Preliminary Design, Simulation, and Test of the Electrical Power Subsystem of the TINYSCOPE Nanosatellite

Abstract

Agile warfighter support, restrictive budgets, and complex adversaries are potential drivers for the United States to shift to smaller, simpler space payloads. Recent progress in miniaturized space system technologies may make it possible for nanosatellites to complement today's large, extremely high reliability, single mission satellites with smaller, less costly platforms that greatly reduce development, integration, and launch timelines. To fully realize this transition, Academia and Industry must make additional technological advances in all supporting satellite subsystems. This thesis focuses on the design, simulation, and hardware testing of a nanosatellite electrical power subsystem. Thesis efforts centered on investigating the feasibility of using commercial off the shelf power management and distribution systems in a CubeSat-based design for a tactically useful earth-imaging satellite. Criteria were developed to select one power system from among those considered. Extensive analytical simulation, electrical testing, and environmental testing was conducted in the context of TINYSCOPE's mission parameters. Tactical Imaging Nano-sat Yielding Small-Cost Operations and Persistent Earth-coverage (TINYSCOPE) is an ongoing collaborative project of the Nanosatellite Advanced Concepts Laboratory and the Small Satellites and CubeSat Laboratory both at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 2009
Accession Number
ADA514417

Entities

People

  • Chad W. Melone

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Artificial Satellites
  • Astronautics
  • Circuit Boards
  • Computer Programming
  • Energy Transfer
  • Integrated Circuits
  • Measurement
  • Nanosatellites
  • Satellite Buses
  • Small Satellites
  • Solar Cells
  • Solar Panels
  • Space Objects
  • Space Systems
  • Spacecraft
  • Spacecraft Orbits
  • United States

Readers

  • Military Science and Technology Research and Modernization.
  • Missile Defense Systems.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Satellites