Cubesat Efforts

Transcription

1 Cubesat Efforts Presented at the 2012 AMSAT Space Symposium Presenters: Robert W. McGwier, N4HY Zachary J. Leffke, KJ4QLP

2 Symposium Presenters Robert W. McGwier, Ph. D. Callsign: N4HY Virginia Tech ECE Research Professor Hume Center for National Security and Technology Director of Research Former Vice President of Engineering, AMSAT Zachary J. Leffke Callsign: KJ4QLP Virginia Tech Graduate Student, MSEE Hume Center for National Security and Technology

3 Agenda Overview Research Interest and Capabilities Research Facilities Project Examples Cubesat Efforts DUSTIE LAICE FOX-1 Virginia Tech Cube Satellite Control Facility

4 Agenda Overview Research Interest and Capabilities Research Facilities Project Examples Cubesat Efforts DUSTIE LAICE FOX-1 Virginia Tech Cube Satellite Control Facility

5 Overview Our mission is to provide forefront research, instruction, and educational outreach in the fields of space science and engineering utilizing a holistic approach of theoretical modeling, advanced simulation techniques, space system and instrument design, and experimental data acquisition, analysis and interpretation. Director Professor Wayne Scales, Ph. D. Assistant Director Professor Robert Clauer, Ph. D. Collaboration between VT ECE and AOE 12 Virginia Tech Faculty Members (Including Dr. McGwier) 3 Research Associates Over 25 Graduate Students images from:

6 Overview Research Interest and Capabilities Research Interests: Upper Atmospheric and Space Plasma Physics Space Weather Investigations Spacecraft Dynamics and Control Spacecraft Advanced Propulsion Techniques Spacecraft Environmental Interactions Research Capabilities: Satellite Mission Design and Remote Sensing Space-based Instrument Development Ground-based Instrument Development Spacecraft Modeling, Simulation, and Design Physics-based Modeling, Simulation, and High Performance Computing Global Navigation Satellite System Receiver Design Reference:

7 Overview Research Interest and Capabilities Research Facilities: Global Navigation Satellite System GNSS Laboratory Space Systems Simulation Laboratory Aeronomy/Remote Sensing Laboratory Advanced Space Computation Laboratory SuperDARN Space Weather Radar Facility Space Plasma Chamber Magnetosphere - Ionosphere Science Team (MIST) Reference:

8 Overview SuperDARN - Super Dual Auroral Radar Network Reference:

9 Overview SuperDARN - Super Dual Auroral Radar Network Over 25 Radar Locations around the world Operating Frequency: 8 20 MHz Field Of View: Polar Regions of Earth Observes the motion of charged particles (plasma) in the ionsphere and other effects. Provides insight into space weather hazards including high altitude radiation exposure and disruptions to communications networks, navigation systems (GPS), and the electrical power grid. Currently: 6 VT Faculty and Staff, 7 VT Graduate Students 13 Authored Publications, 19 Co-Authored Publications Northern Radar Institutions: Virginia Tech: 6 Radar Locations Darthmouth College University of Leicester Nagoya University University of Saskatchewan National Institute of Information and Communications Technology University of Alaska, Fairbanks CNRS/LPCE JHU Applied Physics Laboratory Southern Radar Institutions: British Antarctic Survey CNRS/LPCE University of Alaska, Fairbanks South African National Space Agency National Institute of Polar Research La Trobe University Polar Research Institute of China Reference:

10 Overview SuperDARN - Super Dual Auroral Radar Network Reference:

11 Overview SuperDARN - Super Dual Auroral Radar Network Blackstone, Virginia Radar Site Kapuskasing, Canada Radar Site Reference:

