• Journal of Space Technology and Applications
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.87-104
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• 2024

CubeSats are being utilized in various fields such as Earth observation, space exploration, and verification of space science and technology due to their low cost, short development period, enhanced mission-oriented performance, and ability to perform various missions through constellation and formation flights. Recently, as the availability of CubeSats has increased and their application areas have expanded, the demand for high-speed transmission of large amounts of data obtained by CubeSats has increased unprecedentedly. Laser-based free space optical communication technology is capable of transmitting large amounts of data at high speeds compared to the existing radio communication methods, and provides various advantages such as use of unlicensed spectrum, low cost, low power, high security characteristics, and of use a small communication platform. For this reason, it is suitable as a high-performance communication technology to support CubeSat missions. In this paper, we will present the core components and characteristics of CubeSat-based space laser communication system, and recent research trends, as well as representative technology development results.

• Advances in aircraft and spacecraft science
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.271-290
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• 2020

The paper describes the analysis of deployment strategies and trajectories design suitable for executing the inspection of an operative spacecraft in orbit through re-usable CubeSats. Similar missions have been though indeed, and one mission recently flew from the International Space Station. However, it is important to underline that the inspection of an operative spacecraft in orbit features some peculiar characteristics which have not been demonstrated by any mission flown to date. The most critical aspects of the CubeSat inspection mission stem from safety issues and technology availability in the following areas: trajectory design and motion control of the inspector relative to the target, communications architecture, deployment and retrieval of the inspector, and observation needs. The objectives of the present study are 1) the identification of requirements applicable to the deployment of a nanosatellite from the mother-craft, which is also the subject of the inspection, and 2) the identification of solutions for the trajectories to be flown along the mission phases. The mission for the in-situ observation of Space Rider is proposed as reference case, but the conclusions are applicable to other targets such as the ISS, and they might also be useful for missions targeted at debris inspection.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.34-39
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• 2012

CubeSats classified as pico-class satellite require a ground station to track the satellite, transmit a command, and receive an on-orbit data such as SOH (State-of-Health) and mission data according to the operation plan. For this, ground station system has to be properly designed to perform a communication to with the satellite with enough up- and down-link budgets. In this study, a conceptual design of the ground station has been performed for the CubeSat named as STEP Cube Lab. (Cube Laboratory for Space Technology Experimental Project). The paper includes a ground station hardware interface design, link budget analysis and a ground station software realization. In addition, the operation plan of the ground station has been established considering the STEP Cube Lab. mission requirements.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.37-42
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• 2015

The CubeSats is classified as a pico-class satellite which requires a ground station to track the satellite, transmit commands, and receive an on-orbit data such as SOH (State-of-Health) and mission data according to the operation plan. In order to this, the ground station system has to be properly designed to perform a communication to with the satellite with enough up- and down-link budgets. In this study, a conceptual design of the ground station has been performed for the CubeSat named as STEP Cube Lab. (Cube Laboratory for Space Technology Experimental Project). The paper includes a ground station hardware interface design, a link budget analysis and a ground station software realization. In addition, the operation plan of the ground station has been established considering the STEP Cube Lab. mission requirements.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.58.4-59
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• 2021

This presentation introduces Korea's SNIPE (Small scale magNespheric and Ionospheric Plasma Experiment) mission, formation flying CubeSat constellation. Observing particles and waves on a single satellite suffers from inherent space-time ambiguity. To observe spatial and temporal variations of the micro-scale plasma structures on the topside ionosphere, four 6U CubeSats (~ 10 kg) will be launched into a polar orbit of the altitude of ~500 km in 2021. The distances of each satellite will be controlled from 10 km to more than 100 km by formation flying algorithm. The SNIPE mission is equipped with identical scientific instruments, solid-state telescope, magnetometer, and Langmuir probe. All the payloads have a high temporal resolution (sampling rates of about 10 Hz). Iridium modules provide an opportunity to upload changes in operational modes when geomagnetic storms occur. SNIPE's observations of the dimensions, occurrence rates, amplitudes, and spatiotemporal evolution of polar cap patches, field-aligned currents (FAC), radiation belt microbursts, and equatorial and mid-latitude plasma blobs and bubbles will determine their significance to the solar wind-magnetosphere-ionosphere interaction and quantify their impact on space weather.

