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Jake A. Schaffner
Electrical Engineering Department
Project Manager, Cal Poly Picosatellite Project
California Polytechnic State University
tel: 805-756-5087
email: jschaffn@calpoly.edu
Advisor:
Dr. Jordi Puig-Suari
Aerospace Engineering Department
ABSTRACT
Picosatellites demand highly efficient designs. TABLE OF CONTENTS
Restricted in mass, volume, and surface area, the
design of these spacecraft is particularly challenging. 1. Introduction
The electronic systems of CP1, the first satellite 2. Requirements
developed at Cal Poly State University, are designed 3. System Design and Analysis
specifically with simplicity and efficiency in mind. 4. Integration
The satellite’s design conforms to the CubeSat 5. Construction
standard, also developed at Cal Poly in conjunction 6. Testing
with Stanford University. 7. Summary and Conclusions
Designed and built by Cal Poly Students, the main 8. Acknowledgments
printed circuit board (PCB) is the center of the 9. References
electronic systems of CP1. This PCB incorporates the
command, data handling, data acquisition, and power 1. INTRODUCTION
electronic systems. 1.1 CubeSat Project Overview
The bus systems of CP1 are designed to Started in 1999, the CubeSat Project is a
accommodate numerous commercial payloads. collaborative effort between California Polytechnic
Highly efficient bus systems allow 30% of the State University, San Luis Obispo, and Stanford
spacecraft’s mass, volume, and power to be budgeted University’s Space Systems Development
for payloads. This capable platform can be used to Laboratory. The objective of the project is to provide
develop and flight test numerous new technologies a standard platform for the design of picosatellites. A
such as microthrusters, magnetorquers, MicroElectro- common deployer is used, significantly reducing cost
Mechanical Systems (MEMS), and a variety of and development time and enabling frequent
sensors. launches. This allows multiple high schools, colleges,
This paper outlines the objectives and requirements and universities from around the world to develop
of the mission and describes how those requirements and launch picosatellites without having to interface
are met in the design. The integration of the directly with launch providers.1
electronics with the structure and primary payload, as Currently, Cal Poly is designing, fabricating, and
well as the fabrication and assembly methods testing deployers, called Poly Picosatellite Orbital
employed, and modifications for in-orbit operations Deployers (P-PODs), capable of deploying up to six
are covered. CubeSats each. Cal Poly is also working closely with
Additionally, the design is analyzed to determine Stanford on the identification and coordination of
potential weaknesses in functionality or reliability launch opportunities, thus allowing CubeSat
and test results are presented to provide a developers to focus entirely on the design,
characterization of the electrical and functional construction, and testing of their satellites.
properties of the spacecraft.
4. INTEGRATION
4.1 PCB Shock/Thermal Isolation Mounts
Two environmental conditions, mechanical shock
and thermal extremes, led to the design of Delrin
shock mounts to interface the printed circuit boards Figure 4.1 – Secondary Battery (left), Primary Cell
of CP1 with the structure. These shock mounts are (center), CP1 Battery Pack (right)
simple in design but provide thermal isolation
between the electronics and the structure. They also 4.4 Solar Panels
help absorb mechanical shock experienced during To integrate well with the structure and maintain
launch. favorable electrical and thermal properties, a set of
Preliminary thermal analysis indicated that the worst requirements was developed for the solar panels prior
-case equilibrium temperature of CP1 would be as to their design. A primary goal was to develop a
low as -60°C. Transient analysis identified a single design that would be compatible with all faces
temperature range of –15 to +10°C. By thermally of the cube. Since the structural design of the top and
isolating the electronics from the structure, self- bottom faces varies from that of the side faces, two
heating can increase the temperature of the fastener-hole patterns were required for mounting.
electronics such that it is closer to room temperature. Additionally, a rather large hole would have to be cut
In the case of the transceivers, the command in the center of the panel on the bottom of the cube,
computer can actually provide thermal management to allow the Sun Sensor to “see” outside the
by varying the transmission duty cycle based on the spacecraft. Thermally, a good conduction path
measured transceiver temperature. between the structure and solar cells to prevent
overheating, was desired. Electrically, the panel
4.2 Wiring Harness would have to provide low resistance redundant
The wiring harness of CP1 is significantly simplified connections to the solar cells. Additional design
by the highly integrated Main PCB. Still, however, objectives included low mass, low cost, and
quite a bit of wiring is involved. A unique feature of simplicity.
CP1 is that no connectors are used. Multi-conductor
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