scholarly journals Preliminary Study of Launch and Orbit of a CubeSat Using a Modified VSB-30 Launcher Vehicle

2020 ◽  
pp. 62-79
Author(s):  
Artur Gustavo Slongo ◽  
André Luís da Silva ◽  
Deniel Desconzi Moraes ◽  
João Felipe de Araújo Martos ◽  
Lorenzzo Quevedo Mantovani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Earth Orbit ◽  
Sounding Rocket ◽  
Space Technology ◽  
Sounding Rockets ◽  
Small Satellites ◽  
Mass Insertion ◽  
Orbital Decay ◽  
Launch Site ◽  
Suborbital Flights ◽  
Preliminary Study

During the last decade, the world faced the mass insertion of small satellites in the space technology scenario. Every year, the number of micro and nanosatellites launched increases and gets more attention from players in the space market. Despite the lack of a national launcher, the Brazilian Space Program is known for some successful development in the last century, including its space assets, such as a privileged launch site near the equator, a family of flight proven and reliable sounding rockets for suborbital flights and microgravity experiments and universities with established small satellites programs. Thereby, the present work proposes a modification of the Brazilian VSB-30 sounding rocket in order to allow the launch and insertion in low Earth orbit (LEO) of small satellites fulfilling the gap of a national launcher. It also presents a CubeSat orbital decay simulation and orbital insertion simulation with the modified rocket launched from the Alcântara Launch Center as a matter of verifying the potential of national missions using this modified launcher.

scholarly journals Small Satellites Constellations and Their Impact on CBRNe Management in Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 387-395
Author(s):  
Donato Morea ◽  
Giacomo Primo Sciortino
Keyword(s):  
Optical Quality ◽  
Low Earth Orbit ◽  
Space Technology ◽  
Demand Model ◽  
Small Satellites ◽  
Relative Pricing ◽  
Ground Segment ◽  
User Terminal ◽  
Space Economy ◽  
International Astronautical

A wave of small satellites massive constellations, in the range of hundreds of units each, is progressively populating the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) with a low-price, and varied, offer of Telecom (speed band) and Earth Imaging services (Starlink, Planet, One Web, etc.). It is a market - driven trend based on new satellite interlocking technologies, which cut down the supplier costs of launch and in orbit operations compared to the traditional technology based on big (and much heavier) geostationary satellites operating at high altitudes. This is a disruptive phenomenon especially for the developing world, where such vital services have always been hard to access, and their use therefore remained scarce, not consolidated, or even completely missing. Among these, Emergency management is definitely crucial. The geographical focus of this study is Africa and it deals not only with Institutional PRS users but with a wider potential context (corporations, private subjects, etc.). It clearly appears that a general degree of “Country readiness” toward Space technology and organization is necessary for these initiatives to take place. This can be achieved through certified international cooperation. The authors then, based on an estimated demand Model for services with their relative pricing corresponding to a cost-designed constellation of small microsatellites, presented already, among other, at several International Astronautical Federation(IAF)Symposia on Space Economy, simulate the resulting type of services available: TLC by band types and relative upload and download rates, Earth imaging by refresh rates and optical quality and resolution, Ground segment configuration for signal backhauling and user terminal receiving.. This info isapplied to a specific African Country case (Nigeria) whose significance emerged over other Countries after the application of comparative grids. Finally, an insight on the specifically configuration of services for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive (CBRNe) like management by local users, both maritime and land, with the relative costs, is offered. This is consequently left open for follow ups and discussion, due to the customer – design, project financing approaches of this Model programme.

scholarly journals The history of Andøya Rocket Range

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-156
Author(s):  
Eivind V. Thrane
Keyword(s):  
Local Community ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Auroral Zone ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Sounding Rocket ◽  
Night Time ◽  
Sounding Rockets ◽  
Complex Processes ◽  
Launch Site ◽  
History Of

Abstract. Just 5 years after Sputnik, on 18 August 1962, Norway launched the first sounding rocket from Andøya in northern Norway. The establishment of Andøya Rocket Range (ARR), in the Arctic and right in the middle of the night-time auroral zone, gave the scientists unique opportunities for studies of the complex processes in the auroral ionosphere and upper atmosphere. In close cooperation with the users, ARR gradually developed its technical and scientific infrastructure and is now one of the world's leading observatories in this field. ARR has also established a launch site at Svalbard, and sounding rockets from both ranges can reach far into the Arctic to study the cusp region and the daytime aurora. The ground-based instruments comprise sophisticated radars and lidars as well as passive instruments. ARR also plays an active role in space education. In 2014 Andøya Rocket Range changed its name to Andøya Space Center (ASC; https://www.andoyaspace.no, last access: 23 November 2018). This change reflects the fact that the activities now comprise much more than sounding rocket launches. ASC is an important company both nationally and in the local community of Andenes. ASC now has a staff of 95 and an annual turnover of NOK 150 million.