• Advances in aircraft and spacecraft science
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• v.6 no.5
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• pp.427-442
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• 2019

Small satellites represent an emerging opportunity to realize a wide range of space missions at lower cost and faster delivery, compared to traditional spacecraft. However, small platforms, such as CubeSats, shall increase their actual capabilities. Miniaturized electric propulsion systems can provide the satellite with the key capability of moving in space. The level of readiness of miniaturized electric propulsion systems is low although many concepts have been developed. The present research intends to build a flexible test platform for the assessment of selected small propulsion systems in relevant environment at laboratory level. Main goal of the research is to analyze the mechanical, electrical, magnetic, and chemical interactions of propulsion systems with the modern CubeSat-technology and to assess the performance of the integrated platform. The test platform is a 6U CubeSat hosting electric propulsion systems, providing mechanical, electrical and data interfaces, able to handle a variety of electric propulsion systems, thanks to the ability to regulate and distribute electric power, to exchange data according to several protocols, and to provide different mechanical layouts. The test platform is ready to start the first verification campaign. The paper describes the detailed design of the platform and the main results of the AIV activities.

• Advances in aircraft and spacecraft science
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.195-215
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• 2022

The increasing interest in CubeSat platforms ant their capability of enlarging the frontier of possible missions impose technology improvements. Miniaturized electrical propulsion (EP) systems enable new mission for multi-unit CubeSats (6U+). While electric propulsion systems have achieved important level of knowledge at equipment level, the investigation of the mutual impact between EP system and CubeSat technology at system level can provide a decisive improvement for both the technologies. The interaction between CubeSat and EP system should be assessed in terms of electromagnetic emissions (both radiated and conducted), thermal gradients, high electrical power management, surface chemical deposition, and quick and reliable data exchanges. This paper shows how a versatile CubeSat Test Platform (CTP), together with standardized procedures and specialized facilities enable the acquisition fundamental and unprecedented information. Measurements can be taken both by specific ground support equipment placed inside the vacuum facility and by dedicated sensors and subsystems installed on the CTP, providing a completely new set of data never obtained before. CTP is constituted of a 6U primary structure hosting the EP system, representative CubeSat avionics and batteries. For the first test campaign, CTP hosts the ambipolar plasma propulsion system, called Regulus and developed by T4I. After the integration and the functional test in laboratory environment, CTP + Regulus performed a Test campaign in relevant environment in the vacuum chamber at CISAS, University of Padua. This paper is focused on the test campaign description and the main results achieved at different power levels for different duration of the firings.

• Journal of Aerospace System Engineering
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.104-109
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• 2023

The Cube Satellite Contest has been held six times as of August 2023, and a total of 21 teams have been selected. Fifteen Cube Satellites selected in previous contests were successfully launched and entered into low-Earth orbit. The six Cube Satellites selected in the sixth contest in 2022 are currently undergoing detailed design, and are scheduled to be launched in 2025 using a Korean launch vehicle. In this study, we analyzed the initial operation reports submitted by the selected teams of the Cube Satellite Contest in 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2019 to assess mission performance and identify causes of mission failure. Based on the submitted reports, an improvement scheme to enhance mission success for future Cube Satellites is proposed.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.114-123
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• 2017

Little Intelligent Nanosatellite of KAIST(LINK) is a 2U-size CubeSat which is developed by Aerospace Systems & Control Lab.(ASCL) of KAIST as a part of the international cooperation project QB50. The objective of the QB50 project is to carry out atmospheric research within the lower thermosphere and ionosphere and CubeSats are planned to be deployed at the International Space Station(ISS) from the first quarter of 2017. To implement this objective, a flight model(FM) of LINK has been successfully developed and the design and performance of the satellite have been verified by performing environment and function tests in accordance with acceptance requirement level. This paper describes the development of flight model and the results of vibration and thermal vacuum test.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.235-248
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• 2019

This paper suggests a relative orbit control strategy for the CubeSat Astronomy by NASA and Yonsei using Virtual Telescope Alignment eXperiment (CANYVAL-X) mission whose main goal is to demonstrate an essential technique, which is an arrangement among two satellites and a specific celestial object, referred to as inertial alignment, for a next-generation virtual space telescope. The inertial alignment system is a relative orbit control system and has requirements for the relative state. Through the proposed orbit control strategy, consisting of separation, proximity keeping, and reconfiguration, the requirements will be satisfied. The separation direction of the two CubeSats with respect to the orbital plane is decided to provide advantageous initial condition to the orbit controller. Proximity keeping is accomplished by differential atmospheric drag control (DADC), which generates acceleration by changing the spacecraft's effective cross section via attitude control rather than consuming propellant. Reconfiguration is performed to meet the requirements after proximity keeping. Numerical simulations show that the requirements can be satisfied by the relative orbit control strategy. Furthermore, through numerical simulations, it is demonstrated that the inertial alignment can be achieved. A beacon signal had been received for several months after the launch; however, we have lost the signal at present.