Pico-Satellite Design and Test for i-INSPIRE Mission

Abstract

The i-INSPIRE (initial-INtegrated SPectrograph, Imager and Radiation Explorer) satellite project involves the design and test of a tubular shape pico-satellite. This is a collaborative project of School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering and the School of Physics within the University of Sydney. Expected for launch in 2013, i-INSPIRE will carry a photonics-based spectrograph, an imaging camera, and a miniaturized radiation detector. As the first pico-satellite to be fully constructed by an Australian university and to be launched into space, i-INSPIRE project will be a conceptual prototype for future more complex small satellite mission like the upcoming QB50. This thesis presents the i-INSPIRE pico-satellite subsystems design and final test by means of high altitude balloon launch. The current work and research is based on the concept of the TubeSat. The proposed satellite provides a robust bus to fulfil the scientific tasks. One onboard computer based on MSP430 microcontroller is specifically design for the mission. The AFSK (Audio Frequency-Shift Keying) based UHF (Ultra-High Frequency) communication implementation, cooperating with ground station, will accumulate experience and pave the way for future project. The main scientific aim of i-INSPIRE is the operation of a novel photonic spectrograph in space. Moreover, the unique radiation environment of space also enables us to probe the radiation environment in Low Earth orbit by one miniaturized Geiger counter. An imaging camera is added to undertake earth observation. During the test phase, subsystems and developed housekeeping software were first tested under laboratory conditions. The i-INSPIRE satellite was then launched with a high altitude balloon to verify its practical performance under simulated harsh space environment like low temperature.