Undergraduate Satellite Program
@ Nanyang Technological
University
Kay Soon Low
Centre Director, Satellite Research Centre
Associate Professor
Nanyang Technological University
School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering
ekslow@ntu.edu.sg
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Satellite Research Centre
Missions
– Research and develop low earth orbit (LEO) nano- &
pico-satellite missions
– Research in space science and technologies for earth
observation applications
– Train undergraduate
g
&p
postgraduate
g
students to meet
the space industry needs
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Satellite Centre
•
The centre has 3 labs & 1 clean room, and is equipped with simulators, analyzers, fabrication machines, thermal l
f b i ti
hi
th
l
chamber, vacuum chambers etc.
– 50 staffs.
– Satellite Design lab, Satellite Engineering Satellite Design lab, Satellite Engineering
lab, mechanical lab, Clean room (Class 5k, 314 m2)
– Total lab Space 1172 m2
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Satellite Stack-up
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Research Activities in Centre
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The centre has the following key activities:
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Preparing for launch and operation of a micro-satellite, X-SAT
Communication system
y
for a satellite
Development of sensors for satellite attitude determination
Real time multi-spectrum satellite image analysis
Actuator and micro-thruster system
y
for nano-satellite
Undergraduate satellite program : build a pico- & nano-sat pair
International Collaboration
– US Air Force Academy, Department of Astronautics
• Student exchange program & payload development
– DLR German Aerospace Centre
• Collaborate on GIOVE satellites tracking, setup an operational
ground station (1 of the 8 in the world) – CONGO
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Undergraduate Satellite Program
• Objective bj i
– To introduce nano‐satellite design, assembly, integration, testing and operation into the
integration, testing and operation into the engineering undergraduate program.
• Motivation
– To transfer our experience in micro‐satellite technology into our educational program.
– To nurture creativity and imagination of To nurture creativity and imagination of
undergraduate students by providing them a challenging multidisciplinary and team based project. – To train new satellite engineers for the aerospace industry in Singapore
industry in Singapore.
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Undergraduate Satellite Program
SSchedule h d l
• Phase 1
– Design and build a space qualified collaborative pico
Design and build a space qualified collaborative pico‐sat
sat & &
nano‐sat
– Design a space qualified remote sensing payload, a MEMS ADCS, & inter‐satellite communication system
– Build a ground station
– Train 150 undergraduate students
T i 150 d
d t t d t
• Phase 2
– Launch and operate the satellites
Launch and operate the satellites
– System performance evaluation
– Decommissioning g
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Satellite pair: (left) 3U configuration before launch
(right) separated as P
P- & N
N-SAT
SAT in orbit
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Key Features of the Satellite Pair
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Experiment of a satellite pair separating in space.
Launched as 3u nanosat comprising 1u picosat
Launched as 3u nanosat
comprising 1u picosat & 2U nanosat
& 2U nanosat
3u nanosat operates in space for six months before separation
After initial launch, the N‐sat
After initial launch, the N
sat deploys solar panel, extend its deploys solar panel, extend its
optics to an additional 2u length.
Remote sensing payload.
Image processing board is configured as a backup OBC.
MEMS based ADCS, sun sensor.
U
Upon separation, inter‐satellite communication will be ti
i t
t llit
i ti
ill b
experimented. RF ranging, camera pointing are planned.
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Satellite Prototyping
• 20 students on LEO satellite simulation in May 2009, 20 students work in Jan‐May 2010 to build a satellite ground station.
• 20 final year students (EEE & MAE) work on satellite prototype from Aug 2009‐May 2010.
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Conclusions
• Nanyang Technological University has a well equipped satellite centre with a class 5k clean room
centre with a class 5k clean room.
• We have initiated an educational program to involve undergraduate students to work on a pico‐ & nano‐satellite pair.
• Mission definition review and prototyping have been completed.
completed
• We will start the engineering model development with a new batch of undergraduate students in August 2010.
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