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Kenyan Capacity Building in SatelliteTechnology: The Small Satellite
Approach with Emphasis on the CubeSat
Professor Paolo GaudenziDirector, Master in Satelliti e Piattaforme
Orbitanti, Department of Aerospace and
Astronautical Engineering, University of Rome
La Sapienza
Anthony J. Kiroe
Physics Department, Jomo Kenyatta University
of Agriculture and Technology
Prof. P. Gaudenzi and A. Kiroe
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Introduction
The small satellite approach for capacity building in satellite
technology is considered
The study can apply to any developing country wishing to
develop space capabilities
The outline:
Affiliation
The trend towards miniaturization of satellites The CubeSat program
Capacity building: The small satellite approach
Capacity building initiatives
ConclusionKenyan Capacity Building in Satellite Technology: The Small Satellite Approach with Emphasis on the CubeSat
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Affiliation
Kenyan Capacity Building in Satellite Technology: The Small Satellite Approach with Emphasis on the CubeSat
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Classification of artificial satellites
Classification by mass (deployed)
Small satellites
Pico satellites: The CubeSat program
The trend towards
miniaturization of satellites
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The trend towards
miniaturization of satellitesClassification of artificial satellites
Classification of artificial satellites - byfunction, type of orbit, cost, mass, etc
Classification by mass (deployed): most
important direct bearing on the launcher
versus cost tradeoff
Trend towards miniaturization of satellites
has mainly been caused by high launch costs
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The trend towards miniturization
of satellites (contd.)
Category Mass range (kg)
Large satellite > 1,000
Medium-sized satellite 500-1,000
Minisatellite 100-500
Microsatellite 10-100
Nanosatellite 1-10
Picosatellite 0.1-1
Femtosatellite (satellite-on-a-chip) < 0.1
Satellite classification by mass (deployed) criterion
Generally, the term small satellite is used to cover all spacecraft with in-
orbit masses of less than 500 kg
There isnt a universally accepted way of defining a small satellite
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Pico satellites: The CubeSat
program Pico satellites (mass below 1 kilogram) are
attracting special interest to the space
community Small size and low weight means that they can
be carried on the same launcher as secondary
payloads Their standardized shape makes them cheaper
to produce and launch in a much shorter time
compared to large satellitesKenyan Capacity Building in Satellite Technology: The Small Satellite Approach with Emphasis on the CubeSat
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The CubeSat program
CubeSat: a cubic pico satellite bus
Is as a result of an effort to meet an educational
need to have a satellite that could be developed
within one to two years, be very low in cost and be
very low in weight for reduced launch costsKenyan Capacity Building in Satellite Technology: The Small Satellite Approach with Emphasis on the CubeSat
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A CubeSats basic constraints:
Size and shape: 10x10x10cm cuboid 1U
Weight: < 1 kg Others as may be defined by the mission
requirements
CubeSat units may be combined to
produce larger mass and volume
systems
3U CubeSatsdemostrated
6U CubeSatsproposed
The CubeSat program
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1 kg mass limit
10x10x10 cm size limit
Hard anodized rails
Center of mass within 2 cm of geometric
center
Access ports located at same locations as
P-POD
Thermal expansion of the CubeSatsshould be similar to that of the P-POD
aluminum material (7075-T73)
CubeSat design tolerances are based on P-
POD tolerances and specifications
The CubeSat standard and the
P-POD
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Goals of the P-POD
Protect the primary payload
Protect the launch vehicle
Protect the CubeSats
Safely group multiple CubeSats for launch
Eject CubeSats for safe deployment
Increase Access to Space for CubeSats
Provide standard interface to launch vehicle
The CubeSat standard and the
P-POD
Kenyan Capacity Building in Satellite Technology: The Small Satellite Approach with Emphasis on the CubeSat
(The Poly-PicoSatellite Orbital Deployer)
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Capacity building:
The small satellite approach
The study can apply to any developing
country wishing to develop space capabilities
The outline:
A four stage strategic approach for
capacity building
A case for a CubeSat programme
Maintaining a CubeSat programme
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The four stage strategic approach
for capacity buildingStage 1
Purchasing a satellite
Mission: Simple and low cost
Based on a platform* of NSR COTS components
Aimed at creating interest and the first step towards
building the needed infrastructure and achieving skills onoperating a satellite in space
*Common vendors: SSTL, GomSpace, Pumpkin, Clyde Space, ISIS. Example: GomSpace -
platform NSR Non-Space Rated
COTS Commercial-Off-The-ShelfKenyan Capacity Building in Satellite Technology: The Small Satellite Approach with Emphasis on the CubeSat
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Stage 2
Involvement of a countrys own scientists and engineers in
the development of the satellite
Practical lessons on project planning, executing the
integration and testing phase and operating the satellite in
space
A country may choose to implement its own payload
The success of this stage may easily attract funding to
continue the program
Notable examples are the TiungSAT and NIGSAT satellite
programmes for Malaysia and Nigeria respectively
The four stage strategic approach
for capacity building (contd.)
