SEMINAR REPORT

NANO SATELLITES

BY: HEMLATA A4717210014 ROLL NO. 24 SEMESTER: 4

AMITY INSTITUTE OF SPACE SCIENCE AND TECH NOLOGY

NANO SATELLITE REPORT

INTRODUCTION

Nanosatellites, also called "nanosats", are a relatively recent term used to describe artificial satellites with a mass between 1 and 10 kg (2.222 lb). Larger satellites are often called microsatellites, while smaller satellites are called picosatellites. The term "nanosatellite" appears to have been introduced by NASA some time around 2004. It is still in the process of adoption, as many satellites of this size are simply called "small satellites."

One of the earliest uses of the term "nanosatellite" was by NASA in reference to their volleyball-sized Miniature Autonomous Extravehicular Robotic Camera (Mini AERCam) satellites, which weigh about ten pounds. As crucial electronics components such as cameras become more miniaturized, nanosatellites become possible. There is limited research in the area of nanosatellite today, as most space companies and universities focus on larger satellites, but there are signs that many are recognizing the potential of nanosatellites and conducting innovative research into them.

Normal satellites are large, expensive, power-hungry, slow to assemble, test and integrate ,are generally unique to each payload .To reduce costs associated with single large space craft, the development of micro space craft has become necessary.

NANO SATELLITE REPORT

ADVANTAGES

One reason for miniaturizing satellites is to reduce the cost: heavier satellites require larger rockets with greater thrust which also has greater cost to finance. In retrospect, smaller and lighter satellites require smaller and cheaper launch vehicles and can sometimes be launched in multiples. They can also be launched 'piggyback', using excess capacity on larger launch vehicles. Miniaturized satellites allow for cheaper designs as well as ease of mass production, although few satellites of any size other than 'communications constellations' where dozens of satellites are used to cover the globe, have been mass produced in practice. Miniaturized satellites allow for the opportunity to test new hardware with reduced expense in testing. Furthermore, since the overall cost risk in the mission is much lower, more up-to-date but less space-proven technology can be incorporated into micro and nanosats than can be used in much larger, more expensive missions with less appetite for risk. Besides the cost issue, the main rationale for the use of miniaturized satellites is the opportunity to enable missions that a larger satellite could not accomplish, such as: Constellations for low data rate communicationsUsing formations to gather data from multiple pointsIn-orbit inspection of larger satellites.University Related Research

NANO SATELLITE REPORT

Technical challenges

Have small moment of inertia, can be affected by gravity gradient torque, solar wind radiation torque, and thermal radiation torque caused by uneven temperature of the satellite during the orbit flight.

Larger satelliteusuallyuse monopropellants or bipropellant combustion rockets for propulsion and attitude control; these systems are complex and require a minimal amount of volume to surface area to dissipate heat. These systems are used on larger microsats, while other micro/nanosats have to use electric propulsion, compressed gas, vaporizable liquids such as butane or carbon dioxide or other innovative propulsion systems that are simple, cheap and scalable. Microsats can use conventional radio systems in UHF, VHF, the S-band and X-band, although often miniaturized using more up-to-date technology as compared to larger satellites. Tiny satellites such as nanosats and small microsats may lack the power supply or mass for large conventional radio transponders, and various miniaturized or innovative communications systems have been proposed, such a laser receivers, antenna arrays and satellite to satellite communication networks. Few of these have been demonstrated in practice. Electronics need to be rigorously tested and modified to be "space hardened" or resistant to the outer space environment (vacuum, microgravity, thermal extremes, and radiation exposure). Miniaturized satellites allow for the opportunity to test new hardware with reduced expense in testing. Furthermore, since the overall cost risk in the mission is much lower, more up-to-date but less space-proven technology can be incorporated into micro and nanosats than can be used in much larger, more expensive missions with less appetite for risk.

NANO SATELLITE REPORT

MEMS Technology

Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems, or MEMS, is a technology that in its most general form can be defined as miniaturized mechanical and electro-mechanical elements (i.e., devices and structures) that are made using the techniques of micro fabrication. MEMS (Micro Electro-Mechanical System) device has the advantages of both electronic system and mechanical system. With the development of MEMS devices for satellite, it is possible to establish much lighter and smaller nanosatellites with higher performance and longer lifecycle. The power cost of MEMS device is usually much lower than traditional devices, which will greatly reduce the consumption of power. For its small size and simple architecture, MEMS devices can be easily integrated together and achieve redundancy. Launched on 18 April, 2004, NS-1 is a nanosatellite for science exploration and MEMS devices test. A mass of science data and images were acquired during its running. NS-1 weights less than 25 Kg. It consists of several MEMS devices, including one MIMU, three micro CMOS cameras, one sun sensor, three momentum wheels and one micro magnetic sensor. By applying micro components based on MEMS technology, NS-1 made success in the experiments of integrative design, manufacture, and MEMS devices integration.

