MEMS in Space A New Technology Advancing from Flight Experiment to Proven COTS Product

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Roxanne Chapman
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1 Changing the economics of space MEMS in Space A New Technology Advancing from Flight Experiment to Proven COTS Product Andrew Carrel (Surrey Satellite Technology) Paul Alderton (Atlantic Inertial Systems) Presented by: Alex da Silva Curiel (Surrey Satellite Technology)

2 MEMS Technology & Small Satellites Small satellite missions Compact, low mass Smaller power budgets Low cost MEMS sensor technology Wafer-thin, micro-machined sensors Low power consumption Cost-savings of mass production techniques rd Annual Conference on Small Satellites 2

Past Success with MEMS Rate Sensors MEMS

Giove-A Inertial Sensor & ADCS Interface

3 Past Success with MEMS Rate Sensors MEMS rate sensor (QRS11) flight experiment on UoSat-12 mission (1999) UoSat-12 MEMS Rate Sensor This MEMS unit is used in the Giove-A inertial sensor Operating well in MEO since December 2005 Giove-A Giove-A Inertial Sensor & ADCS Interface rd Annual Conference on Small Satellites 3

Silicon Ring MEMS Rate Sensor RRS01 unit from

Coriolis force moves node of oscillation Motion of

current is then proportional to angular rate

4 Silicon Ring MEMS Rate Sensor RRS01 unit from Atlantic Inertial Systems Resonating silicon ring Coriolis force moves node of oscillation Motion of node is controlled to null position Control drive current is then proportional to angular rate Silicon Resonator rd Annual Conference on Small Satellites 4

First Flight on BilSat-1 Launched September 2003 Inertial Sensor module with 4 RRS01 rate sensors Rate sensor performance assessed on-orbit Useful flight experience Improved understanding of bias

5 First Flight on BilSat-1 Launched September 2003 Inertial Sensor module with 4 RRS01 rate sensors Rate sensor performance assessed on-orbit Useful flight experience Improved understanding of bias characteristics Milli- 50 Degrees per second BilSat-1 IS Module AOCS Estimated Rate Kalmn-filtered Rate Estimate Bias-Only Estimate Time (Seconds) rd Annual Conference on Small Satellites 5

synchronize clock Processing electronics use SSTL heritage parts

6 MIRAS-01 Development RRS01 rate sensor incorporated into SSTL MIRAS-01 Inertial Sensor Bandwidth is limited to 10Hz to minimise noise PPS input to synchronize clock Processing electronics use SSTL heritage parts Cold-Redundant Pair of MIRAS-01 Inertial Sensors rd Annual Conference on Small Satellites 6

7 Performance Allan Variance testing used to characterise noise & bias stability of each unit Noise is 0.01 deg/sec/rt-hz Bias stability is 10 deg/hr over 1hr Allan Variance Plot Bias characterisation process gives full performance over operating temperature range (-20degC to +50degC) Rotation Test at +50degC rd Annual Conference on Small Satellites 7

8 Reliability of Performance Resonating ring sensors are made using silicon-wafer mass-production techniques These are produced by the million for the commercial market RRS01 sensors are the selected upper percentile, ensuring consistency of performance High volumes give excellent understanding of small variations in characteristics rd Annual Conference on Small Satellites 8

Qualification Robust RRS01 rate sensors, built for military applications MIRAS-01 random vibration tolerance is 25 g-rms Silicon ring is very strong, giving module high shock tolerance

9 Qualification Robust RRS01 rate sensors, built for military applications MIRAS-01 random vibration tolerance is 25 g-rms Silicon ring is very strong, giving module high shock tolerance Sensors tested to 20kRad (Si) Little affect on performance over this range Dose rate inside box can be shielded down for harsher environments rd Annual Conference on Small Satellites 9

Applications 6 modules delivered to space missions

uses on missions: Agile spacecraft Autonomous

mitigation Anomaly detection Kanopus MIRAS-01

10 Applications 6 modules delivered to space missions 4 more built and another 4 in manufacture Different uses on missions: Agile spacecraft Autonomous de-tumble & Sun acquisition Star camera blinding mitigation Anomaly detection Kanopus MIRAS-01 NigeriaSat rd Annual Conference on Small Satellites 10

11 Evolving Technology Improved resonator ring design now available Addition of second conductor track Doubled sensor SNR Can be incorporated directly into MIRAS-01 MIRAS-02 Will be based closely on MIRAS-01 heritage More compact, lower mass Performance enhancements rd Annual Conference on Small Satellites 11

12 Conclusions MEMS technology well-suited to Small Satellite missions SSTL have taken MEMS Inertial Sensors from space flight experiments to a production product In-flight experience has shown MEMS sensors to be effective for space missions rd Annual Conference on Small Satellites 12

13 Changing the economics of space Thank You Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. Tycho House, 20 Stephenson Road, Surrey Research Park, Guildford, Surrey, GU27YE, United Kingdom Tel: +44(0) Fax:+44(0) Web:

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