UMsat
No Boundaries
www.umass.edu/umsat
Adviser: Professor Paul Siqueira
Jeff Little
Kelvin Chan
Rohan Balakrishnan
Felipe Vilas-Boas
Electrical and Computer Engineering
CubeSat
CubeSat Background
Electrical and Computer Engineering
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CubeSat Background

Pico-satellite: 10 cm cube with a mass of up to 1 kg.

“The CubeSat Project was developed by California Polytechnic State
University, San Luis Obispo and Stanford University's Space Systems
Development Lab. The CubeSat program creates launch opportunities for
universities previously unable to access space.” (cubesat.org)

Upon completion, university satellites are placed in a jack in the box device
developed by Cal Poly called, the “P-POD” (Poly Pico Satellite Orbital
Deployer). The P-POD is carried into space on retired Soviet Ballistic
Missiles, and then the P-POD jettisons the satellites into space at the
proper orbit.

“Students, through hands on work, will develop the necessary skills and
experience needed to succeed in the aerospace industry.” (cubesat.org)
Electrical and Computer Engineering
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UMsat: UMass Amherst’s first student built satellite
 UMsat Mission Statement
UMsat, founded in 2007 by University of Massachusetts Amherst
undergraduates, will provide a platform for students to design, build, test, and
launch pico-satellites into orbit. UMsat fosters the development of leadership
skills, project commitment, and teamwork, while preparing its members for
future careers in the aerospace industry.
 Scientific Goal
The technical challenges that UMsat will tackle are to develop an Electronic
Power System, a Communication System, an Attitude Control and
Determination System, and a Data Processing and Management System. The
amalgamation of these subsystems will facilitate the successful transmission of a
picture of Earth taken by an onboard camera, along with the logging and
transmission of health and performance data of the satellite subsystems.
Electrical and Computer Engineering
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CubeSat Background (Cont’d)

Electrical and Computer Engineering
In the news…
5
In the news…
Electrical and Computer Engineering
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US CubeSat Developers and Participants
Who’s done it?
Electrical and Computer Engineering
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US CubeSat Developers and Participants

Auburn University

Purdue University

University of Oklahoma

University of Alabama

Taylor University

University of Texas - Austin

Tuskegee University

SUNY Geneseo

Texas Christian University

Arizona State University

Iowa State University

Texas A&M

University of Arizona

University of Kansas

Utah State University

Boston University

University of Louisiana

George Mason University

Cal Poly State University

US Naval Academy

University of Washington

San Jose Sate University

Dartmouth College

George Washington University

Stanford University

University of Massachusetts Amherst

University of California Irvine

Michigan Technological University

University of California Santa Barbara

Wasington University - St. Louis

University of Chicago

Montana State University

University of Colorado - Boulder

Cornell University

Florida Institute of Technology

Polytechnic University – NYC

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

New Mexico State University

University of Hawaii

North Carolina State University

University of Illinois

University of North Dakota
Electrical and Computer Engineering
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DARTSAT Overview
 Modularity by design
Electrical and Computer Engineering
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Overview of UMsat
Electrical and Computer Engineering
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MNTMAN I
Timeline
Electrical and Computer Engineering
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Proposed Timeline
 Fall 2007- Fellowships with MASGC (Massachusetts Space Grant Consortium)
 Define project scope.
 Get necessary seed funding to pursue CubeSat
 Develop Electronic Power System (EPS) hardware/software
 Winter/Spring 07-08
 Continue engineering education in satellite systems
 Purchase complete CubeSat Kit, including all other satellite
hardware and ground station equipment
 Develop working communication system, powered by previously
developed EPS.
 Assemble ground station, practice communicating with known
satellites.
Electrical and Computer Engineering
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Proposed Timeline (Cont’d.)
 Summer 2008- Fellowship with MASGC.
 Test Systems on tethered balloon
 Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS)
 Fall 2008 and Spring 2009 – Senior Design Project
 ADCS
 Design payload
 Successfully transmit and receive payload data via high altitude
balloon
 Create world wide amateur band network for data reception
 Launch satellite and receive data
Electrical and Computer Engineering
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UMsat Budget
Cost Review
Electrical and Computer Engineering
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Systems







