No Slide Title · for Fluid Dynamics QB50 – Schedule Schedule for selected CubeSats Sep-Dec 2010 Securing the funding for CubeSat development Jan 2011-Dec 2012 CubeSat development

von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics

J. Muylaert, R. Reinhard, C. Asma, J-M Buchlin, P. Rambaud, R. Vetrano

QB50

An international network of 50 double CubeSats for multi-point, in-situ,

long-duration (3 months) measurements in the lower

thermosphere (90 - 300 km) and for re-entry research


QB50 – Studying Lower Thermosphere

•The least explored layer of the atmosphere

•Stratospheric balloons go up to 42 km max.

•Remote-sensing by ground based lidarsand radars up to 105 km.

•Remote-sensing by Earth observation satellites in higher orbits (600 – 800 km) mainly observe constituents in the troposphere, stratosphere and mesosphere (lower thermosphere is too rarefied).

•In-situ measurements by sounding rockets in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT Region) provide only occasional (a few times per year) single point measurements

90 – 300 km: Why Lower Thermosphere?


QB50 - THE IDEA

•A network of 50 double CubeSats

•Initial altitude: 300 km (circular orbit, i=79°)

•Initial separation: 200 – 300 km between CubeSats

•Total network size: 10,000 – 15,000 km (or more if desirable)

•Each performing in-situ measurements of atmospheric parameters

•Atmospheric data providing temporal and spatial variations

•All layers of the lower thermosphere from 300 km down to 90 km will be explored without the need for on-board propulsion (orbital decay due to atmospheric drag)

•Downlink using the Global Educational Network for Satellite Operations (GENSO)

•Mission duration: 3 months


QB50 – Studying Lower Thermosphere

A network of 50 CubeSats in the lower thermosphere compared to networks in higher orbits has the following advantages:

•The lifetime of a CubeSat in the envisaged low-Earth orbit will only be three months, i.e. much less than the 25 years stipulated by international requirements related to space debris

•A low Earth orbit allows high data rates because of the short communication distances involved

•In their low Earth orbits, the CubeSats will be below the Earth’s radiation belts, which is very important because CubeSats use low-cost Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) components

Advantages of a CubeSat Network


QB50 CubeSat TechnologyA single CubeSat is:

•Miniaturized satellite

•10 x 10 x 10 cm3

•Commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) equipment

•Telecommunications

(UHF/VHF or S-band)

•Performing scientific measurements

•~100 kEUR

•Standard functions:

SwissCube

Power sub-system (solar cell & battery)

Inertial measurement sensors & GPS

CPU

Limited attitude control


QB50 uses double CubeSats(10 x 10 x 20 cm3)

Science Unit:

Lower Thermosphere Measurements

Sensors to be selected by a Working Group

Standard sensors for all CubeSats

Functional Unit:

Power, CPU, Telecommunication

IMU, GPS

Optional Technology Package available for the CubeSat community !!

ISIS 2U


VKI ReEnt-Sat – Concept

•Light ablative material as thermal shield

•Temperature & Pressure measurements on the thermal shield

•Skin friction measurements on the side

•Base flow measurements

•Materials experiment (tbc)

•Blackout experiment (tbc)

Atmospheric Re-Entry Flight Data

Flight data for Debris/Disintegration Tool (RAMSES) Validation

ReEnt-Sat to survive until ~70km (TBD) altitude


QB50 - AdvantagesThe intention is to provide free of charge to the participating CubeSat teams

•launch vehicle

•custom-designed deployment system

•environmental testing at ESA – ESTEC (if requested)

•standardized sensors for the science unit

•launch services and interfaces to the launch vehicle authorities

•transport of the 50 CubeSats from ESA-ESTEC to the launch site

•CubeSat checkout testing during the launch campaign

This is very attractive to the CubeSat community and there is a lot of interest to participate in QB50. Letters of Intent (LoI) from interested universities are now coming in.


