Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “nanosatellites”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 163 records · Page 9
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2019

DVB-S2 Demonstration Testing for Enhancing Data Rates for CubeSat/SmallSat Missions

The number of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) CubeSat/SmallSat missions is expected to grow rapidly in the next decade. High data rate is in increasing demanded for science missions, especially for mother/daughter CubeSat constellations. As the number of spacecraft on a ground network grows, loading could be reduced by limiting contact time per day, which is enabled by higher data rates. There is also a need to communicate direct to earth from space from longer distances than low earth orbit (LEO) with CubeSats. These challenges motivate the need for bandwidth and power efficient modulation and coding techniques. Today, DVB-S2 is an industry communications standard for larger satellites. DVB-S2 uses power and bandwidth efficient modulation and coding techniques to deliver performance approaching theoretical limits of RF channels. NASA Near Earth Network (NEN) is conducting demonstration testing at Wallops Flight Facility (WFF) in spring 2019 for CubeSat/SmallSat missions for enhancing data rate performance in NASAs allocated S-band 5 MHz channel. The ultimate goal is to upgrade NEN with DVB-S2 for increasing science data return, and enabling of greater numbers of CubeSats.This paper describes NEN DVB-S2 demonstration testing objectives and performance measurement results. DVB-S2 data rate performance in the NEN S-band 5 MHz channel is presented. Simulation analysis for the expected maximum data rate performance with the DVB-S2 signal family including multiple modulations and codes are presented. Link margin analysis for a typical CubeSat/SmallSat with a 1W/2W power amplifier/patch antenna using DVB-S2 for NEN S-band is discussed. The demonstration testing configurations at NEN Wallops station is described. Results of the demonstration testing are compared with other evolving radios for SmallSats and CubeSats in term of data rate and performance. There are a number of evolving S-band and X-band radios that are compatible with NEN. Some are integrated with commercial CubeSat/SmallSat busses. Some are flying for the first time with NEN in early 2019. The USRP B200mini transceiver S-band radio is one such radio. Results of streamlined compatibility testing with NEN in 2018, performance with the Technology Educational Satellite (TechEdSat-8) in flight in early 2019, potential to add DVB-S2 to the radio, and plans for a CubeSat using the radio for communication from 10 million kilometers from earth are discussed. Another evolving radio is the Syrlinks X-band radio. Results of compatibility testing with NEN in 2018, performance with the Sustained Ocean Color Observations using Nanosatellites (SOCON) in flight in early 2019, and potential for a future SOCON constellation are discussed.

Wong, Yen↗
NASA NTRS2019

The Exo-Brake as an Inexpensive Means of Achieving Sample Return from Low Earth Orbit – Recent Flight

The Exo-Brake is a simple, non-propulsive means of deorbiting small pay-loads from orbital platforms such as the Inter-national Space Station (ISS). Recent flight experiments involving the TechEdSat (TES) 6, 7, 8 are discussed in terms of both ‘targeted’ and ‘disposal’ de-orbit techniques. These build on the previous flight experiments with fixed surface areas – and now involve improved uplink/downlink communication and GPS for improved targeting and control. The recent targeting experiments are dis-cussed involving the TechEdSat-6,7,8 nanosatellites. The extension of the concept to a 1-stage, 3-stage, and lifting entry sample re-turn system are discussed.

Murbach, Marcus S.↗
NASA NTRS2020

BioSentinel ISS Control Experiment Investigation Summary Form

The main science objective of BioSentinel is to develop biosensors to study the effects of the space radiation environment on biological organisms. Given its similarities to human cells, we decided to use the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Yeast cells share homology to human cells, particularly in the response to DNA damage caused by ionizing radiation. Most importantly, yeast cells can be desiccated and survive in that form for long periods of time. Thus, budding yeast is the ideal model organism for long-term experiments in preparation for future manned missions to deep space. In addition to the ISS mission, our biosensors will fly in a nanosatellite designed for deep space, which is manifested to fly as a secondary payload onboard NASA’s Artemis-1 rocket.

