Session
Weekend Session 4: Next on the Pad - Research & Academia
Location
Utah State University, Logan, UT
Abstract
The Innovative CubeSat for Education (InnoCube) mission is a technology demonstrator cubesat mission relying on a fully wireless data-bus, set to launch in November 2024. This paper will discuss the mission objectives, design and implementation of the InnoCube mission with an emphasis on the wireless data bus. The mission is a collaborative project between the University of Wuerzburg and the Technische Universität Berlin in Germany. The mission objectives are to showcase the viability of a fully wireless data-bus for intra-satellite communication onboard cubesats and satellites in general, to provide a platform for testing and validating these new technologies, and to provide an opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience in the design and operation of a cubesat mission. The design of the InnoCube mission includes a 3U cubesat bus including the avionics, the wireless data-bus, and a suite of payloads provided by the TU Berlin. The wireless data bus is based on a time-division multiple access protocol and will enable the cubesat’s subsystems to communicate within the satellite, relying only on wireless means of communication. InnoCube will provide valuable insights and data concerning the feasibility of a wireless data bus for space applications, which can be especially beneficial to larger satellites and their associated large data harness. The mission will be operated from the Technische Universität Berlin and will be launched in 2024. Firstly, the paper will give an overview of the design of the satellite’s subsystems including the additional payloads. Then, the technology used in the wireless bus will be described. Special emphasis will be given to the integration and testing of the wireless bus before launch. This paper will also discuss the challenges associated with the InnoCube mission, such as the need for robust communication protocols, the need for reliable power sources, and the need for reliable redundancy control schemes. Additionally, the paper will discuss the potential applications of the technology demonstrated by the InnoCube mission along with their advantages and disadvantages compared to a traditional data harness. Finally, the paper will discuss the potential benefits and open topics for future missions using wireless technology for intra-satellite communication as demonstrated by the InnoCube mission.
InnoCube - Preparing the Fully Wireless Satellite Data Bus for Launch
Utah State University, Logan, UT
The Innovative CubeSat for Education (InnoCube) mission is a technology demonstrator cubesat mission relying on a fully wireless data-bus, set to launch in November 2024. This paper will discuss the mission objectives, design and implementation of the InnoCube mission with an emphasis on the wireless data bus. The mission is a collaborative project between the University of Wuerzburg and the Technische Universität Berlin in Germany. The mission objectives are to showcase the viability of a fully wireless data-bus for intra-satellite communication onboard cubesats and satellites in general, to provide a platform for testing and validating these new technologies, and to provide an opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience in the design and operation of a cubesat mission. The design of the InnoCube mission includes a 3U cubesat bus including the avionics, the wireless data-bus, and a suite of payloads provided by the TU Berlin. The wireless data bus is based on a time-division multiple access protocol and will enable the cubesat’s subsystems to communicate within the satellite, relying only on wireless means of communication. InnoCube will provide valuable insights and data concerning the feasibility of a wireless data bus for space applications, which can be especially beneficial to larger satellites and their associated large data harness. The mission will be operated from the Technische Universität Berlin and will be launched in 2024. Firstly, the paper will give an overview of the design of the satellite’s subsystems including the additional payloads. Then, the technology used in the wireless bus will be described. Special emphasis will be given to the integration and testing of the wireless bus before launch. This paper will also discuss the challenges associated with the InnoCube mission, such as the need for robust communication protocols, the need for reliable power sources, and the need for reliable redundancy control schemes. Additionally, the paper will discuss the potential applications of the technology demonstrated by the InnoCube mission along with their advantages and disadvantages compared to a traditional data harness. Finally, the paper will discuss the potential benefits and open topics for future missions using wireless technology for intra-satellite communication as demonstrated by the InnoCube mission.
