FRENCH STUDENT CUBESATS
CNES, The French space agency CNES, founded in 1961, is a public institution of an industrial and commercial nature, which : Proposes, designs and implements French space policy on behalf of the French government, conducts complex space programs, acts as a technology center with an ambitious program of R&D, Contributes to European space strategy, Has partnership agreements with a large number of countries in the world 2500 People in 4 Centers Headquarters Launch activities PARIS Les Halles 200p PARIS Daumesnil 250p Satellite activities Launch Base TOULOUSE 1800p KOUROU 250p
CNES, The French space agency A total budget of 2.1 G in 2016 Including 0.75G for ESA contribution Ariane 5,6 and Launch Base 45% Cross-functional activities 7% Telecoms 6% Defence 11% Science 14% Observation 17%
The JANUS PROGRAM In the mythology, JANUS is a God with two faces one turned to the past and the other to the future, symbol of "the passing". JANUS program initiated by CNES at the beginning of 2012 proposes to "pass" knowledge and enthusiasm to students of universities and engineering schools to realize nanosatellites Jeunes en Apprentissage pour la réalisation de Nanosatellites au sein des Universités et des écoles de l enseignement Supérieur
JANUS BACKGROUND From 2006 to 2011 2006 : Montpellier University supported by CNES ROBUSTA (1U) : to measure the degradation of bipolar jonction transistors due to the total ionizing dose Launch in february 2012; failure in orbit; Re-entry in the atmosphere in january 2015 2009 : Cooperation between Bauman university (Russia) and Montpellier university Nanosatellite BAUMANET2 (60 Kg, not a cubesat) Instrument ROBUSTA Since 2011, launch has been postponed. (may be launched in 2017) 2010 : Cooperation between India (university of Bombay) and Paris Diderot university Nanosatellite PRATHAM (20 Kg, not a cubesat) Ground station to receive the signal Nanosatellite launched on 26th september 2016 No signal, Failure in orbit
JANUS GOALS Promote space activities with students by asking them to develop space projects, made up of : nanosatellites type cubesat - mass between 1 and 20 kg Scientific instruments : - to measure earth environment parameters, - to take images from the earth in various spectral bands - to localize vehicules on the Earth (ships, trucks, ) - to explore the solar system, - to observe the universe Ground segment Ground stations (VHF/UHF, 2GHz, 8 GHz) control and mission center Propose and validate new technologies in orbit materials, sensors, attitude control system, on board computer, communication, propulsion
ORGANIZATION UNIVERSITY SPACE CENTERS Set up technical facilities Manage the projects (choice missions, schedule, budget,..) Search sponsors to finance cubesats projects Develop partnerships with other universities (french or foreign) Develop cubesats and their ground segment Supervise students (by professors, engineers, technicians) Perform flight operations Ensure relationships with CNES Partnership with SCIENTIFIC SPACE LABORATORIES Partnership with SMALL COMPANIES or PRIMES (ADS, TAS) working on space activities
UNIVERSITIES / ENGINEERING SCHOOLS Lille St Quentin Brest Paris Bordeaux Grenoble Toulouse Montpellier Marseille
FIRST CUBESATS LAUNCHED X-CubeSat (double cubesat) To study the thermosphere thanks to FIPEX instrument which will measure the atomic oxygen SpaceCube (double cubesat) To study the thermosphere thanks to FIPEX instrument which will measure the atomic oxygen 28 QB50 cubesats launched by an AtlasV on April 18, 2017 routed to the ISS by a CYGNUS on April 22, 2017 Released from the ISS X-Cubesat : the 17th of May 2017 SpaceCube : the 18th of May 2017 The two Cubesats work
FIRST CUBESATS LAUNCHED ROBUSTA 1B (simple cubesat) to measure the degradation of bipolar jonction transistors due to the total ionizing dose Launched by a PSLV (India) the 23th of june 2017 ROBUSTA1B works
PROJECTS UNDER DEVELOPMENT EntrySat (triple cubesat) initialy planned for QB50 network An in orbit demonstration nanosatellite to study the atmospheric entry Ready for launch mid of 2018 Launcher TBD IGOSAT (triple cubesat) to measure fluxes and particles spectra (1-20 MeV) in south atlantic anomaly and polar regions Ready for launch at the beginning of 2019