BioSentinel↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Advanced eLectrical Bus (ALBus) CubeSat: From Build to Flight

Advanced eLectrical Bus (ALBus) CubeSat is a technology demonstration mission of a 3-U CubeSat with an advanced digitally controlled electrical power system and novel use of Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) technology for reliable deployable solar array mechanisms. The primary objective was to advance the power management and distribution (PMAD) capabilities to enable future missions requiring more flexible and reliable power systems with higher output power capabilities. Goals included demonstration of 100W distribution to a target electrical load, response to continuous and fast transient power requirements, and exhibition of reliable deployment of solar arrays and antennas utilizing re-settable SMA mechanisms. The power distribution function of the ALBus PMAD system is unique in the total power to target load capability, as power is distributed from batteries to provide 100W of power directly to a resistive load. The deployable solar arrays utilize NASA’s Nickel-Titanium-Palladium-Platinum (NiTiPdPt) high-temperature SMAs for the retention and release mechanism, and a superelastic binary NiTi alloy for the hinge component. The project launched as part of the CubeSat Launch Initiative (CLI) Educational Launch of Nanosatellites (ELaNa) XIX mission on Rocket Lab’s Electron in December 2018. This paper summarizes the final launched design and the lessons learned from build to flight.

Deboshri Sadhukhan↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Advanced eLectrical Bus (ALBus) CubeSat: From Build to Flight

The Advanced eLectrical Bus (ALBus) CubeSat project is a technology demonstration mission of a 3-U CubeSat with an advanced, digitally controlled electrical power system capability and novel use of Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) technology for reliable deployable solar array mechanisms. The objective of the project was to advance the state of power management and distribution (PMAD) capabilities to enable future missions requiring flexible and reliable power systems with higher output power capabilities. The goals of the mission were to demonstrate 100W distribution to a target electrical load, respond to continuous and fast transient power requirements, and show reliable deployment of solar arrays and antennas utilizing re-settable SMA mechanisms. The power distribution function of the ALBus PMAD system is unique in the total power to target load capability. Power is distributed from batteries to provide 100W of power directly to a resistive load. The deployable solar arrays utilize NASA Glenn Research Center’s Nickel-Titanium-Palladium-Platinum high-temperature SMAs for the retention and release mechanism, and a super-elastic binary NiTi alloy for the hinge component. The deployable solar array hinge design features the utilization of SMA material properties for a dual purpose. First, the hinge uses the super-elastic SMA properties to provide the spring force to deploy the arrays. Second, the electrical conductivity properties of the SMA enables the design to provide clean conduits for power transfer from the deployable arrays to the power management system. This eliminates the need for electrical harnesses between the arrays and the PMAD system in the ALBus system design. The uniqueness of the SMA retention and release mechanism design is the ability to reset the mechanism and reuse the same hardware. This allow functional tests of the mechanisms before flight with no degradation of performance and flying the hardware that is tested. The project launched as part of the CubeSat Launch Initiative Educational Launch of Nanosatellites (ELaNa) XIX mission on Rocket Lab’s Electron in December 2018. This paper summarizes the final launched design of ALBus and lessons learned from the technology and overall project from development through flight.

Deboshri Sadhukhan↗
NASA NTRS2018

On-Orbit Results and Lessons Learned from the ASTERIA Space Telescope Mission

The Arcsecond Space Telescope Enabling Research in Astrophysics (ASTERIA) was deployed from the International Space Station (ISS) on 20 November 2017, beginning a technology demonstration and opportunistic science mission to advance the state of the art in nanosatellite performance for astrophysical observations. The goal of ASTERIA is to achieve arcsecond-level line-of-sight pointing error and highly stable focal plane temperature control. These capabilities enable precision photometry—i.e. the careful measurement of stellar brightness over time—which in turn allows investigation of astrophysical phenomena such as transiting exoplanets. By the end of the 90-day prime mission, ASTERIA had achieved line-of-sight pointing stability of approximately 0.5 arcseconds root mean square (RMS) over 20-minute observations, pointing repeatability of 1 milliarcsecond RMS from one observation to the next, and focal plane temperature stability better than ±0.01 K over 20-minute observations. This paper presents an overview of the ASTERIA flight and ground system, summarizes the pre-delivery test campaign, and discusses the on-orbit performance obtained by the pointing and thermal control subsystems. We also describe the process for planning opportunistic science observations and present lessons learned from development and operations. Having successfully operated for over 200 days as of this writing, ASTERIA is currently in an extended mission to observe nearby bright stars for transiting exoplanets.

