scholarly journals Propulsion System Modelling for Multi-Satellite Missions Performed by Nanosatellites

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 (4) ◽  
pp. 58-67
Author(s):  
Mateusz Sochacki ◽  
Janusz Narkiewicz

Abstract Progress in miniaturization of satellite components allows complex missions to be performed by small spacecraft. Growing interest in the small satellite sector has led to development of standards such as CubeSat, contributing to lower costs of satellite development and increasing their service competitiveness. Small satellites are seen now as a prospective replacement for conventional sized satellites in the future, providing also services for demanding users. New paradigms of multi-satellite missions such as fractionation and federalization also open up new prospects for applications of small platforms. To perform a comprehensive simulation and analysis of future nanosatellite missions, an adequate propulsion system model must be used. Such model should account for propulsion solutions which can be implemented on nanosatellites and used in multi-satellite missions. In the paper, concepts of distributed satellite systems (constellations, formations, fractionated and federated) are described with a survey of past, on-going and planned multi-satellite nanosatellites missions. Currently developed propulsion systems are discussed and the models of propulsion systems embedded in the WUT satellite simulation model are presented.

2010 ◽  
Vol 40-41 ◽  
pp. 748-753
Author(s):  
Zhi Lin Zhu

This paper analyzes the character and performance of the synthesized test bed on ground of small satellites. By studying several small satellite systems, the hardware and software architectures of flexible test bed are presented. The design ideas of the on-board part and the ground part of small satellite are given. The dynamic configuration for communication request/reply relation, the definition and resolution of the telemetry data signals are mainly discussed. The design and corresponding implementation are proven very effectively on the development of three small satellite systems.


Aerospace ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 169
Author(s):  
Ahmed E. S. Nosseir ◽  
Angelo Cervone ◽  
Angelo Pasini

Green propellants are currently considered as enabling technology that is revolutionizing the development of high-performance space propulsion, especially for small-sized spacecraft. Modern space missions, either in LEO or interplanetary, require relatively high-thrust and impulsive capabilities to provide better control on the spacecraft, and to overcome the growing challenges, particularly related to overcrowded LEOs, and to modern space application orbital maneuver requirements. Green monopropellants are gaining momentum in the design and development of small and modular liquid propulsion systems, especially for CubeSats, due to their favorable thermophysical properties and relatively high performance when compared to gaseous propellants, and perhaps simpler management when compared to bipropellants. Accordingly, a novel high-thrust modular impulsive green monopropellant propulsion system with a micro electric pump feed cycle is proposed. MIMPS-G500mN is designed to be capable of delivering 0.5 N thrust and offers theoretical total impulse Itot from 850 to 1350 N s per 1U and >3000 N s per 2U depending on the burnt monopropellant, which makes it a candidate for various LEO satellites as well as future Moon missions. Green monopropellant ASCENT (formerly AF-M315E), as well as HAN and ADN-based alternatives (i.e., HNP225 and LMP-103S) were proposed in the preliminary design and system analysis. The article will present state-of-the-art green monopropellants in the (EIL) Energetic Ionic Liquid class and a trade-off study for proposed propellants. System analysis and design of MIMPS-G500mN will be discussed in detail, and the article will conclude with a market survey on small satellites green monopropellant propulsion systems and commercial off-the-shelf thrusters.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sukhmander Singh ◽  
Sanjeev Kumar ◽  
Shravan Kumar Meena ◽  
Sujit Kumar Saini

Technically, there are two types of propulsion systems namely chemical and electric depending on the sources of the fuel. Electrostatic thrusters are used for launching small satellites in low earth orbit which are capable to provide thrust for long time intervals. These thrusters consume less fuel compared to chemical propulsion systems. Therefore for the cost reduction interests, space scientists are interested to develop thrusters based on electric propulsion technology. This chapter is intended to serve as a general overview of the technology of electric propulsion (EP) and its applications. Plasma based electric propulsion technology used for space missions with regard to the spacecraft station keeping, rephrasing and orbit topping applications. Typical thrusters have a lifespan of 10,000 h and produce thrust of 0.1–1 N. These devices have E→×B→ configurations which is used to confine electrons, increasing the electron residence time and allowing more ionization in the channel. Almost 2500 satellites have been launched into orbit till 2020. For example, the ESA SMART-1 mission (Small Mission for Advanced Research in Technology) used a Hall thruster to escape Earth orbit and reach the moon with a small satellite that weighed 367 kg. These satellites carrying small Hall thrusters for orbital corrections in space as thrust is needed to compensate for various ambient forces including atmospheric drag and radiation pressure. The chapter outlines the electric propulsion thruster systems and technologies and their shortcomings. Moreover, the current status of potential research to improve the electric propulsion systems for small satellite has been discussed.