PROJECTS UNDER DEVELOPMENT OGMS-SAT (triple cubesat) : initialy planned for QB50 network An in orbit demonstration nanosatellite for a new scientific instrument : the CRDS (Cavity Ring Down Spectrometer) to study the degradation of materials exposed to UV radiation Ready for launch mid of 2019 Launcher TBD CASAA-SAT (double cubesat) to characterize the South Atlantic Anomaly (particules sensors and small camera) Ready for launch mid of 2019 ROBUSTA3 (triple cubesat) to collect environmental data around Mediterranean area for climatology studies Ready for launch mid of 2019
SOME ON GOING STUDIES NIMPHSAT (triple cubesat) to study, in orbit, new optical HF components which could be used for telecom satellites in the future Ready for launch mid of 2020 ATISE (12U cubesat) To measure vertical profiles of the Auroral emission spectra The payload will be provided by Grenoble university Ready for launch mid of 2021 X-CUBESAT2 (triple cubesat) To study our sun (the Total Solar Irradiance) and the Earth (Radiation balance) Ready for launch mid of 2021 METEORIX (triple cubesat ) to detect and to characterize meteors by UV photometry Ready for launch mid of 2021
JANUS PILOT PROJECT EyeSat (triple cubesat) an astronomy mission, to study zodiacal light and to image the milky way Launch planned between september 2018 and March 2019 SOYOUZ from Kourou (in French Guiana) Star Tracker Reaction Wheels Nano Telescope X Band Transmitter S Band Antenna X band Antenna On board computer S band Transmitter Color CMOS camera Filters Wheels LEICA Optic
CNES ROLE and SUPPORT JANUS PROJECT MANAGEMENT (Three engineers : a project manager, a system manager an expert in space technics) SETTING UP A SIMPLIFIED STANDARD DOCUMENTATION TO DEVELOP NANOSATELLITE PROJECTS A nanosatellite project guideline is provided A list of documents with templates is provided ENGINEERING SUPPORT (in various fields of space activities : RF, ADCS, THERMAL, ENERGY,.) TEACHERS AND STUDENTS TRAINING Conferences and courses (students of Master level) Presentation of CNES activities Presentation of French Space Law regulations Space engineering courses Flight Dynamics (ADCS) courses Other courses under consideration: Thermal, Power, Propulsion, ENGINEERING CONCURRENT DESIGN FACILITY Train students and teachers about methods and tools used by CNES to design space systems (satellite and ground segment) 10 sessions in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017 (more than 500 students and teachers trained)
CNES ROLE and SUPPORT FINANCIAL SUPPORT about 50% of the costs Financing QM and FM, Contribution to the launch POOLING OF CERTAIN PURCHASES solar cells assembly SUPPORT TO DEVELOP SOME CRITICAL SUB-SYSTEMS ADCS On board computer RF 2Ghz and 8Ghz transmitter On board antenna, Solars panels SETTING UP A COLLABORATIVE PLATFORM To exchange documents and information by web To discuss through a Forum
CONCLUSION TO DAY, MORE THAN 2000 STUDENTS HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THESE CUBESATS PROJECTS BENEFITS FOR STUDENTS: A LOT OF SUBSYSTEMS FOR CUBESATS REALIZED Concrete apprenticeship of the engineer job in addition to their academic training Hiring more quick, mainly in space companies (AIRBUS, TAS, THALES SERVICE, CNES, AKKA, SODERN, ISIS, GMV, SPACEBELL, 3D+, EPSILON, NEXEYA, ) MORE THAN 150 PROFESSORS, ENGINEERS, TECHNICIANS SUPERVISED THESE PROJECTS AND THE STUDENTS RF Transmitters, on board computers, antennas, color CMOS camera, composit hinges, developed by french companies (SYRLINKS, STEELS, 3D+, CLIX, ) go to their booths!!! On board software for new processor (ARM9) New ADCS algorithms Tests benches (hardware et software) CREATION OF START-UP ANYWAVES (Toulouse) for on board antennas (2GHz, 8GHz, ) THRUST-ME (Paris) for electric propulsion subsystem, EXOTRAIL (Paris) for electric proplusion subsystem... An important momentum for Cubesats exists in more than 12 universities and engineering schools in France And no doubt, more universities and more foreign cooperation will come tomorrow!