Seager, Sara↗
NASA NTRS2019

The Lunar IceCube EM-1 Mission: Prospecting the Moon for Water Ice

Lunar IceCube is a NASA nanosatellite mission designed to prospect, locate, and measure volumes and composition of water ice deposits and other volatiles on the Moon in support of future exploitation by robots and human explorers. Lunar IceCube is one of several public -private partnerships selected under NASA's Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships Broad Agency Announcement for the development of advanced exploration systems. Among the first small satellites planned to explore deep space, Lunar IceCube, along with the 12 other Exploration Mission One (EM -1) missions will help lay a foundation for future small-scale planetary missions. In addition to providing useful scientific data, Lunar IceCube will help inform NASA's strategy for sending humans farther into the solar system.

Benjamin K. Malphrus↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

TECHEDSAT-7 and 10: The Little Spacecraft That Could

The NOW (Nanosatellite Orbital Workshop) of NASA Ames Research Center (ARC) has two cubesats in orbit at this time: 6 U TechEdSat-10 (T-10) and the 3U TechEdSat-7 (T-7). T10 was jettisoned from the ISS via the NANORACKS system 7/13/2020, and T-7 was launched via Virgin Orbit 1/17/2021. Both were built by the Nano-satellite Orbital Workshop (NOW) at NASA ARC, and designed and fabricated by interns and students in collaboration with educational institutions. Prototyping novel technologies for non-powered re-entry and communications from orbit are primary research interests, however all subsystems including power generation and distribution, subsystem control, navigation, positioning, heat management etc. extend current technologies. Use of distributed processors using open software platforms and standards other based technologies and software is integral to all segments of spacecraft design. Here, we will present an overview of the spacecraft, experiments, and accomplishments – as well as the next three flight experiments. Some of these experiments include: The exo-brake re-entry system is being developed to enable sample return and end of life disposal; Internal communications for sensors, inter-subsystem and experiments uses both a Zigbee based PAN and internal Wi-Fi for high-speed inter-device communications; The Iridium small message LEO system (Short Burst Data) is used to both command the spacecraft and send data to the ground; Experimental use of the Global-Star system for L-band system comparison and back-up; Collaborative NOAA an experiment to communicate from LEO to the GOES geostationary satellite using the DCS (Data Collection System) with on-board Doppler correction; Mars and Lunar experimental communication systems for future cis-lunar and interplanetary nano-satellites; First demonstration of the NASA Near Earth Network systems with nano-satellites at NASA/Wallops Island; Solar array design and implementation for unique future flexible structures; Power distribution using Tardigrade rad-hard processor omni-board (designed by the team); Distributed processors with internal Wi-Fi connectivity; and Initial experiments with AI/Machine Learning.

M Murbach↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Tracking Metabolic Changes in Microbial Culture using Redox Measurements

