GPS, Distributed Communications, and Thruster Experiments on the University of Texas FASTRAC Mission

摘要

Enabling technologies for nanosatellite formations will be demonstrated under the FormationAutonomy Spacecraft with Thrust, Relnav, Attitude, and Crosslink (FASTRAC) program. Twoflight-ready nanosatellites will be designed, fabricated, integrated, and tested during the two year designperiod. Three specific new and innovative technologies which will be demonstrated during the missionare GPS Relative Navigation, Distributed Communications, and Microdischarge Plasma Thrusters.A sensor set consisting of Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver and magnetometer will be usedto determine position and coarse attitude. Using a UHF crosslink, the two satellites will exchange statevector information and perform sub-meter level accuracy relative navigation. Each satellite will alsocontain a Microdischarge Plasma Thruster (MPT) developed at UT-Austin. This innovative device iscapable of generating low-thrust, high-efficiency propulsion at low power levels using microdischargeplasmas. The ability of the MPT to extend the life of the orbit will be determined by monitoring theorbit decay rates of the two vehicles as well as the MEMS IMU.A distributed tracking network with multiple university partners will be utilized to track the lowEarth orbit satellites. Amateur radio experimenters, high schools, universities, and other interestedparties will be encouraged to record telemetry from the satellites and report their data to a projectweb site for processing. In addition, amateur operators will have the opportunity to utilize many ofthe satellites communication systems once the science experiments have been completed.