scholarly journals Optimum parameters for laser launching objects into low Earth orbit

2000 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 661-695 ◽  
Author(s):  
CLAUDE R. PHIPPS ◽  
JAMES P. REILLY ◽  
JONATHAN W. CAMPBELL
Keyword(s):  
Low Earth Orbit ◽  
Laser Source ◽  
Sounding Rocket ◽  
Earth Orbit ◽  
Laser Propagation ◽  
Optimum Parameters ◽  
Ablation Plasma ◽  
Light Concentration ◽  
Momentum Coupling ◽  
Flight Simulations

We derive optimum values of parameters for laser-driven flights into low Earth orbit (LEO) using an Earth-based laser, as well as sensitivity to variations from the optima. These parameters are the ablation plasma exhaust velocity vE and specific ablation energy Q*, plus related quantities such as momentum coupling coefficient Cm and the pulsed or continuous laser intensity that must be delivered to the ablator to produce these values. Different optima are found depending upon whether it is desired to maximize mass m delivered to LEO, maximize the ratio m/M of orbit to ground mass, or minimize cost in energy per gram delivered. Although it is not within the scope of this report to provide an engineered flyer design, a notional, cone-shaped flyer is described to provide a substrate for the discussion and flight simulations. The flyer design emphasizes conceptually and physically separate functions of light collection at a distance from the laser source, light concentration on the ablator, and autonomous steering. Approximately ideal flight paths to LEO are illustrated beginning from an elevated platform. We believe LEO launch costs can be reduced 100-fold in this way. Sounding rocket cases, where the only goal is to momentarily reach a certain altitude starting from near sea level, are also discussed. Nonlinear optical constraints on laser propagation through the atmosphere to the flyer are briefly considered.

scholarly journals Guidance Stabilization of Satellites Using the Geomagnetic Field

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Francisco Miranda
Keyword(s):  
Geomagnetic Field ◽  
Technological Development ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Low Earth Orbit ◽  
Earth Orbit ◽  
Small Satellites ◽  
Attitude Stabilization ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Low Earth Orbit Satellite ◽  
Games Theory

In the last years the small satellites have played an important role in the technological development. The attractive short period of design and low cost of them and the capacity to solve problems that are usually considered as problems to big and expensive spacecrafts lead us to study the control problem of these satellites. Active three-axis magnetic attitude stabilization of a low Earth orbit satellite is considered in this work. The control is created by interaction between the magnetic moment generated by magnetorquers mounted on the satellite body and the geomagnetic field. This problem is quite complex and difficult to solve. To overcome this difficulty guidance control is considered, where we use ε-strategies introduced by Pontryagin in the frame of differential games theory. Qualitative analysis and results of numerical simulation are presented.

Preliminary Study on De-Orbiting Large-Scale Debris Using a Charged Membrane in Low Earth Orbit

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 270-274
Author(s):  
Takanobu MURANAKA ◽  
Takuma NAGATA ◽  
Hiroki NAGAI ◽  
Kazuma UENO ◽  
Teppei OKUMURA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Low Earth Orbit ◽  
Earth Orbit ◽  
Charged Membrane ◽  
Preliminary Study

scholarly journals Attitude Sensor from Ellipsoid Observations: A Numerical and Experimental Validation

Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 433
Author(s):  
Dario Modenini ◽  
Alfredo Locarini ◽  
Marco Zannoni
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Validation ◽  
Attitude Determination ◽  
Closed Form Solution ◽  
Infrared Camera ◽  
Form Solution ◽  
Low Earth Orbit ◽  
Preliminary Design ◽  
Small Satellites ◽  
Attitude Sensor ◽  
Rms Errors

