design, performances, and verification of the Cal Poly CubeSat Kit Mk I and introduces the design plan for the CubeSat Kit Mk II.
