Cubesat Course Introduction

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Cubesat Course Introduction

• Fall 2004

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Presentation Overview

• Introduction to Cubesat
• Introduction to UIUC Cubesat Project
• People Involved
• Overall Project Status
• Overall Project Goals Fall 2004
• Team Overviews
• Class Information
• Resources
• DNEPR Kosmotras Movie!

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Cubesat Satellites

• Cubesat Project History.
• Started as collaboration between California
  Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) and
  Stanford University.
• Provides a standard for design of picosatellites.
• Provides for common deployer.
• Allows for reduced cost and development time.
• Lets any individual or organization develop their
  own satellite.
• Standard cubesat satellite is
• 10 cm cube with mass of 1kg.
• Approximately 60 registered Cubesat Teams.
• Typically launches provided by Russian company.
• Multiple cubesats piggy-back along commercial
  launch.
• 6 cubesats were launched Summer 2003.

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Cubesat Satellites

• The CubeSat program allows organizations to
  build and operate a low-budget spacecraft for a
  variety of applications. They are especially
  attractive to universities because they give
  students an opportunity to have hands-on
  experience on a real spacecraft -- a chance many
  students did not have in the past.

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University of Illinois Cubesat - Class

• Illinois Tiny Satellite Initiative started in
  August 2001.
• Approximately 15 students currently involved.
• Number of majors (AE, ECE, EE, ME, TAM, CS, GE).
• Divided into teams focused on specific areas.
• Over 40 veteran students involved to date.
• Currently working on finishing of ION.
• Double size cubesat.
• UIUC also in partnership with Taylor University
  to develop portions of their nanosat.

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University of Illinois Cubesat - Goals

• ION Cubesat Missions
• Measure light emission in atmosphere
• O2 releases light at 760 nm when it reacts
• Map out O2 light emission brightness across
  planet.
• Demonstrate the use of an active magnetic
  attitude system.
• Demonstrate the use of low-thrust electric
  thruster propulsion system.
• Photograph the Earth.

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University of Illinois Cubesat - ION

• Whats Onboard
• 4 Electric Thrusters Experimental control
  mechanism.
• 3 Torque Coils Primary control mechanism.
• Magnetometer Measures Earths magnetic field.
• Solar Panels/Batteries Provide power.
• CMOS Camera Takes B/W digital pictures.
• TNC Wireless modem for communications.
• Radio Provides 2-way communications.
• Flight Computer (SID) Controls satellite.
• Photo Multiplier Tube (PMT) Detects light
  emissions at 760 nm.
• Misc Power board, Router board, CDM, Antenna,
  Temperature sensors, Kill switches, PPU, PMT
  shutdown circuit.

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University of Illinois Cubesat - ION

• Costs
• Parts/Labor 30,000 USD.
• "As far as personal cost it varies, but
  university students are cheap."
• Launch 70,000 USD.
• Deliver to Cal Poly October 3, 2004
• Launch date Late Winter, 2004
• DNEPR launch provided by Kosmotras.
• 14 cubesat satellites expected launched.
• UIUC, Cornell, Norway, Cal Poly, South Korea,
  Taiwan, Arizona
• Launch Parameters
• Low Earth Orbit at 650-700 km.
• Orbit lifetime 14 years.

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People Involved

• Class Instructors
• AAE Advisor
• Victoria Coverstone (Orbital Mechanics).
• ECE Advisors
• Gary Swenson (Remote Sensing).
• Matt Frank (Computer Engineering).
• Project Managers/TAs
• Purvesh Thakker (ECE PhD Student)
• Mike Dabrowski (ECE MS Student)

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Overall Project Status

• As of end of Summer 2004
• Structure
• Frame built, all mounts made.
• Waiting for final mounting.
• Electronics
• Nearly all electronic components built, tested,
  working.
• Software
• Nearly all software written and done.
• Communications
• Working well enough. ?
• Attitude Control
• Integration
• Wiring nearly done.
• Lots of successful integration testing.
• Committed to launch.

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Overall Fall 2004 Goals

• For next month
• Madly continue testing remaining systems.
• Bug fixes.
• Full system tests.
• Finalize software, add nifty features.
• Test communications more.
• Physically mount all components in frame.
• Vibration testing of components.
• Vacuum/Thermal testing.
• Afterwards
• Prepare for satellite operations/procedures.
• Continue work on communications ground station.
• Other projects?

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Team Organization

• Software
• Electronics
• Mechanical
• ACS
• Other

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Team Organization - Software

• Generally lead by Mike Dabrowski.
• CS, ECE, AAE majors
• Typically responsible for
• All communications between ground and satellite.
• Ownership over computer and electronics
  interface.
• Ownership over TNC and radios.
• Device drivers and system software on satellite.
• Data collection/event scheduling
• Ground station software.
• End of Summer Status
• Plans

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Team Organization - Electronics

• Generally lead by Purvesh Thakker.
• EE, ECE, GE Majors
• Responsible for
• Construction of all electrical components.
• Testing/Integration of all systems.
• Cabling/Networks.
• Ownership over most components/instruments.
• Propulsion.
• All power management.
• End of Summer Status
• Plans

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Team Organization - Mechanical

• Generally lead by Aaron Dufrene.
• AAE, ME, TAM, GE Majors.
• Responsible for
• Fulfilling all cubesat physical spec
  requirements.
• Ownership of Frame, and Mounts, overall design.
• Construction.
• Vibration Testing.
• Thermal/Vacuum testing.
• End of Summer Status
• Plans

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Team Organization - ACS

• Generally lead by Andy Pukniel.
• AAE, CS, MATH, PHYSICS Majors
• Responsible for
• Attitude Control System design and
  implementation.
• Attitude/Orbit simulation
• Ground station software
• End of Summer Status
• Plans

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Team Organization - Other

• Additional work
• Integration Team
• Ground Station/Satellite Communications
• Satellite tracking / Antenna operation
• FCC/ Cal Poly / AMSAT Requirements
• Flight Operations

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Class Meetings

• Weekly Team Lead Meeting
• Weekly/Bi-Weekly Class
• Satellite presentation by advisors/faculty.
• Status of overall project.
• Lots of lab time

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Class Grades

• Based on ECE345 Senior Design Model
• Proposal (Team)
• Within first few weeks.
• Show understanding of what needs to be done.
• Design Review (Team)
• Present plans/specific details/responsibilities
  for the semester.
• Informal Demonstration (Team)
• Show the state of things/whats been
  accomplished.
• Presentation (Individual)
• Wrap up of the semester.
• Final Report (Team)
• Team Lead Feedback (Individual)
• Details/Grading Criteria/Credit to come.
• This format may be changed.

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Resources

• Course WWWFTP sites
• http//courses.ece.uiuc.edu/cubesat/
• ftp//courses.ece.uiuc.edu/cubesatpub/
• Labs
• 206K Talbot
• 330E Everitt Lab
• ECE Senior Design Lab
• Vibration Testing Lab
• CSL and Talbot
• Instructor/TA offices
• Meeting rooms
• ECE/Talbot Machine Shops

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Next Steps

• Team layouts to be finalized.
• Meet with Purvesh and Mike to find work.
• Get access to labs, computer accounts,
  information this week.
• Talbot Keys Prof. Coverstone
• Everitt Rooms Prof. Swenson
• Accounts/Computers/Information Mike or Purvesh
• Learn the overall state of the project and what
  must be done.
• Determine what youyour team is responsible for
  this semester.
• Start meeting with your teams/partners.
• Formally and informally a number of times a week.