Mission Design and Concept of Operations of a 6U CubeSat Mission for Proximity Operations and RSO Imaging

Abstract

ARAPAlMA is a proximity operations mission sponsored by the US Air ForceOffice of Scientific Research and the Air Force Research Laboratory, to perform the in-orbit demonstration of proximity operations for visible, infrared, and three dimensional imaging of resident space objects (RSOs) on a nanosat platform. The nanosat is of the 6U CubeSat class, with overall dimensions of 11 X 26 X 34cm and a mass of 9kg. This paper details the goals and the concept of operations of the mission and presents the current status of the design.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 29, 2013
Accession Number
AD1034435

Entities

People

  • B. Udrea
  • M. Nayak
  • M. Ryle

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Department Of Defense
  • Engineering
  • Ground Stations
  • Measurement
  • Military Research
  • Navigation
  • Propulsion Systems
  • Solar Cells
  • Solar Panels
  • Space Objects
  • Space Situational Awareness
  • Spacecraft
  • Three Dimensional
  • Visible Spectra

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Image Processing and Computer Vision.
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.
  • Technical Research and Report Writing.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Satellites
  • Space - Space Objects