During long-term space missions, microbial cultures accumulate the effects of low-dose radiation, microgravity, and other factors; altered growth and metabolic activity may occur before viability effects. This could affect functionality of bioreactors or other bio-enabled mission systems, as well as shed light on human health. Spaceflight microbiology studies beyond the low Earth orbit exposure afforded by the ISS have been limited. Nanosatellites offer an increasingly popular alternative for deep space missions. However, the communications delay requires biofluidic automation of a pre-defined experimental protocol, and the lack of sample return (reliance on sensors in flight) can significantly limit feasible investigations. Previous biological CubeSats (PharmaSat, O/OREOS, EcAMSat) have used alamarBlue, an off-the-shelf formulation of the redox indicator dye resazurin, to track metabolic activity, as will BioSentinel, the upcoming interplanetary microbiology experiment. A series of ground experiments (see abstracts by Liddell, Santa Maria, and A. Kim) were conducted using a microbial culture system outfitted with an electrochemical sensor array (electrical conductivity, pH, oxidation-reduction potential, and dissolved oxygen) with alamarBlue and the same strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae as BioSentinel. By improving mapping of measured changes in alamarBlue kinetics to physicochemical changes, and ultimately to biological alterations such as shifted metabolic pathways, this work supplements data analyses from past missions and planning for future missions using alamarBlue to characterize space radiation effects. Initial results indicate that alamarBlue acts like a redox buffer; its presence significantly changes redox kinetics in otherwise identical cultures. The initial color change (blue resazurin reduced to red/pink resorufin) appears as a redox plateau. A second plateau, likely corresponding to the second color transition (resorufin to the colorless hydroresorufin), occurs at a lower redox value. The relationship to carbon source exhaustion, dissolved oxygen depletion, cell death, and measured redox potential is complex and still under study.

Tracking↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Pointing, Acquisition, and Tracking for the TBIRD Cubesat Mission: System Design and Pre-Flight Results

The Terabyte InfraRed Delivery (TBIRD) program will establish a communication link from a nanosatellite in low-Earth orbit to a ground station at burst rates up to 200 Gbps. The TBIRD payload is currently in the process of integrating with the 6-U CubeSat host bus and pre-flight testing has been completed. An overview of the pointing, acquisition, and tracking system for TBIRD is provided as well as a summary of results from pre-flight testing. TBIRD relies on the spacecraft bus to implement fine pointing corrections supplied by its quad sensor at a rate of 10 Hz. The measured accuracy of pointing feedback is about 10μrad RMS per axis. A custom optical assembly was designed for transmitter/receiver alignment stability which was measured to be within 25μrad two-axis through environmental testing. With TBIRD feedback in the loop, single axis pointing accuracy of the downlink is predicted to be about 30μrad RMS.

space communications↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

On-Orbit Demonstration of 100 Gbps Optical Downlinks from the TBIRD Cubesat

In June 2022, NASA’s TeraByte Infrared Delivery (TBIRD) program successfully demonstrated 100 Gbps laser communications from low-Earth orbit to a ground. The 3U communication terminal (hosted on a 6U nanosatellite) established downlinks during 5-minute passes over the ground station that resulted in the transfer of Terabyte-class data volumes. This paper provides an overview of the system architecture, operations, and link performance results.

ISS↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

The Doppler Wind and Temperature Sounder (DWTS) Flight Evaluation and Experiments (TES-16,17)

The Doppler Wind and Temperature Sounder instrument (DWTS) developed by Global Atmospheric Technologies and Sciences (GATS) is a simple yet powerful tool with the potential to become a new window through which the study of upper atmosphere dynamics can occur. Based around a defense-grade infrared camera peering through a static gas cell used as a scanning spectral filter, a DWTS instrument can infer wind velocities and kinetic temperatures throughout the stratosphere and lower thermosphere. The DWTS achieves this scanning by measuring the induced Doppler shift and Doppler broadening of emissions as they pass through the DWTS field of view (Gordley, Marshall, 2011). The DWTS holds promise in improving accuracy in weather determination among other terrestrial benefits, and the core technology can be easily adapted to study the dynamics of other planetary atmospheres. In partnership with GATS, NOAA, and other collaborators, NASA Ames and the Nano-Orbital Workshop (NOW) group have been working to evaluate the DWTS instrument on orbit and optimize it as a flexible payload for nanosatellites. The first mission selected for DWTS technical evaluation is preparing for flight in early 2024, which will be followed by a more capable science mission in 2025, with both missions being part of the TES-n/NOW heritage flight series. The first rapid technology demonstration flight, TES-16/DWTS-A, will demonstrate a single DWTS instrument in an approximately 2U payload volume. With an estimated power consumption of 50 watts, the instrument will maintain the imaging sensor plane at 80K during instrument performance evaluation periods using an integrated Stirling cryocooler. Data from DWTS will be captured and processed via a NOW-designed custom data interface unit before being transmitted via S-band radio back to select ground stations, with instrument command and control maintained via L-band global-coverage radio. The subsequent TES-17/DWTS-B mission will be a dedicated science mission tasked with validating the instrument’s full altitude coverage capabilities, currently estimated from 20 to 200 km during both day and night. This new atmospheric observational capability will come from a single small satellite equipped with three DWTS imagers, each hosting a different gas cell chemistry, to form a complete instrument. The intention of this flight series, and one of NASA’s interests in this instrument, is not only to advance Earth atmospheric dynamics, but to advance a Martian atmospheric study instrument as well (Colaprete, Gordley, et al) which, if successful, would greatly further understanding of Martian atmospheric dynamics. This document describes the flight series in detail, including challenges facing the TES-16 flight tests and the projected challenges and application of Mars study. Additional detail regarding the possible applications of a Cognitive Communication technique in current flight development by NOW collaborators at the NASA Glenn Research Center is also discussed, including the implications of using an automated User Initiated Service (UIS) protocol to maximize the data collected per orbit.

