HexSats: a novel flat hexagonal nanosatellite for high-power applications
HexSats: a novel flat hexagonal nanosatellite for high-power applications
We introduce the concept of HexSats, a 2.5 cm thick flat hexagonal satellite architecture, designed for efficient packing inside rocket fairings. For actuation, HexSats use a distributed micro-propulsion system (DμPS), consisting of arrays of small thrusters embedded in the satellite frame and producing thrust on the order of micro-Newtons. We investigate the HexSats’ capability to operate at 250 km altitude in Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) with power requirements exceeding 100 W. Depending on the mission scenario, the HexSat can either constantly point in the Nadir direction or briefly track a target on the ground. The required angular acceleration and resulting drag profiles are analytically determined, along with the expected performance of the HexSats. These results are combined to examine the feasibility of the two mission profiles at different HexSat sizes and provide estimates of the power available to the payload at different VLEO altitudes. Our results show that a HexSat at 250 km can actively track up to 8 ground targets per orbit and provide over 100 W of average payload power in these scenarios.
Distributed propulsion, Flat satellite, Micro-thrust electric propulsion, Satellite platform, Very Low Earth Orbit
27-40
Saddul, Kash
81831a7e-b96b-43dd-b366-8b40ca9935f8
Saletes, James
134d7f35-d94b-481b-8ce3-eb2cbe640e7c
Kim, Minkwan
18ed9a6f-484f-4a7c-bf24-b630938c1acc
Wittig, Alexander
3a140128-b118-4b8c-9856-a0d4f390b201
7 September 2024
Saddul, Kash
81831a7e-b96b-43dd-b366-8b40ca9935f8
Saletes, James
134d7f35-d94b-481b-8ce3-eb2cbe640e7c
Kim, Minkwan
18ed9a6f-484f-4a7c-bf24-b630938c1acc
Wittig, Alexander
3a140128-b118-4b8c-9856-a0d4f390b201
Saddul, Kash, Saletes, James, Kim, Minkwan and Wittig, Alexander
(2024)
HexSats: a novel flat hexagonal nanosatellite for high-power applications.
Acta Astronautica, 225, .
(doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2024.09.007).
Abstract
We introduce the concept of HexSats, a 2.5 cm thick flat hexagonal satellite architecture, designed for efficient packing inside rocket fairings. For actuation, HexSats use a distributed micro-propulsion system (DμPS), consisting of arrays of small thrusters embedded in the satellite frame and producing thrust on the order of micro-Newtons. We investigate the HexSats’ capability to operate at 250 km altitude in Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) with power requirements exceeding 100 W. Depending on the mission scenario, the HexSat can either constantly point in the Nadir direction or briefly track a target on the ground. The required angular acceleration and resulting drag profiles are analytically determined, along with the expected performance of the HexSats. These results are combined to examine the feasibility of the two mission profiles at different HexSat sizes and provide estimates of the power available to the payload at different VLEO altitudes. Our results show that a HexSat at 250 km can actively track up to 8 ground targets per orbit and provide over 100 W of average payload power in these scenarios.
Text
1-s2.0-S0094576524005034-main
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More information
Accepted/In Press date: 2 September 2024
e-pub ahead of print date: 4 September 2024
Published date: 7 September 2024
Keywords:
Distributed propulsion, Flat satellite, Micro-thrust electric propulsion, Satellite platform, Very Low Earth Orbit
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 494942
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/494942
ISSN: 0094-5765
PURE UUID: 3c097765-befa-42c7-9027-dd703f5c8c2a
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Date deposited: 23 Oct 2024 16:57
Last modified: 24 Oct 2024 02:00
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Author:
Kash Saddul
Author:
James Saletes
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