TLE-based Orbit Analysis of the Virginia CubeSat Constellation CubeSats to Establish Identity,Communicate and Validate Mission

摘要

Three CubeSats were launched as part of the Virginia CubeSat Constellation (VCC) by Old Dominion University, Virginia Tech and University of Virginia. Due to the allocation of an unusual frequency in the range of 401 MHz, the three CubeSats, arbitrarily named VCC A, VCC B, and VCC C, could not establish a communication link with the ground infrastructure of the three universities. To address this issue, the VCC team sought the assistance of NASA Wallops Flight Facility to excite (and potentially communicate) one or more of the VCC CubeSats. Due to the passage of significant time, the three CubeSats had drifted significantly from the ISS and from each other. Therefore, association of each of the VCC CubeSat with its allocated frequency was not possible. A detailed two line elements (TLEs) based orbit analysis along with the known characteristics of the three CubeSats, like mass, inertia, are carried out for their identification and association with their respective institutions. The study is conducted using orbit simulation software with inputs as, (ⅰ) mass and area profiles of the three CubeSats (ⅱ) TLE data sets of the three CubeSats, and (ⅲ) atmospheric models. The study resulted in the identification of the three CubeSats, their association with respective institutions and lifetime prediction for establishing active communication. The study also established that the ODU CubeSat mission was a success.