Transcript
EduSAT Training Satellite
The Training Satellite
Description
The DTS (Satellite Technology Demonstrator) is a useful and simple mock up for satellite educational activities. It has a cubic shape of about 20 cm side, made of Plexiglass to allow visual inspection of the interior. Three out of six faces are covered with solar panels. Inside the Mock-up, on each face, the DTS subsystems (ACS, OBDH, COMMS, etc.) are attached. The students can disassemble a panel and test each subsystem separately. Different microcontroller typologies (Microchip, Basic Stamp and so on) are used on OBDH, ACS and COMMS, so it is possible to use different popular programming languages (Assembly, C, Basic...). The ACS is composed of one momentum wheel (to rotate the satellite around the suspended axis) as actuator, a magnetometer (to provide attitude information) as a sensor and a logic unit. The student can send a command to the satellite from the Ground Station and see the actuation by telemetry data, like in a real satellite mission. The Communication is on the ISM-UHF band, so the DTS can be used without amateur licence in a large part of the world. Thanks to the unipolar antenna and a receiver station is possible to send e receive data from/to the satellite. The communication protocol is custom, anyway AX.25 can also be implemented. Thanks to the Silicon Solar Array and a Li-ion Battery Pack is possible to use the DTS for over 10 hours. The PDU ensures power to all subsystems and the current / voltage / temperature telemetries give information about the satellite health status. The communications from/to the “Ground Student” are assured by the Plug and Play Ground Station and a Personal Computer.
The EduSAT Training Satellite, also called DTS (Dimostratore Tecnologico Satellitare), is a part of the EDUSAT Project in collaboration with the Italian Space Agency and the Universities of Rome. The DTS is a Mock-up demonstrator of a real satellite. It has the major subsystems: OBDH (On-board Data Handling), PDU (Power Distribution Unit), Solar Arrays, Li-ion Battery Pack, ADCS (Attitude Determination and Control Subsystem) and COMM (Communications Subystem). The DTS is a realistic, inexpensive training satellite for high school students, University or Master Degree Courses. The DTS works as a real satellite, sends telemetry data (via UHF bands) and receives commands (in the same frequency band). The students can supervise the satellite remotely and simulate the in-orbit status. When the DTS is suspended through the MGSE (Mechanical Ground Support Equipment), it can be rotated around the suspended axis thanks to the internal reaction wheel. The Solar Array gives information about the attitude (a 500W lamp can simulate the Sun). For more accurate attitude information there Is a built-in magnetometer. Each subsystem was designed with Plug-and-Play philosophy. Each subsystem can be unplugged easily and replaced by another one made by the customer. All details about electrical schematics, mechanical interfaces, firmware and testing are Open-Source and downloadable from the Official Web-Site (www.imteducational.it). In the IMT-Educational portal e-Learning lessons (theoretical and practice) for over 20 hours of streaming video, games, documents and Freeware software are also available.
Features Italian Space Agency Project Nano-satellite Platform Training OBDH / ADCS / EPS / COMMS subsystem Real TTC communications 1 DoF (degree of Freedom) of Attitude Control Used by over 50 Italian High School
Available on request NOAA Ground Station (QHA Antenna + PC + Radio + Software) DTB (Basic Satellite Technology Demonstrator) for Middle School Students
EduSAT Training Satellite
IMT Educational Web site
Applications
Thanks to the IMT Educational Web site, a student can follow the lessons in streaming video. The program is divided in 3 Modules, the first one being an introduction to the Laboratory Lessons. You can find Astrodynamics, Fundamental theories of Physics, History of SpaceFlight; also an introduction to the major freeware software (Orbitron, Celestia, etc.) is provided. Each lesson is available in streaming video, audio, presentation and interactive add-ons or quizzes. The second module regards the DTS subsystems: OBDH, ACS, EPS, COMMS. Each subsystem is explained by a user manual and provided with technical project data and firmware (if needed). The students will have the chance to go deep into every topic, and realize their own subsystem with the same mechanical and electrical interfaces. The last module concerns the DTS Integration. The interconnection between different subsystems and all the laboratory exercises are explained by technical reports. Currently, 50 Italian High School Students use the Satellite Educational Demonstrator with a high learning proficiency of the students. IMT's Educational web site can be reached by this link: www.imteducational.it
Educational / Training
DTS Internal View (PDU Subsystem)
UHF Antenna Connector
DTS Internal view (Reaction wheel, ADCS subsystem and Battery Pack)
Contacts IMT s.r.l.
Via Carlo Bartolomeo Piazza, 30 00161 - Rome Tel. (+39)0644292634 E-mail:
[email protected] Web Site: www.imtsrl.it
