Deorbiter CubeSat mission design

This paper presents the mission design for a CubeSat-based active debris removal approach intended for transferring sizable debris objects from low-Earth orbit to a deorbit altitude of 100 km. The mission consists of a mothership spacecraft that carries and deploys several debris-removing nanosatellites, called Deorbiter CubeSats. Each Deorbiter is designed based on the utilization of an eight-unit CubeSat form factor and commercially-available components with significant flight heritage. The mothership spacecraft delivers Deorbiter CubeSats to the vicinity of a predetermined target debris, through performing a long-range rendezvous maneuver. Through a formation flying maneuver, the mothership then performs in-situ measurements of debris shape and orbital state. Upon release from the mothership, each Deorbiter CubeSat proceeds to performing a rendezvous and attachment maneuver with a debris object. Once attached to the debris, the CubeSat performs a detumbling maneuver, by which the residual angular momentum of the CubeSat-debris system is dumped using Deorbiter’s onboard reaction wheels. After stabilizing the attitude motion of the combined Deorbiter-debris system, the CubeSat proceeds to performing a deorbiting maneuver, i.e., reducing system’s altitude so much so that the bodies disintegrate and burn up due to atmospheric drag, typically at around 100 km above the Earth surface. The attitude and orbital maneuvers that are planned for the mission are described, both for the mothership and Deorbiter CubeSat. The performance of each spacecraft during their operations is investigated, using the actual performance specifications of the onboard components. The viability of the proposed debris removal approach is discussed in light of the results.     

面向立方星的相对位姿测量视觉传感器设计

针对立方星在轨服务任务中的近距离相对导航问题，提出一种相对位姿测量视觉传感器设计。为应对空间复杂的光照条件，设计一种具有多层结构的立体靶标，选取波长为850nm的LED灯作为立体靶标的光源。在相机镜头处安装850nm的红外窄带滤镜以提高立体靶标成像质量。为提高视觉传感器的测量精度，提出一种迭代直接求解(iterative direct solution, IDS)的相对位姿估计算法。该算法直接利用立体靶标上的非共面点提供的深度信息获得初始相对位姿，然后引入Haralick迭代算法来优化初始测量结果。搭建六自由度实验平台对该视觉传感器进行性能测试。实验结果表明,该视觉传感器能克服背景光的干扰，且提出的 IDS相对位姿估计算法的精度优于经典的P3P算法和EPnP算法。     

Rapid model-based inter-disciplinary design of a CubeSat mission

With an increase in the use of small, modular, resource-limited satellites for Earth orbiting applications, the benefit to be had from a model-based architecture that rapidly searches the mission trade-space and identifies near-optimal designs is greater than ever. This work presents an architecture that identifies trends between conflicting objectives (e.g. lifecycle cost and performance) and decision variables (e.g. orbit altitude and inclination) such that informed assessment can be made as to which design/s to take on for further analysis. The models within the architecture exploit analytic methods where possible, in order avoid computationally expensive numerical propagation, and achieve rapid convergence. Two mission cases are studied; the first is an Earth observation satellite and presents a trade-off between ground sample distance and revisit time over a ground target, given altitude as the decision variable. The second is a satellite with a generic scientific payload and shows a more involved trade-off, between data return to a ground station and cost of the mission, given variations in the orbit altitude, inclination and ground station latitude. Results of each case are presented graphically and it is clear that non-intuitive results are captured that would typically be missed using traditional, point-design methods, where only discrete scenarios are examined.     

立方体星的技术发展和应用前景

系统论述了立方体星技术发展的三个阶段;从2010-2013年已成功发射的立方体星与纳卫星中挑选了10颗典型卫星,研究分析其技术水平、应用价值和特点优势;并重点论述了立方体纳卫星的应用;最后预测了立方体纳卫星的未来应用前景。     

甚小型卫星发展综述

介绍了立方星(CubeSat)、片上卫星(SpaceChip)、印制电路板卫星(PCBSat)、多芯片组件卫星(MCMSat)4种甚小型卫星的发展情况和技术特点。CubeSat技术最为成熟,已发射多颗此类卫星,但体积固定,成本较高;SpaceChip是卫星小型化的最终目标,它成本最低,集成度最高,体积最小,但通信距离较短;PCBSat的成本和性能居中,设计复杂度低,且元器件有商用现货供应,但功耗较大;MCMSat综合了PCBSat和SpaceChip的技术特点,技术复杂。我国甚小型卫星可选择优先发展PCBSat;重点突破商用现货元器件的筛选,以及空间应用技术、一体化姿态控制技术、新型微推进技术、轻型高效的蓄电池和太阳电池技术等。     