Mechanical System (MEC)
Power System (EPS)
Communication System (COM)
Data Processing and Management System (DPAM)
Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS)
Payload
Launch Cost
Electrical and Computer Engineering
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MEC
 CubeSat Kit
• Flight Model
• Chassis Wall, Base Plate, Cover Plate
• Development Board
• FM430 Flight Module
• External Power Supply
• MSP430 Flash Emulation Tool and FM430 programming
adapter.
• Salvo RTOS software
Time
System
Item
Qty
Unit Cost
Ex Cost
Supplier
Spring
2008
MEC
CubeSat Kit 2-U
1
$5,650.00
$5,650.00
Pumpkin
Electrical and Computer Engineering
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EPS
 System Overview
• Solar Panels
• Batteries
• Hardware
Time
System
Item
Qty
Unit Cost
Ex Cost
Supplier
Fall 2007
EPS
UBP003 Lithium
ION Rechargeable
Battery
2
$20.00
$40.00
Mouser
Fall 2007
EPS
Triple Junction
Solar Cells
12
$200.00
$2400.00
Spectrolab
Fall 2007
EPS
MAX1771 Step Up
DC-DC Controller
1
Free Sample
Free Sample
Maxim
Fall 2007
EPS
MAX1757 Lithium
ION Battery Charger
1
Free Sample
Free Sample
Maxim
Electrical and Computer Engineering
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COM
 In flight COM overview
Time
System
Item
Qty
Unit Cost
Ex Cost
Supplier
Spring
2008
COM
70 cm Transmitter
1
$209.00
$209.00
Hamtronics
Spring
2008
COM
2m Receiver
1
$209.00
$209.00
Hamtronics
Electrical and Computer Engineering
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Ground Station Block Diagram
Electrical and Computer Engineering
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COM

Ground Station COM overview
Time
System
Item
Qty
Unit Cost
Ex Cost
Supplier
Spring 08
COM
2m antenna
1
$68.00
$68.00
Blue Star Antenna
Spring 08
COM
70cm antenna
1
$49.00
$49.00
Blue Star Antenna
Spring 08
COM
2m Preamp, KP-2/2m
1
$200.00
$200.00
Mirage
Spring 08
COM
70cm Preamp,KP2/440m
1
$200.00
$200.00
Mirage
Spring 08
COM
Antenna
Rotator/Controller G5500
1
$600.00
$600.00
Yaesu
Spring 08
COM
CPU/Antenna smart
interface GS-232
1
$600.00
$600.00
Yaesu
Spring 08
COM
Transceiver: IC-910H
1
$1400.00
$1400.00
ICOM America
Spring 08
COM
Terminal Node
Controller KMW1200+
packet modem
1
$262.00
$262.00
Kantronics
Spring 08
COM
NOVA tracking software
1
$60.00
$60.00
Northern Lights
Spring 08
COM
Power Supply
1
$200.00
$200.00
Astron
Spring 08
COM
RF Cables (~$1/ft)
2
$150.00
$300.00
Astron
Electrical and Computer Engineering
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DPAM
 System Overview
• C Programming Tools
Time
System
Item
Qty
Unit Cost
Ex Cost
Supplier
Fall 2007
DPAM
MSP430 CCompiler and
Development
Environment
1
$149.00
$149.00
Rowley
Fall 2007
DPAM
MSP-FET430PIF
Parallel Port
Debugging Interface
12
$99.00
$99.00
Texas
Instruments
Fall 2007
DPAM
MSP430-F149
Development Board
1
$34.95
$34.95
MicroController
Pros Corp.
Electrical and Computer Engineering
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ADCS
 Attitude Determination and Control System
• The exact science behind our ADCS is yet to be determined.
• Initial thoughts are to use hard drive disks as momentum
wheels, so that we may prevent tumbling through space.
• Particularly helpful if we want to point ourselves toward Earth in
order to get a clear picture.
Electrical and Computer Engineering
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Payload
 Payload
• Initial ideas are an onboard camera, and also various sensors
that will measure the health and also performance of the various
subsystems.
• This is particularly important since we hope that future UMass
students will continue UMsat.
• The data that we acquire will help those students build better,
more efficient systems.
Electrical and Computer Engineering
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Launch

