• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.423-433
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• 2022

This paper introduces the case studies of launch environmental test for cube nanosatellites and lessons learned of the design and integration from those. Generally, nanosatellites are launched and deployed in space while being contained in nanosatellite deployers, mechanical loads of launch are transferred through the deployer. This characteristic make nanosatellites under larger loads and higher possibilities of mechanical failure. This study represents guidelines of the design and the integration of the nanosatellites by showing the cases of launch environmental test of nanosatellite system. Moreover, it is suggested that the modern nanosatellite deployer with the capability of fixing the internal nanosatellite be preferable to conventional deployer by comparing the test results with those deployers.

• Journal of Space Technology and Applications
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.319-336
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• 2021

This paper discusses the results of launch environment tests for the engineering qualification model (EQM) of nanosatellite Scale magNetospheric and Ionospheric Plasma Experiment (SNIPE) for scientific missions and lessons learned for the design of nanosatellites. SNIPE is a group of four formation-flying 6U nanosatellites with a range of payloads for missions including space weather measurement. We developed the EQM to verify the preliminary design prior to fabricating the flight model. Launch environment test of EQM was conducted for the first time in 2019, and all failures were corrected and verified at the second test conducted in 2021. A notable point of the two tests is that the nanosatellite deployer used in the first test is different from that of the second test. The second deployer has the capability to fix the internal satellite whereas the first deployer just contains and deploys the satellite. Thus actual mechanical loads the satellite receives is reduced for the second test compared to the first test. This work compares the mechanical responses of two tests and proposes general guidelines for structural design of nanosatellites.

• Journal of Space Technology and Applications
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.72-85
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• 2023

Most Nanosatellites are launched in nanosatellite deployers. Nanosatellites in the deployer are turned off during launch, and they start boot sequence after deploying at their mission orbit. For this reason, nanosatellites must have deployment switch. Most of the nanosatellite deployment switch has two part, first is electric switch to boot the satellite system and second is mechanical assembly to push the switch. In most cases, electric switches are installed in the satellite main body, and the switch operations are translated via the mechanical assembly. These implementations are mechanically complicated and hard to guarantee the appropriate operation without the problems due to friction between pusher and satellite structure. This paper proposes the another implementation method of deployment switch for nanosatellites by installing the electric switch outside the main body without any kind of mechanical parts.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
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• v.18 no.12
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• pp.104-110
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• 2019

A nanosatellite designed by the Korea Microgravity Science Laboratory (KMSL) is currently under development. The KMSL nanosatellite is designed to perform two different scientific missions in space. To successfully complete missions, a variety of tests must be conducted to verify the performance of the designed satellite before launch. As part of the qualification test campaign, the KMSL nanosatellite underwent high level vibrational tests (to comply with Falcon 9 qualification level) to demonstrate the integrity of the system. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate that the primary structure and all electronic and mechanical components can withstand the vibrations and the loads experienced during the launch period. To this end, the KMSL nanosatellite was exposed to static and dynamic loads and various types of vibrations that are inevitably produced during the space vehicle launch period. The vibration test results clearly demonstrated that all avionics and mechanical components can withstand the vibrations and the loads applied to the KMSL nanosatellite's body through a Pico-satellite Orbital Deployer (POD).