Images credit: sstlKenyan Capacity Building in Satellite Technology: The Small Satellite Approach with Emphasis on the CubeSat
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The four stage strategic approach
for capacity building (contd.)Stage 3
Assumption: Knowledge base in satellite technology is well
established
Introduction of indigenous subsystems into an already existingplatform
Target 34 missions
Stage 4 Knowledge development and sharing stage
Notable example: South Africa - indigeniously developed
satellites SUNSAT-1 (February 1999) and SumbadilaSat
(September 2009)
SunSat-1
South Africas first microsatellite (Africas first)
Built by students in the Electronics Systems
Laboratory (ESL), University of Stellenbosch, SA
Produced about 100 masters and PhD students btn
year 1992 and 2001
Operated from Feb 1999 to Jan 2001
Resulted to the formation of SunSpace Co.
Source:
http://esl.ee.sun.ac.za/index.php/Main/SatelliteSystems
SumbadilaSat
S. As second microsatellite
Built by SunSpace
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A case for a CubeSat program
Justification
Existing CubeSat standard(s):
Flight proven platform interfaces
Wealth of ideas and approaches
Large, open development community
Low cost:
Small size and mass
Secondary payload accomodations
Level of technology is manageable
No previous experience is required
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Justication (contd.)
Failure is not catastrophic
Highly interdisciplinary: Communications
Electrical, mechanical, computer & systems
engineering
Program management
Expanding capabilities:
Ideal testbed for new technologies
Wide variety of mission architectures supportable
A case for a CubeSat program
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A case for a CubeSat program
(contd)Benefits
Cubbing brain drain an attractor for good and motivated
students
Encourages cooperation among different branches of science
and technology
Encourages cooperation between academia, government and
industry
Emergence of new departments, industry and markets
Confidence building
Improvement of engineering and scientific understanding
Exposure on a global scale
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Maintaining a CubeSat
programmeLimiting factors
Launch vehicle availability and cost University setting students and facilities
Satellite programme option and funding:
Government-funded
Independent programme
Inter-satellite development
Joint effortKenyan Capacity Building in Satellite Technology: The Small Satellite Approach with Emphasis on the CubeSat
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Capacity building initiatives Masters course in Satellites and Orbital Platforms:
Kenya (MoD), Italy (ASI) and Universit di Roma La
Sapienza Scientific, technical and managerial skills
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Capacity building initiatives
Kenyan Capacity Building in Satellite Technology: The Small Satellite Approach with Emphasis on the CubeSat
Partnerships and collaborations
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Capacity building initiatives
National Astrophysics and Space Science Programme
(NASSP):
UON, University of Cape Town
Research skills in astrophysics and space science Satellite Navigation Science and Technology for Africa (series
of workshops)
Boston college, ICTP
Skills on the use of GNSS for social and economic
development in Africa
International Heliophysical Year (IHY)
UN-sponsored program of global research
Main objective: to discover and study all the physical
processes coupling the Earth to the SunKenyan Capacity Building in Satellite Technology: The Small Satellite Approach with Emphasis on the CubeSat
C l i
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Conclusion
Crawl Walk Fly
CanSat
Compass 1
DelfiC3 Sunsat
Run
I li i b l 20 d li i C b S
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Inclination below 20 degrees eliminates most CubeSatdevelopers
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Alla Fine
Grazie
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