Analysis and design of Cubesat constellation for the Mediterranean south costal monitoring against illegal immigration

Costal monitoring is focused on fast response to illegal immigration and illegal ship traffic. Especially, the illegal ship traffic has been present in media since April 2015, as the number of reported deaths of immigrants crossing the Mediterranean significantly increased. Satellite images provide a possibility to at least partially control both types of events. This paper defines the principal criteria to select the best satellite constellation architecture for maritime and coastal monitoring, filling the gaps of imagery techniques in term of real-time control. The primary purpose of a constellation is to obtain global measurement improving the temporal resolution. The small size and low-cost are the main factors, which make CubeSats ideal for use in constellations. We propose a constellation of 9 Cubesats distributed evenly in 3 different planes. This reduces the revisit time enhancing the coverage duration. In addition, it also allows observing fire, damage on building and similar disasters. In this analysis, the performance criteria were reported such as the revisit time, the vision duration and the area coverage.     

立方星电源系统最大功率点跟踪优化控制方法

针对立方星在能量来源严重受限条件下如何提高太阳能利用率的难题，提出一种适用于立方星的集中供电式空间微电源架构(EPS)，并设计基于改进粒子群优化算法的最大功率点跟踪(MPPT)控制策略来提升能量转换效率。首先，推导太阳电池阵列的数学模型，并根据太阳电池阵列的工作特性，提出电源系统最大功率点跟踪控制的物理系统实现结构。其次，设计基于改进粒子群优化(PSO)的最大功率点跟踪控制算法，并进行了数学仿真校验。最后，对所设计的电源系统架构进行了硬件实现和试验验证。地面试验结果表明，电源系统的太阳能最大转换效率可达95.5%。该电源系统成功应用于世界首颗12U立方星“翱翔之星”的飞行试验，在轨数据表明电源系统工作状态良好，为微纳卫星电源系统的设计提供了有益参考。     

基于可靠性分析的立方星网络维护架构优化

立方星编队或星座构成分布式空间传感器网络，可提高立方星执行复杂空间任务的能力。然而立方星易发生故障，其故障时间不确定性也导致了传感器网络性能的不稳定，这凸显了对立方星网络进行在轨维护的重要性。考虑立方星传感器网络的功能维持问题，描述了一种网络维护架构，通过定期发射、在轨备份立方星以及时更换故障立方星，从而提高网络对单星随机失效事件的快速响应与恢复能力。建立了该架构的运行成本模型，包括固定成本、储存成本和短缺成本。收集整理了真实的立方星寿命数据，并使用最大化拟合优度参数估计方法得到最优立方星寿命的随机模型。采用基于蒙特卡罗仿真的遗传算法优化备用立方星的补给时刻和补给数量，在备份成本与系统性能下降所带来的损失之间进行权衡，使得系统的综合收益最优。     

ΔDsat,a QB50 CubeSat mission to study rarefied-gas drag modelling

A CubeSat mission to study the impact of flow incidence angle, surface material and surface roughness on gas–surface interactions on spacecraft in low Earth orbits has been designed. To accomplish this scientific goal the CubeSat deploys a variable geometry aerofoil capable of exposing different surfaces to the flow at different incident angles. By using the on-board GPS measurements and an orbit determination technique the drag experienced by the CubeSat can be estimated. The CubeSat has been designed to be part of the QB50 mission, and hence it carries a sensor that can take in-situ measurements of the atmosphere. This is then used to estimate the atmospheric density and hence to extract information on the drag coefficient. To minimise any bias present in the measurement chain a differential approach is used. Therefore no absolute drag coefficients are estimated, instead, ratios of drag coefficients are computed. This allows direct comparisons of the drag coefficients of different materials, different surface roughness or different incident angles. Simulations indicate that this CubeSat mission will be able to obtain drag coefficient ratios with an uncertainty level of less than 5%.     

A multiple-CubeSat constellation for integrated earth observation and marine/air traffic monitoring

CubeSats has evolved from purely educational tools, to useful platforms for technology demonstration and many practical applications. This paper reviews a CubeSat constellation mission involving 3 CubeSats launched into orbit on Sep. 25th 2015, aiming to demonstrate the integrated application of low-cost CubeSat technologies with distributed payloads using a group of satellites, as well as to demonstrate several new technologies. The mission scenario, the satellite system design, the innovative technologies and instruments or devices used on the CubeSats and the in-orbit experimental results and the payload data analysis, as well as some experiences and lessons learned, are presented and summaried.