PW-SAT – What is it and how we made it

PW-SAT – What is it and how we made it

Maciej UrbanowiczStudents' Space Association, Warsaw University of Technology

TS2 Satellite Technologies

PW-Sat – the beginningAt the Warsaw University of Technology

➔The beginning: 2004, 2005 (mission statement)➔Students' Space Association (Faculty of Power and Aeronautical Engineering)➔Student Space Engineering Scientific Group (Faculty of Electronics and Information Technology)

PW-Sat – the beginningAt the Warsaw University of Technology

➔Why should we build a satellite?➔ Increase prestige and reputation (the 1st satellite!)➔ Enhance education and technical knowledge➔ Build space capabilities and sustainability➔ Space promotion and advocacy (Poland is joining ESA as a full state

member!)

➔… educational project➔… technology demonstrator

PW-Sat – mission statementObjectives

PW-Sat as...

➔To test a technology developed by POLES!➔De-orbit the satellite

Objectives:

Credits: Maciej Urbanowicz

Credits: Maciej UrbanowiczTo educate students at spacecraft development and space project management to demonstrate the new type of a de-orbitation system in the CubeSat project as a technology demonstrator for the small satellite mission.

Mission statement:

➔PW-Sat selected by the Education Office of the ESA as a payload to the Vega Maiden Flight!

PW-Sat – mission statementMission(s) definition(s)

The motivation:

Credits: ESACredits: ESA

➔Increase a cross section:balloon → sail → tail

PW-Sat – mission statementMission(s) definition(s)

Concept

Credits: M. Urbanowicz

Credits: P. Sańczyk

Credits: PW-Sat

➔B (Build)➔B&B (Build & Buy)➔B (Buy)

Strategy: 3B's

➔1. The satellite successfully passed all of the tests. It has been approved to flight by the ESA.➔2. The satellite was integrated with other CubeSats in the P-POD and prepared to the flight. The satellite was integrated with the launch vehicle.➔3. The satellite was launched to space.➔4. The antennas were released and the transceiver started working in the basic mode. All subsystems are in a good condition.➔5. The satellite is fully operational, downlink and uplink* transmission work properly. It is possible to operate the satellite.➔6. The tail was deployed. The deorbitation phase has been started.➔7. The satellite has been deorbited.➔* - Currently (26th September 2012) the PW-Sat has reached 4th level and particularly 5th.

PW-Sat – design

Mission schedule and level of success (1):

PW-Sat – design

Mission schedule and level of success (2):

Phase name Time Purpose

Commissioning T+0 – T+ 30 min. Satellite separation. Separation switches turn on satellite. The OBC starts counting down T30 min.

Antenna deployment T+30 min Deployment of antenna system. The satellite starts send telemetry and receive signals from ground station.

Operational phase 1 T+30 min Satellite sends telemetry, receives data. Normal operational phase is performed.

Operational phase 2 T+1 month The tail is deployed from the payload container. Deorbiting phase is started. AP&P gathers tail's parameters. Telemetry is sent to ground station.

Deorbiting T – (~1 year) Satellite is being deorbited.

PW-Sat – design

Satellite configuration


➔Exploded view

PW-Sat – design

Satellite configuration

Configuration before launch and after launch (1);Credits: M. Urbanowicz

➔Configurations:➔ before launch➔ after launch (1)➔ after launch (2)➔ main mission Configuration after launch (2); (C): M. Urbanowicz

Configuration main mission; (C): M. Urbanowicz

PW-Sat – design

Payload description

➔Payload container➔Tail (length: 1.2 meter; material: stainless steel)➔Thin foils with solar cells (efficieny ~4-5%)➔Cover plate➔Lock/release mechanism➔Payload control module (on the AP&P board)

Payload; Credits: M. Urbanowicz

Payload; Credits: A. Kotarba

PW-Sat – the FM

The FM assembling

Credits: M. UrbanowiczCredits: M. Urbanowicz

PW-Sat – the FM


PW-Sat – last day in Poland

Delivery to ESA (ESTEC)


PW-Sat – delivery to ESTEC

Delivery to ESA (ESTEC)

Credits: M. UrbanowiczCredits: M. Urbanowicz

PW-Sat – pre-flight

Before integration with the P-POD

Credits: M. Urbanowicz, approved by: Robusta, Masat-1


Integration with the P-POD

Credits: M. Urbanowicz Credits: M. Urbanowicz


Credits: L. Varga


Credits: L. Varga Credits: M. Urbanowicz

PW-Sat – prepared to flight

Pre-flight operations in Kourou

Credits: ESA, CSG, Arianespace, Optique Video du CSG, J.M. Guillon

PW-Sat!






PW-Sat – launch!



PW-Sat – after launch



This is a history!Launch

Launch

➔13.02.2012➔Launch vehicle: VEGA➔Orbit: 308x1427 km (inclination: ~69.5º)

Credits: ESA

Credits: GoogleCredits: M. Urbanowicz

PW-Sat – first signal!

Communication

➔The first signal heard during the first pass➔downlink is 145.900 MHz (BPSK 1200 bps AX25, SSB)➔uplink is 345.020 MHz (FM, AX.25)

First received signal by Polish radioamateur; Credits: Grzegorz Woźniak, CAMK

Cooperation with radioamateurs: www.pw-sat.pl/pw-sat_radio_amateur

PW-Sat

Credits: P. Sańczyk

Video



Credits: V. Gupta




PW-Sat – French Guiana



PW-Sat – French Guiana



PW-Sat

PW-Sat Team (2011)


➔Support:ESA's Education OfficeISIS, Clyde-Space, GomSpaceCompanies in PolandSpace Research Centre of PASPolish government

Thank you for you attention!

More information at:www.pw-sat.plwww.maciejurbanowicz.org.pl

Listen to our Beacon! (technical information at www.pw-sat.pl)

Credits: T. Szewczyk

http://www.pw-sat.pl/

http://www.maciejurbanowicz.org.pl/