~$40,000
Electrical and Computer Engineering
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Budget Timeline (Fall 2007)
Time
System
Items
Supplier
Fall 2007
EPS
MAX1757 Lithium ION Battery Charger
Maxim
$0.00
MSX-01F
Newark
$200.00
MAX1771 Step Up DC-DC Controller
Maxim
$0.00
UBP003 Lithium ION Rechargeable Battery
Mouser
$40.00
EPS Total
General
$240.00
Misc Costs / Books
__
$500.00
Various Discrete/Active Components (Res, Cap, Ind, Diodes, ect..)
Avnet
$100.00
General Total
DPAM
Total
$600.00
MSP430 C-Compiler and Development Environment
Rowley
MSP430-F149 Development Board
MicroController Pros Corp.
$34.95
MSP-FET430PIF Parallel Port Debugging Interface
Texas Instruments
$99.00
DPAM Total
Fall 2007 Total
Electrical and Computer Engineering
$149.00
$282.95
$1,122.95
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Budget Timeline (Spring 2008)
Time
System
Items
Supplier
Winter 2007-2008
COM
2 meter antenna
Blue Star Antenna
2m Preamp, KP-2/2m
Mirage
$200.00
2m Receiver
Hamtonics
$209.00
70 cm antenna
Blue Star Antenna
70 cm Transmitter
Hamtonics
$209.00
70cm Preamp,KP-2/440m
Mirage
$200.00
Antenna Rotator/Controller G-5500
Yaesu
$600.00
CPU/Antenna smart interface GS-232
Yaesu
$600.00
Misc Costs
__
$300.00
NOVA Satellite Tracking Software for Windows
Northern Lights Software Associates
Power Supply RS35-M
Astron
$200.00
RF Coax Cables (Transceiver to Antenna. ~$1/ft)
__
$300.00
Terminal Node Controller KMW1200+ packet modem
Kantronics
$262.00
Transceiver: IC-910H
ICOM America
COM Total
MEC
Total
$68.00
$49.00
$60.00
$1,400.00
$4,657.00
CubeSat Kit
MEC Total
Winter 2007 - 2008 Total
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Pumpkin
$5,650.00
$5,650.00
$10,307.00
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Budget Timeline (Summer 2008-Spring 2009)
Tim e
System
Summer 2008
ADCS
$2,000.00
ADCS Total
$2,000.00
General
Item s
Testing
General Total
Sum m er 2008 Total
Fall 2008
Total
$3,000.00
$3,000.00
$5,000.00
Payload
$2,000.00
Payload Total
$2,000.00
Fall 2008 Total
Spring 2009
Supplier
$2,000.00
General
Travel Expenses (Launch)
General Total
$4,000.00
$4,000.00
Launch
$40,000.00
Launch Total
$40,000.00
Spring 2009 Total
Electrical and Computer Engineering
$44,000.00
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Funding Chart
UMsat Funding
$100,000.00
$90,000.00
$80,000.00
Funds ($)
$70,000.00
$60,000.00
Needed
Raised
$50,000.00
$40,000.00
$30,000.00
$20,000.00
$10,000.00
$0.00
Fall 2007
Winter 07-08
Summer 2008
Fall 2008
Spring 2009
Semester
Electrical and Computer Engineering
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References

http://news.com.com/DIY+satellites+reinvent+the+space+race/2100-11397_35863564.html

http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/technology/050928_cubesats.html

http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/space/09/09/space.cubes

http://space.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=mg18825205.600

http://engineering.dartmouth.edu/dartsat/

http://cubesat.calpoly.edu/
Electrical and Computer Engineering
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Questions
Thank You!
Any Questions?
Electrical and Computer Engineering
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