DWTS Nano-satellite TES-n↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Shields-1 Energetic Proton Dose Comparison from Solar Minimum and Active Periods

Shields-1 has been operating in polar low earth orbit since December 2018 as part of the CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI) Educational Launch of Nanosatellites (ELaNa)XIX Mission. Shields-1 has 8 Teledyne µdosimeters behind shielding. These shielded µdosimeters have high minimum proton energy thresholds. The Shields-1 electronics enclosure µdosimeter has a minimum proton threshold energy of 151 MeV. The annualized total ionizing dose (TID) in the electronics enclosure was 75.6 +/- 3.2 RAD from July-August 2019, which was a solar minimum period. In contrast, the annualized TID was 61.0 +/- 2.5 RAD in July 2023, a solar active month. The TID change can be attributed to both the reduction in radiation at the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) and the decrease in galactic cosmic radiation during increasing solar activity. The measured GCR dose over the poles was reduced during the July 2023 solar active period in comparison with the July 2019 solar minimum period, using the most sensitive µdosimeter channel for the measurement. Shields-1 has demonstrated the capability of measuring the changes in high energy protons in polar low earth orbit during changes in solar activity, which contributes to the understanding of Earth in the heliosphere.

Shields-1 Dosimetry Space Sciences↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

NASA Small Spacecraft and Distributed Systems Program - Recent and Upcoming Technology Demonstrations and Development Efforts

NASA’s Small Spacecraft & Distributed Systems (SSDS) program strengthens U.S. ability to conduct unique missions by rapidly developing and demonstrating capabilities for SmallSat exploration, science, and commercial space. In collaboration with NASA Centers, other government agencies, commercial industry, and academia, SSDS advances next generation SmallSat technologies like power, processing, propulsion, communications, autonomous navigation, architectures (swarms), and applications (AI/ML/Edge Computing)—to extend missions beyond LEO into cislunar and planetary space. Various investment mechanisms exist for SSDS to select and fund projects that will ultimately advance NASA’s Moon to Mars Architecture. Presented here are the latest achievements and findings from recently completed SSDS projects, along with updates from ongoing efforts and planned future work. Successful missions like Starling and CAPSTONE continue to demonstrate their capability after several years on-orbit. Advancements in next generation swarm configurations are being implemented by Starling for space traffic monitoring and management applications. Findings from recent SSDS flight projects are discussed: DiskSat, a unique SmallSat platform alternative to canisterized nanosatellites, launched December 2025 and is gathering data; the PTD series of missions concluded in December 2025. Current SSDS efforts are focused on addressing NASA Shortfalls relating to rendezvous and proximity operations, neuromorphic computing, and space situational awareness.

