Session
Weekday Poster Session 4
Location
Utah State University, Logan, UT
Abstract
Since the beginning of 2022, development of the ”PEDAGO-SAT” platform has been underway, in line with a 36-months development plan that proposes a nano-satellite platform (Open -source) using an accessible products. The main objective is to design a training solution aligned with the Algerian Space Agency’s (ASAL) strategy to promote local aerospace activity and encourage national universities to play a role in advancing this sector. Once the nanosatellite is built and the tests on the various sub-systems and learning scenarios and procedure validated, the project’s outcome will be proposed as an educational support to space engineering graduates and training the young professionals recently employed. In perspective, this platform is intended to be used through a potentially collaboration with universities to supervise the work master’s and/or doctoral theses related to the space domain, in order to initiate common researches on various topics such as on-board energy, embedded systems, attitude and orbit control, sensors, thermal control, flight software, payload and mission, and so on. Upon finalization of this platform, and a replication and dissemination process are engaged, it will serve as a cornerstone hub for the continuous accumulation of knowledge and expertise in this field. Considering the multidisciplinary nature of the project and the complexity of the training mission expected from the platform, project management required unconventional approaches. This starts by segmenting the project into multiple sub-projects, executed in phases. Each sub-project covers the development of a single equipment and/or test or emulation facility, instead of a satellite sub-system. In the course of the project’s evolution, the platform architecture (mechanics & avionics) initially proposed has been readjusted numerous times to fit in with the ongoing needs and evolving trends in the intended community. In this mindset, a customized development cycle was adopted for this project to validate its solutions, based on an agile management approach. This has made possible the early partial exploitation of the PEDAGO-SAT platform for training students being internships at our center. At this stage of the project, we’ll be reporting on the progress made with particular emphasis on the avionics part built upon a back-plane architecture, and the integrated computing unit based on the ”MCU: SAM3X8E” core will handle the functions of the on-board computer (OBC_0) and attitude control operations (ADCS), the development status of flight software, and the efforts invested in the development of the mechanical structure and certain equipment (battery, magneto-torquer, reaction wheels, etc.), as well as the proposed arrangement for equipment on the satellite. To operate this nanosatellite platform, test facilities and tools are being developed, as well as the test control station, which will also be a topic of discussion, considering the hardware-in-loop (HIL) tests envisaged for the training aspect. In this work we will also discus the new development of an optical payload, designed to be integrated into the PEDAGO-SAT, with its training program on the imager, opto-mechanics, functional testing and integration aspects.
The Progress Ahead on the PEDAGO-SAT Academic Nanosatellite Training Platform Project
Utah State University, Logan, UT
Since the beginning of 2022, development of the ”PEDAGO-SAT” platform has been underway, in line with a 36-months development plan that proposes a nano-satellite platform (Open -source) using an accessible products. The main objective is to design a training solution aligned with the Algerian Space Agency’s (ASAL) strategy to promote local aerospace activity and encourage national universities to play a role in advancing this sector. Once the nanosatellite is built and the tests on the various sub-systems and learning scenarios and procedure validated, the project’s outcome will be proposed as an educational support to space engineering graduates and training the young professionals recently employed. In perspective, this platform is intended to be used through a potentially collaboration with universities to supervise the work master’s and/or doctoral theses related to the space domain, in order to initiate common researches on various topics such as on-board energy, embedded systems, attitude and orbit control, sensors, thermal control, flight software, payload and mission, and so on. Upon finalization of this platform, and a replication and dissemination process are engaged, it will serve as a cornerstone hub for the continuous accumulation of knowledge and expertise in this field. Considering the multidisciplinary nature of the project and the complexity of the training mission expected from the platform, project management required unconventional approaches. This starts by segmenting the project into multiple sub-projects, executed in phases. Each sub-project covers the development of a single equipment and/or test or emulation facility, instead of a satellite sub-system. In the course of the project’s evolution, the platform architecture (mechanics & avionics) initially proposed has been readjusted numerous times to fit in with the ongoing needs and evolving trends in the intended community. In this mindset, a customized development cycle was adopted for this project to validate its solutions, based on an agile management approach. This has made possible the early partial exploitation of the PEDAGO-SAT platform for training students being internships at our center. At this stage of the project, we’ll be reporting on the progress made with particular emphasis on the avionics part built upon a back-plane architecture, and the integrated computing unit based on the ”MCU: SAM3X8E” core will handle the functions of the on-board computer (OBC_0) and attitude control operations (ADCS), the development status of flight software, and the efforts invested in the development of the mechanical structure and certain equipment (battery, magneto-torquer, reaction wheels, etc.), as well as the proposed arrangement for equipment on the satellite. To operate this nanosatellite platform, test facilities and tools are being developed, as well as the test control station, which will also be a topic of discussion, considering the hardware-in-loop (HIL) tests envisaged for the training aspect. In this work we will also discus the new development of an optical payload, designed to be integrated into the PEDAGO-SAT, with its training program on the imager, opto-mechanics, functional testing and integration aspects.
