The 11th Iranian Aerospace Society Conference February 21-23, 2012 at Shahid Sattari Aeronautical University of Science and

Technology

AERO2012-XXXX

Role of Microsatellites in Space missions and System Design of Microsatellites

Asghar Ebrahimi1 , Mahmoud Najafi2 1,2- ISIG (Iran Space Industries Group)

Abstract As it is known the term microsatellite is a used for a range of satellites whose weight is between 10 to 100 kgs. In this paper it is desired to investigate about reasons for rising use of microsatellites in space missions and why it is the first choice and the most suitable way for developing countries. Here is the steps for system design and construction of the infrastructures necessary for launch and utilization of microsatellites. Keywords: Microsatellite - Space Mission - system Design Space activities, spacecraft launch and reasons for using microsatellites After the 2nd world war and developments in technology, in 1960s decade exploring the space became a new challenging area for human to discover the Nature. This was when high range rockets and new thrusters were under development in aerospace industries. Cold war and challenge between eastern and western countries caused the space to be a new battlefield. These challenges resulted in achieving the space using launchers and satellites. Satellites are divided into different sets. For example satellites weighing more than 1000 kg are known as big satellites, between 500 to 1000 kg as medium, between 100 to 500 as small satellites. Satellites weighing between 10 to 100 kg are known as Microsatellites. Also between 1 to 10 kg are called Nanosatellites, between 0.1 to 1 kg as Picosatellites and finally the satellites less than 100 grams are Femtosatellites. The first satellites launched to space were Microsatellites. For example Sputink 1, whose weight was 83.6 kg and explorer 1 with a weight of 14.1 kgs. At the first 50 years of space activities (1957 to 2007) more than 860 Microsatellites, 680 Nanosatellites and 38 Picosatelites were launched to the space. Although it is more than 50 years past from achieving the space, the countries have the technology to develop and manufacture the satellites and launch them to the space are a few some. In Feb 2009 Iran scientists successfully launched the OMID Microsatellite a satellite whose weight was 27 kg. The rate of launch for Microsatellites has been noticeably higher than Picosatellites and Nanosatellites. The most launches for Microsatellites were in mid 60th decade (30 launches in a year). This was descending to the least amount in 1978 and then it

was growing to 9 launches in year. Between 1965 and 1972 space research became international and countries like France, Australia, Japan, China and England Prove their capability to have a satellite. These countries were economically and technically lower than countries like United states and Russia. Then some of them decided to use American launchers because of their political vicinity. Nowadays there are low cost launchers capable of launching 6 different satellites simultaneously. In 1992 an approach for satellites was introduced, called smaller, cheaper and faster. This approach uses modern technologies, lower mission objectives, low cost launchers and simpler management techniques to achieve the goal. This is the most suitable for Microsatellites and smaller ones. It seems that Microsatellites are a cheap and easy way to achieve the space and constructing space constellations in low earth orbit. Since using Microsatellites is a cheap and easy way to achieve the space and testing the space technology, most of developing countries use them for their first space launch. System design of Microsatellites When the goal is to design and utilize a satellite, System design of satellites should be considered. In other words some steps more than design and launch must be considered that cover all the project phases. This includes design (for example designing satellite, orbit, position of earth station, how to communicate, how to manage and control the satellite, how to manage data received from satellite,), manufacturing, assembly, test, launch and utilization. System design is divided to some standard steps listed below: Pre-launch planning o Space analyses o Organization coordination o Data management Orbit design and predicting orbit lifetime Selecting earth station and geographic position and the necessary link budget Tracking the satellite Achieving Two Line Elements (TLE) Steps of Injecting the satellite in the orbit and collision prevention Telemetry antenna orientation and operation in earth station to produce tracking scan for earth antenna.

1. Professor Assistant of Malek Ashtar Univ. of tech. 1. Researcher in Iran Space Industries Group (ISIG), 021-22827594, mahmoodnajafi@gmail.com

Measurement of maneuver performance and drag force after injecting the satellite into the orbit The Final step is utilizing the satellite. In this paper each step will be described and in some cases different methods for doing that step will be expressed. For example different methods for satellite reconnaissance and tracking will be presented.

References

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Wiley j.L. Space Mission Analysis and Design, Chapter 11.1

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A. Ebrahimi and M. Najafi, Satellite attitude determination using GPS receiver based on wahba cost function, International Geoinformatics Research and Development Journal, Vol. 2, Issue 2, June 2011.

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M. Najafi and M. Dehghan, Automatic 3D layout of spacecraft using intelligent optimization techniques (Genetic Algorithm), International Conference on Aerospace Engineering, Isfahan, Feb. 2004

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P. Forteseue and J. Stark, 1995, Spacecraft systems Design and Engineering, 2nd Edition Chapter 10. J.R.Wertz ,1999 , Spacecraft Attitude Determination and Control, Part-II,Chapter6

1. Professor Assistant of Malek Ashtar Univ. of tech. 1. Researcher in Iran Space Industries Group (ISIG), 021-22827594, mahmoodnajafi@gmail.com