Roger C Hunter↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

NASA Small Spacecraft and Distributed Systems: Recent and Upcoming Technology Demonstrations and Development Efforts

NASA’s Small Spacecraft & Distributed Systems (SSDS) program strengthens U.S. ability to conduct unique missions by rapidly developing and demonstrating capabilities for SmallSat exploration, science, and commercial space. In collaboration with NASA Centers, other government agencies, commercial industry, and academia, SSDS advances next generation SmallSat technologies like power, processing, propulsion, communications, autonomous navigation, architectures (swarms), and applications (AI/ML/Edge Computing)—to extend missions beyond LEO into cislunar and planetary space. Various investment mechanisms exist for SSDS to select and fund projects that will ultimately advance NASA’s Moon to Mars Architecture. Presented here are the latest achievements and findings from recently completed SSDS projects, along with updates from ongoing efforts and planned future work. Successful missions like Starling and CAPSTONE continue to demonstrate their capability after several years on-orbit. Advancements in next generation swarm configurations are being implemented by Starling for space traffic monitoring and management applications. Findings from recent SSDS flight projects are discussed: DiskSat, a unique SmallSat platform alternative to canisterized nanosatellites, launched December 2025 and is gathering data; the PTD series of missions concluded in December 2025. Current SSDS efforts are focused on addressing NASA Shortfalls relating to rendezvous and proximity operations, neuromorphic computing, and space situational awareness.

Roger Hunter↗
DOE OSTI2026

X-ray characterization of fully-depleted p-channel Skipper-CCDs for the DarkNESS mission

The Dark matter Nanosatellite Equipped with Skipper Sensors (DarkNESS) mission is a 6U CubeSat designed to search for X-ray lines from decaying dark matter using Skipper-CCDs. Thick, fully-depleted p-channel Skipper-CCDs provide low readout noise and high quantum efficiency for 1-10 keV X-rays, but their X-ray performance has not yet been demonstrated in the space environment. DarkNESS will operate in low-Earth orbit, where trapped protons induce displacement damage in the sensor that increases charge-transfer inefficiency and degrades the X-ray energy resolution. This work measures the X-ray line response of Skipper-CCDs before and after proton irradiation and quantifies the associated degradation. A sensor was exposed to 217 MeV protons at a fluence of 8.4 x 10^10 protons cm^-2, corresponding to a displacement-damage dose more than an order of magnitude above the three-year expectation for representative mid-inclination and Sun-synchronous low-Earth orbits. A 55Fe source was used to compare the energy resolution of the beam-exposed quadrant to adjacent unexposed quadrants and a non-irradiated reference sensor. These measurements provide a quantitative assessment of radiation-induced spectral degradation in Skipper-CCDs and enable an estimate of the end-of-life X-ray energy resolution expected for DarkNESS operation in low-Earth orbit.

Alpine, Phoenix [Illinois U., Urbana] (ORCID:00090↗
DOE OSTI2022

CubeSats for Gamma-Ray Astronomy [Book Chapter]

After many years of flying in space primarily for educational purposes, CubeSats – tiny satellites with form factors corresponding to arrangements of “1U” units, or cubes, each 10 cm on a side – have come into their own as valuable platforms for technology advancement and scientific investigations. CubeSats offer comparatively rapid, low-cost access to space for payloads that can be built, tested, and operated by relatively small teams, with substantial contributions from students and early career researchers. Continuing advances in compact, low-power detectors, readout electronics, and flight computers have now enabled X-ray and gamma-ray sensing payloads that can fit within the constraints of CubeSat missions, permitting in-orbit demonstrations of new techniques and innovative high-energy astronomy observations. Gamma-ray-sensing CubeSats are certain to make an important contribution in the new era of multi-messenger, time-domain astronomy by detecting and localizing bright transients such as gamma-ray bursts, solar flares, and terrestrial gamma-ray flashes; however, other astrophysical science areas requiring long observations in a low-background environment, including gamma-ray polarimetry, studies of nuclear lines, and measurement of diffuse backgrounds, will likely benefit as well. Here we present the primary benefits of CubeSats for high-energy astronomy, highlight the scientific areas currently or soon to be studied, and review the missions that are currently operating, under development, or proposed. A rich portfolio of CubeSats for gamma-ray astronomy already exists, and the potential for a broad range of creative and scientifically productive missions in the near future is very high.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