12 Overview SuperDARN - Super Dual Auroral Radar Network Fort Hayes, Kansas Radar Site Reference:

13 Overview SuperDARN - Super Dual Auroral Radar Network Reference: Fort Hayes, Kansas Radar Site

14 Overview Magnetosphere - Ionosphere Science Team (MIST) We primarily investigate the interaction between the Earth's "magnetosphere" and its ionosphere. The magnetosphere is the cavity formed by the interaction between the solar wind and Earth's main magnetic field, that is generated by electric currents deep within the planet's core. The ionosphere is the top-most layer of the atmosphere, extending into space, where the atoms have been ionized by the ultraviolet rays from the Sun, forming a conductive "plasma". The magnetosphere is also filled with plasma. The regions of the magnetosphere that have magnetic field line "footprints " in either of two, oval-shaped regions in the ionosphere surrounding the polar caps collectively account for the aurora. Large-scale current systems and other effects carry momentum and energy from high to lower altitudes, resulting in electric fields and currents in the ionosphere. The driving force of this energy flow is the solar wind and the "Interplanetary Magnetic Field," known as the "IMF," which is carried outward from the Sun by the solar wind. The electric currents in the ionosphere produce variations in the magnetic field at the surface of the Earth. Measurements of these variations with magnetometers are often used to study the Magnetosphere-Ionosphere system. Principal Investigator: C. Robert Clauer (Bob), Ph. D., Co-Director of Space@VT Reference:

15 Overview Magnetosphere - Ionosphere Science Team (MIST) AAL-PIP deployment team members around the AAL-PIP system located at the South Pole (January 4, 2012) Reference:

16 Agenda Overview Research Interest and Capabilities Research Facilities Project Examples Cubesat Efforts DUSTIE LAICE FOX-1 Virginia Tech Cube Satellite Control Facility

17 Overview Cubesat Efforts The Satellites DUst Sounder and Temperature Imager Experiment (DUSTIE) Size: 3U Lower Atmosphere/Ionosphere Coupling Experiment (LAICE) Size: 6U (2U x 3U or Sixpack ) AMSAT FOX-1 Size: 1U The Ride To Space NASA Educational Launch of Nano Satellites Program (ELaNa) Selection: February 2012 Launch Date: 2013/2014

18 Cubesats and DUst Sounder and Temperature Imager Experiment (DUSTIE) VT Faculty: Dr. Scott Bailey & Dr. Robert McGwier MISSION: Determine the global distribution of cosmic smoke in the atmosphere. DUSTIE will use a digital camera to image the Sun at µm during spacecraft sunrise and sunset. This will provide measurements to characterize the smoke distribution over the altitude range of ~40 to 90 km. (information from: images from:

19 Cubesats and Lower Atmosphere/Ionosphere Coupling Experiment (LAICE) VT Faculty: Dr. Greg Earle MISSION: We re basically trying to measure the wind in a vacuum. Neutral particles move when the atmosphere changes temperature, like wind on the earth s surface. Dr. Earle is developing a new kind of transducer to measure these neutral winds. The instrument is basically a parallel plate capacitor in which one plate is a flexible silicon membrane with a thin metal coating, change the distance between the plates, the capacitance changes. (information from: Space@VT brochure, available at (images from:

20 Cubesats and FOX-1 Project Leader: Anthony Monteiro VT Faculty: Dr. Robert McGwier MISSION: Fox-1 s Primary mission will be to carry an FM repeater operating in the amateur radio 70cm (uplink) and 2m (downlink) frequencies. This will provide a service similar to the now dead AO-51 communications services. In addition to this the cubesat will support a Penn State University 3-axis MEMS gyro sensor developed as a senior design project. VT s Part of the Mission: Imaging Experiment (Not SSTV) (images from Power Point Presentations available at

21 Agenda Overview Research Interest and Capabilities Research Facilities Project Examples Cubesat Efforts DUSTIE LAICE FOX-1 Virginia Tech Cube Satellite Control Facility

22 Virginia Tech Cube Satellite Control Facility Primary Mission: To provide Cube Satellite Tracking Telemetry and Control (TT&C) services as well as science payload data services for Virginia Tech cube satellites as well providing support and capabilities to ongoing US government sponsored research programs here at Virginia Tech. Secondary Mission: To provide the same cube satellite services to other entities involved in cube satellite missions through cooperation via the Global Educational Network for Satellite Operations (GENSO) Network. The Problem: Diverse protocols and modulation schemes are used in currently existing cube satellites communications. Virginia Tech Solution: To utilize Software Defined Radio technology in conjunction with quality hardware in the ground control facility to accomplish the mission.