Aerospace ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 67 ◽  
Author(s):  
George-Cristian Potrivitu ◽  
Yufei Sun ◽  
Muhammad Wisnuh Aggriawan bin Rohaizat ◽  
Oleksii Cherkun ◽  
Luxiang Xu ◽  
...  

The age of space electric propulsion arrived and found the space exploration endeavors at a paradigm shift in the context of new space. Mega-constellations of small satellites on low-Earth orbit (LEO) are proposed by many emerging commercial actors. Naturally, the boom in the small satellite market drives the necessity of propulsion systems that are both power and fuel efficient and accommodate small form-factors. Most of the existing electric propulsion technologies have reached the maturity level and can be the prime choices to enable mission versatility for small satellite platforms in Earth orbit and beyond. At the Plasma Sources and Applications Centre/Space Propulsion Centre (PSAC/SPC) Singapore, a continuous effort was dedicated to the development of low-power electric propulsion systems that can meet the small satellites market requirements. This review presents the recent progress in the field of electric propulsion at PSAC/SPC Singapore, from Hall thrusters and thermionic cathodes research to more ambitious devices such as the rotamak-like plasma thruster. On top of that, a review of the existing vacuum facilities and plasma diagnostics used for electric propulsion testing and characterization is included in the present research.


Author(s):  
Alicja Musiał ◽  
Dominik Markowski ◽  
Jan Życzkowski ◽  
Krzysztof A. Cyran

The success rate of currently performed CubeSat missions shows that despite their popularity, small satellites are still not as reliable as larger platforms. This research was conducted to analyse in-orbit experience from the KRAKsat mission and discuss methods for mission design and engineering that can increase CubeSats reliability and prevent their failures. The main purpose was to define best practices and rules that should be followed during mission development and operations to ensure its success based on the overview of the lessons learned from KRAKsat and problems encountered during its mission. This paper summarizes the experiences obtained and provides methods that can be used while carrying out future robust CubeSat projects. It was written to prove that there are some parts of the small satellite missions that are often neglected in the university-led projects and, by ensuring proper testing and planning before the actual mission, its reliability can increase. The following analysis could be used as a guide during the development of the next CubeSat projects.


Author(s):  
Radhika Radhakrishnan ◽  
Qing-An Zeng ◽  
William E. Edmonson

Small satellite technology has opened a new era in aerospace engineering by decreasing space mission costs, without greatly reducing the performance. The concept of formation flying using small satellites is becoming popular because of their potential to perform coordinated measurements of remote sensing space missions. The current state of art in satellite communications is a one hop link between satellite and ground station. Very little work has been done on inter-satellite communications. This paper aims to design and evaluate feasible MAC and routing layer protocols for distributed small satellite networks. The possibility to implement proposed MAC and routing protocols for two different formation flying patterns are investigated. To validate the authors’ proposed system model, they use extensive simulations to evaluate the performance of the system using throughput, access delay and end-to-end delay.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 65-76
Author(s):  
V. V. Salmin ◽  
V. V. Volotsuev ◽  
A. V. Nikitin

An analysis of the mass of the working fluid and motor operating time of electric propulsion systems applied as a part of small spacecraft to carry out maneuvers of maintenance of the low Earth working orbit is carried out. The analysis is carried out for the small spacecraft with the weight in the range from 300 to 1000 kg functioning in working orbits with the height in the range from 400 to 600 km. When carrying out the analysis the values of the specific impulse of the propulsion system in the range from 800 to 1600 sec were accepted. Procedural guidelines for assessing the value of the required characteristic speed depending on the aerodynamic drag force, as well as for assessing the value of mass of the working fluid with account for the value of the specific impulse and defining the motor operating time of the propulsion system depending on the exhaust speed of the working fluid were used. The results of calculations given in the article show that the mass of the working fluid and the motor operating time vary depending on the height of the orbit and the mass of the small spacecraft and allow making quick preliminary assessment of the main design characteristics of the electric propulsion engines used to carry out maneuvers of maintenance of the low Earth working orbit of small spacecraft with different weight dimension characteristics during the prescribed term of active existence.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (26) ◽  
pp. 59-66
Author(s):  
A. G. Morozkov ◽  
◽  
M. R. Yazvenko ◽  

The article presents simplified queuing system model of freight marine port. The article discusses the basic elements of queuing system, its mathematical solution and structure. Simulation model was created using AnyLogic to analyze an effect of system capacity on queue length. The results were analyzed and the solution for queue optimization was proposed. Key words: queuing system, simulation modeling, AnyLogic, marine port, servers, queue.


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