Mechanical structures
The nanosatellite mechanical System should remain simple as possible. Idealynano satellite mechanical design should consist of a one piece structure, other components should be mounted on it. A multi functional structure can provide thermal control , shielding and serve as substrate for printed circuit board. E.g. diamond face sheet honey comb panal can serve as a thermal conducture and radiator and printed circuit board .Diamond face sheet provide 10 time greater conductivity than aluminium and can dissipate heat from high power electronic modules. Material used are: cast aluminium, cast aluminium barylium alloy, injection molded plastic, fibre moulded plastic.

NANO SATELLITE REPORT

MICRO THRUSTERS

New generation thrusters which are capable of generating forces between 10micro N50mN These micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS) include fluid valves, fluid pumps, accelerometers, sensors, scanning Micro mirrors, and electromechanical switches. Semiconductor batch-fabrication techniques, combined with laser machining, can produce low-cost chemical and electric MEMS micro thruster systems for nanosatellite and microsatellites.

Xenon ion propulsion

thrust chamber. The electrodes, known as an ion extraction assembly, createmore than 3,000 tiny beams of thrust. The beams are prevented from being electrically attracted back to the thruster by an external electron-emitting device called a neutralizer.

Liquid Pulsed Plasma Thrusters

PPTs are electromagnetic propulsion devices which store electrical energy in a capacitor to periodically form a high current arc discharge across the propellant . The most common PPT technology is the solid propellant technology, where the propellant is a block of teflon. Its big advantage is extreme simplicity, its disadvantages are low efficiency and variation of impulse bit through lifetime.

NANO SATELLITE REPORT

Power system
Total spacecraft power is limited by the small satellize size. The suns power density is 1.35kw/m2. Dual or triple junction GaAs cells solar cells that give 18% conversion efficiency at the end of life. For E.g. Small spinning satellite, it is expected three solar cell are connected in series on spin axis and groups of three will be connected parallel around the circumference. The circuits that require high current such as thrusters solenoids and fuses, need to be augumented with components that have lower power density but also have lower internal resistence.

High-Performance Command and Data Handling

To provide scalable processing capability for the MMN command and data handling subsystem, a radiation-hard Aeroflex 32-bit LEON 3FT processor is used. This processor is central to a joint development effort serving several APL Earth-orbiting, lunar, and interplanetary missions, extending its application to nanosatellites. The LEON processor-based avionics, with its associated circuitry, is capable of extended operation under extremely stressing radiation, both total ionizing dose and single-event upsets and latch ups, and environmental conditions. The flight software can execute time-tagged commands uploaded from the ground, as well as complex command sequences, for spacecraft and payload operations. In addition to collecting, processing, and storing all spacecraft state of health, sensor measurements, and payload data, the flight software also formats and interprets data communications on the telemetry and command link, including associated Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems protocols, command extraction, and 128-bit (with option for 256-bit) Advanced Encryption Standard data encryption/decryption for all command and control links with the ground.

NANO SATELLITE REPORT

Electromagnetic Interference-Controlled Environment

Many missions require very low interference and noise levels within certain frequency bands. Spacecraft have many potential noise and interference sources, such as DCDC converters, computer clocks, processor buses, and radios, which can create both narrowband and broadband interference. Including electromagnetic interference control measures in the spacecraft design from the beginning, such as component shielding, interface signal filtering, and other good design practices, is critical to avoiding costly corrective repairs during integration. The MMN structure has been designed as an integrated solution for electromagnetic interference shielding, thermal conduction, and radiation total ionizing dosage mitigation, with separate isolated cavities for bus and payload using five-sided bathtubs with labyrinth-seal covers, and filtered connectors for interfaces through the enclosure walls.

Thermal control system :

Thermal management and the rejection of heat generated by internal devices. For the majority of space missions, power is at a premium, and nanosatellites are no exception. Given the highly constrained packing volume, particularly in a P-POD-compatible CubeSat, a highly efficient combination of deployable solar arrays and power conversion and distribution electronics is essential. Equally critical and often overlooked in small spacecraft is thermal management and the rejection of heat generated by internal devices, particularly those operating at high (peak) powers, such as a radio transmitter The function of the thermal control system is to maintain temperatures to within specified limit throughout the mission to allow the onboard systems to function properly and have a long life Thermal balance can be controlled by using heaters, passive or active radiators, and thermal blankets of various emissivity's on the exterior.

NANO SATELLITE REPORT

Orbit &Altitude control

Small satellites tend to be power-limited, so that actuators used to control the orbit and attitude must compete with each other as well as with other subsystems for limited electrical power. E.g.The Virginia Tech nanosatellite project, HokieSat,use its limited power resources to operate pulsed-plasma thrusters for orbit control and magnetic torque coils for attitude control, while also providing power to a GPS receiver, a crosslink transceiver, and other subsystems

RF COMMUNICATIONS:
The on board RF subsystem must be small light and low power .the communication subsystem is further complicated by constellations requiring spin stabilized nano satellite. A spinning nano-satellite cannot easily point an antenna towards earth .therefore a low gain omni antenna is assumed and communications must take place near perigee ,when the range is 3-5 earth radius .a huge ground antenna and high compression must be used to achieve reasonable data rates with minimum power

NANO SATELLITE REPORT