23 Virginia Tech Cube Satellite Control Facility RF Chain and Control Chain

24 Virginia Tech Cube Satellite Control Facility Frequency Selection Amateur Radio Band Frequency Range Satellite Sub Band Note 2 meters (VHF) 144 to 148 MHz 144 to 146 MHz 70 centimeters (UHF) 430 to 450 MHz 435 to 438 MHz 23 centimeters (L-Band) 1240 to 1300 MHz 1260 to 1270 MHz Uplink Only 13 centimeters (S-Band) 2300 to 2310 MHz and 2400 to 2403 MHz 2390 to 2450 MHz

25 Virginia Tech Cube Satellite Control Facility The Antennas S-Band (13cm) VHF / UHF (2m / 70cm) M 2 Antennas Inc. Circular Polarization RHCP/LHCP Sense Selectable High Gain, Directional L-Band (23cm)

26 Virginia Tech Cube Satellite Control Facility The Antennas NOTE: This is the exact model we would receive from M2 Antennas Inc. with the AZEL1000 System Images from

27 Virginia Tech Cube Satellite Control Facility Cable Runs LEGEND VHF/UHF Yagi 23cm Dish 13cm Dish VSAT terminal Junction Box Access Conduit Metal Wall N AC Unit AC Unit run ACCESS HATCH 47

28 Virginia Tech Cube Satellite Control Facility Cable Runs Access Conduit 5 Junction Box ROOF TOP 2 17 Termination Plate 2 nd Floor st Floor GROUND COMMS Closet OPS Room

29 Virginia Tech Cube Satellite Control Facility Control Room Termination Plates RF Cable Termination Plate J1 J2 J3 J4 2m 70cm 23cm 13cm J5 J6 J7 J8 VSAT ALT - A ALT - B GPS Control Cable Termination Plate E F G D H A C B E F G D H A C B E F G D H A C B E F G D H A C B E F G D H A C B C B A J1 J2 J3 J4 J5 J6 J7 Webcam AC Power

30 Virginia Tech Cube Satellite Control Facility Rackmount Equipment 2 U 42 U 2 U Power Amplifier 2 U 3 U Custom 2m PC-Interface 1 U KVM 70cm FWD RFL FWD RFL Coax Relays Power Meter 2 U 2m/70cm XVTRs S-Band XVTRs 2 U Sequencer 1 U 1 U GPS/10 MHz Dist USRP N210s 2 U Radio/TNC Shelf 2 U Remote Relay Control 3 U RC2800PRKX2SU Yagi AZ/EL Control 42 U 2 U RF Panel GPS 13cm 70cm 2m 2 U 2 U Rotator Elevator 70cm LNA/Pol 2m LNA/Pol 2 U Yagi Control Dish Control 2 U Dish Az Dish El 13cm LNA / Pol 2 U Remote SPDT Relay / ADC 2 U Remote DPDT Relay 2 U Fuse Fuse Block Block +12 VDC Distribution 1 U 1 U Server Network Shelf 3 U 12VDC Power Supply 1 U 1 U Remote AC Power Distribution 2 U UPS

31 Virginia Tech Cube Satellite Control Facility Network and Control Daemons G-5500 RS-232 Interface 13cm Dish Positioner 23cm Dish Positioner GNU-Radio Waveform N210 USRP GNU-Radio Waveform N210 USRP SPDT ADC DPDT Relay Control Roof Top Webcam Serial to Ethernet Serial to Ethernet Serial to Ethernet C Port: XXX D Port: XXX E Port: XXX F Port: XXX A Port: XXX B Port: XXX/XXX B Port: XXX/XXX LAN G Port: XXX Tracking Daemon RF Daemon MODEM Daemon Relay Daemon G Port: XXX PREDICT System Controller GENSO Interface GUI

32 Virginia Tech Cube Satellite Control Facility Graphical User Interface BB-PP BB DATA MOD TX XVTR HPA TX Antenna Pol: RHCP / LHCP BB TLM Command Scheduler Doppler Control Relay Control Sequencer ACU AZ: 000 EL: 000 Profile Control DEM RX XVTR LNA RX Antenna Pol: RHCP / LHCP

33 Questions???