The preliminary design and validation of a novel, high accuracy horizon-sensor for small satellites is presented, which is based on the theory of attitude determination from ellipsoid observations. The concept consists of a multi-head infrared sensor capturing images of the Earth limb. By fitting an ellipse to the imaged limb arcs, and exploiting some analytical results available from projective geometry, a closed form solution for computing the attitude matrix is provided. The algorithm is developed in a dimensionless framework, requiring the knowledge of the shape of the imaged target, but not of its size. As a result, the solution is less sensitive to the limb shift caused by the atmospheric own radiance. To evaluate the performance of the proposed method, a numerical simulator is developed, which generates images captured in low Earth orbit, including also the presence of the atmosphere. In addition, experimental validation is provided due to a dedicated testbed, making use of a miniature infrared camera. Results show that our sensor concept returns rms errors of few hundredths of a degree or less in determining the local nadir direction.

scholarly journals Mirrors for Space Telescopes: Degradation Issues

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (21) ◽  
pp. 7538
Author(s):  
Denis Garoli ◽  
Luis V. Rodriguez De Marcos ◽  
Juan I. Larruquert ◽  
Alain J. Corso ◽  
Remo Proietti Zaccaria ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Far Infrared ◽  
Space Missions ◽  
Low Earth Orbit ◽  
Electromagnetic Spectrum ◽  
X Rays ◽  
Space Telescopes ◽  
Coating Materials ◽  
Sounding Rockets ◽  
Operational Life ◽  
Extreme Uv

Mirrors are a subset of optical components essential for the success of current and future space missions. Most of the telescopes for space programs ranging from earth observation to astrophysics and covering the whole electromagnetic spectrum from x-rays to far-infrared are based on reflective optics. Mirrors operate in diverse and harsh environments that range from low-earth orbit to interplanetary orbits and deep space. The operational life of space observatories spans from minutes (sounding rockets) to decades (large observatories), and the performance of the mirrors within the mission lifetime is susceptible to degrading, resulting in a drop in the instrument throughput, which in turn affects the scientific return. Therefore, the knowledge of potential degradation mechanisms, how they affect mirror performance, and how to prevent them is of paramount importance to ensure the long-term success of space telescopes. In this review, we report an overview of current mirror technology for space missions with a focus on the importance of the degradation and radiation resistance of coating materials. Special attention is given to degradation effects on mirrors for far and extreme UV, as in these ranges the degradation is enhanced by the strong absorption of most contaminants.

Auroral electrodynamics---investigation by a dual sounding rocket experiment

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hassanali Akbari ◽  
Robert Pfaff ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Electric Fields ◽  
Sounding Rocket ◽  
Sounding Rockets ◽  
Neutral Winds ◽  
Incoherent Scatter ◽  
Ac Electric Fields ◽  
Numerical Studies ◽  
Rocket Experiment ◽  
N Wave

<p>We present results from a 2017 sounding rocket experiment in which two NASA sounding rockets were simultaneously launched into the auroral ionosphere. The rockets included comprehensive instrumentation to measure DC and AC electric fields, magnetic fields, energetic particles, plasma density, and neutral winds, among other parameters, and achieved apogees of 190 and 330 km. This unprecedented collection of in-situ measurements obtained at two altitudes over an auroral arc, along with conjugate ground-based measurements by the Poker Flat incoherent scatter radar and all-sky cameras, enable us to investigate the behavior of an aurora arc and its associated electrodynamics. A prominent feature of our observations is the presence of localized, large-amplitude Alfvén wave structures observed in both the electric field and magnetometers at altitudes as low as 190 km in the vicinity of up- and down-ward current regions. The observations are discussed in the context of ionospheric feedback instability. The results are compared to predictions of previously published numerical studies and other sounding rocket observations.</p>

scholarly journals LATLAUNCH AIR-LAUNCH SYSTEM FOR LOW-COST LAUNCHING OF SMALL SATELLITES INTO LOW EARTH ORBIT

Aviation ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 73-78
Author(s):  
Aleksandrs Urbahs ◽  
Sergey Kravchenko ◽  
Margarita Urbaha ◽  
Kristine Carjova ◽  
Natalja Panova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Low Earth Orbit ◽  
Earth Orbit ◽  
Competitive Advantages ◽  
Characteristic Velocity ◽  
Small Satellites ◽  
Aerial Platform

The paper presents the air-launch system enabling the delivery of small satellites into low Earth orbit. One of the most important advantages of the concept is its cost. Generally, the paper proves that launching a carrier from an aerial platform (a movable launch pad) provides the whole range of competitive advantages. In particular, the total losses during the launch from an aerial platform will reduce by 20–35%, and the characteristic velocity of the maneuver will reduce by 4–7%.

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