CubeSat Design for Solar Sail Testing Applications Phillip HempelPaul Mears Daniel ParcherTaffy Tingley October 11, 2001The University of Texas at Austin

Presentation Outline Project Goal Background Constraints Timeline Conclusion Candidate Solutions

Project Goal  Design a Test Platform for Solar Sail Propulsion Technology –Measure Thrust –Measure Solar Sail Efficiency  Educational Experience –Provide Students with the Opportunity to See the Entire Satellite Design Process –Develop Orbital Trajectory and Satellite Orientation Simulation

CubeSat Project Background  Sponsored by Stanford University  Utilizes Picosatellite Satellite Designs that Perform Some Scientific Task  Involves Many Universities  Gives Students a Chance to Develop a Space Projects for Real Application

Presentation Outline Project Goal Background Constraints Timeline Conclusion Candidate Solutions

Constraints  CubeSat Prescribed Constraints –10cm Sided Cube –1 Kg Weight –Timing System to Delay Power-On –Space-Flown Materials  Adopted Constraints (for Simplicity and Reliability) –No Attitude Control –No Powered Systems (except required Timer) –No Communications Systems

Candidate Solutions Outline  Propulsion –Sail Material Selection –Tension lines –Reflectivity Optimization  Deployment System  Tracking and Communication

Solar Sail Material Selection Encounter SatelliteSolar Blade Solar Sail

Solar Sail Material Selection Star of Tolerance Satellite Cosmos I

Tear Strips

Reflectivity Optimization  Number of folds  Rigidity  Tear Strips  Material Selection

Deployment Sequence  Unlock Side Panels  Deploy Solar Sail

Sail Deployment  Memory Spring  Compressed Gas/Capillaries

Tracking and Communication  Corner Cube Reflectors  Laser from Ground Station  Multiple Measurements to Determine Position, Rotation, Acceleration

Corner Cube Orientation

Presentation Outline Project Goal Background Constraints Timeline Conclusion Candidate Solutions

Conclusion  PaperSat is Developing a PicoSatellite Design for CubeSat  Design will Test Solar Sail Propulsion Technology  Design will not Incorporate Attitude Control  Position, Acceleration, and Orientation will be Measured from Ground Stations

Acknowledgements  Dr. Wallace Fowler  Dr. Cesar Ocampo  Previous CubeSat Design Groups

Questions?