The Earthshine CubeSat: Research, Design, and Hardware In the Loop Testing of a USM Space Craft
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Department
Engineering
Abstract
The University of Southern Maine has joined the ranks of universities across the world attempting to design and develop a viable Cubesat platform. Cubesats are a class of small satellites that measure 10 cubic centimeters – less than twice the size of a Rubik’s Cube. Cubesats are a fantastic undergraduate learning platform that provides access to research and experimentation outside of the earth's atmosphere and in microgravity. USM’s SpaceCraft Research and Earth’s Atmosphere Measurement Laboratory (SCREAM Lab) is developing a payload to determine the earth's albedo by measuring the ratio of light reflected off of the bright sunlit and darker earthlit sides of the moon. This task creates many engineering challenges that pose a risk to the success of the mission. A common technique to mitigate these risks is to perform a Hardware In the Loop test (HIL or HITL). A HIL test combines both the mathematical models, hardware, and a simulation environment in an attempt to reduce the number of assumptions made in the testing phase. A HIL test is also used to assess the performance of the hardware on board the system. This poster presents an HIL design test to determine the performance of the Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS) of USM’s Earthshine Satellite. Additionally, this poster presents the research and design process involved with developing our current prototype satellite system.
The Earthshine CubeSat: Research, Design, and Hardware In the Loop Testing of a USM Space Craft
The University of Southern Maine has joined the ranks of universities across the world attempting to design and develop a viable Cubesat platform. Cubesats are a class of small satellites that measure 10 cubic centimeters – less than twice the size of a Rubik’s Cube. Cubesats are a fantastic undergraduate learning platform that provides access to research and experimentation outside of the earth's atmosphere and in microgravity. USM’s SpaceCraft Research and Earth’s Atmosphere Measurement Laboratory (SCREAM Lab) is developing a payload to determine the earth's albedo by measuring the ratio of light reflected off of the bright sunlit and darker earthlit sides of the moon. This task creates many engineering challenges that pose a risk to the success of the mission. A common technique to mitigate these risks is to perform a Hardware In the Loop test (HIL or HITL). A HIL test combines both the mathematical models, hardware, and a simulation environment in an attempt to reduce the number of assumptions made in the testing phase. A HIL test is also used to assess the performance of the hardware on board the system. This poster presents an HIL design test to determine the performance of the Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS) of USM’s Earthshine Satellite. Additionally, this poster presents the research and design process involved with developing our current prototype satellite system.