QB50 – CubeSat Community

10 from United States

2 from Canada

3 from Japan

2 Austrian, 2 Belgian,1 Czech, 2 Danish,

1 Estonian, 1 Finnish, 3 French, 4 German,

1 Hungarian, 2 Dutch, 3 Italian, 1 Norwegian,

1 Polish, 1 Portuguese, 1 Romanian, 1 Swedish,

3 Spanish, 2 Swiss, 3 from the UK

35 from Europe

These teams will be invited to participate in the workshop.


QB50

WORKSHOP

17-18 Nov 2009

www.vki.ac.be/QB50

Participation is by invitation only


Under consideration as sensors/instruments:•FIPEX sensor for measurement of atomic O

•Atmospheric density

•Miniaturized mass spectrometer

•Accelerometer

•

•

Numerous talks at the QB50 workshop on 17-18 November will be devoted to candidate sensors.

Selection of the standardized sensors for in-situ measurements by the Sensor Selection Working Group (SSWG) in the first half of 2010.

Composition of the SSWG:•A few atmospheric physicists and chemists

•A few CubeSat PIs

•Experts for in-situ sensors for atmospheric research

QB50 – Science Unit

•Magnetic Field

•Radiation intensity

•Ion density


Under consideration as sensors/instruments:•FIPEX sensor for measurement of atomic O

•Atmospheric density

•Miniaturized mass spectrometer

•Accelerometer

QB50 – Science Unit

•Magnetic Field

•Radiation intensity

•Ion density

Magnetic Field

Radiation Detector


SHTIL

QB50 – Launcher


SHTIL

The payload mass versus the altitude of an orbit inclined 78.9°

(above the mean Earth radius Rmean=6371 km)

QB50 – Launcher


QB50 – Launching & DeploymentOption 1

Platform 2 & 3:

22 CubeSats on one platform

The central 600mm diameter is for the engine

Deployer dimensions:

For a double CubeSat unit

Outside Envelope: 300.6 x 126.2 x 168.8 mm

Total Mass: 2kg + 1.7kg = 3.7kg



Alternative Radial Deployment:

13 deployers on each platform

50 deployers on four platforms

Possibility to deploy in different directions



Radial Deployment:

14 2 Units ISIPODs for each platform

i.e. 3.5 platforms arranged so as to allow adapter doors to be opened




QB50 – Schedule17-18 Nov 2009 Science Workshop at VKI

19 Nov 2009 Management and Planning meeting at VKI Formation of the Steering Group and the two Working Groups (ODWG, SSWG)

15 Jun 2010 Project Kick-Off meeting at VKI

30 Jun 2010 Issue by VKI of the Call for Proposals for QB50 CubeSats

30 Jul 2010 Deadline for submission of CubeSat proposals to VKI, including letters of funding

2-13 Aug 2010 Proposal clarification period

16-27 Aug 2010 Evaluation of proposals by VKI and selection of 50 CubeSats plus5 backup CubeSats

31 Aug 2010 Notification on selection to CubeSat PIs

early Oct 2010 Day 1: Science Workshop at VKI

Day 2, a.m.: meetings of the two Working Groups (ODWG, SSWG)

Day 2, p.m.: meeting of the Steering Group, final selection of the standardised sensors for atmospheric research

…


QB50 – ScheduleSchedule for selected CubeSatsSep-Dec 2010 Securing the funding for CubeSat development

Jan 2011-Dec 2012 CubeSat development at universities

Sep 2011 Shipment of the standardised sensors for atmospheric research from ESTEC to universities

Nov 2012 CubeSat mass dummies delivery to ESTEC

Jan-Feb 2013 CubeSat flight models environmental testing at universities

Mar 2013 CubeSat flight models delivery to ESTEC

Launch associated activitiesMar 2013 Launch campaign preparation workshop at ESTEC

Apr 2013 Shipment of CubeSat flight models to the launch site

May-Jun 2013 Launch campaign

Jul 2013 Launch


QB50

WORKSHOP

17-18 Nov 2009

www.vki.ac.be/QB50

Participation is by invitation only

Documents

No Slide Title · for Fluid Dynamics QB50 – Schedule Schedule for selected CubeSats Sep-Dec 2010 Securing the funding for CubeSat development Jan 2011-Dec 2012 CubeSat development