STRATHcube : a CubeSat against space debris

Gray, Lewis and Leitch, Ewan and Graham, Julie and Wilson, Andrew and Vasile, Massimiliano (2022) STRATHcube : a CubeSat against space debris. In: 73rd International Astronautical Congress, 2022-09-18 - 2022-12-22.

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Abstract

The responsible management of space debris is critical for the continued use of space. The STRATHcube project purposes a CubeSat which focusses on two issues of space debris - detection and removal. There is an increasing need to detect, track and catalogue debris in the Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The first payload tracks orbital debris by using Passive Bistatic Radar (PBR). The project purposes to launch the CubeSat into LEO as a PBR technology demonstrator, where a signal processor algorithm developed at the University of Strathclyde to detect debris will be tested. If debris were to pass between the CubeSat and the transmitting satellite, this signal would be disturbed, indicating the presence of debris. If adopted in industry, this method can be upscaled to provide data at increased accuracy, reduced cost, and higher availability. As a secondary payload, the STRATHcube project aims to provide data on fragmentation of solar panels upon re-entry into the atmosphere. To reduce the volume of debris in low orbits, the Design for Demise (D4D) initiative champions removal of debris via uncontrolled atmospheric re-entry in which satellites completely demise. Current D4D analysis tools under-predict the effectiveness of break up upon re-entry due to a lack of re-entry data – in particular fragmentation data. With this flight data, STRATHcube aims to provide greater validation and verification of satellite re-entry modelling tools that currently exist, as well as providing the framework for future fragmentation studies. To verify the life cycle of the CubeSat, an Integrated Systems Tool (IST) has been developed. Using MATLAB code, the IST creates a digital twin of the CubeSat which provides a high-fidelity simulation of the propagation as well as interlinking subsystems of STRATHcube (mission analysis, AOCS, power, thermal). This provides an important initial step to verify the component and orbit selection prior to product procurement and launch of the STRATHcube mission. The IST uses a Runge-Kutta 4th Order (RK4) numerical integrator, which currently includes the core mechanics (idealised control, actuator control) and determination (Wahba’s problem with two separate methods) of the orientation of the CubeSat, with the power profile developed, but not integrated. Some results have been confirmed with additional resources to verify their accuracy, and any future results are recommended to have validation. Notable considerations for further development include integrating the power profile, developing the thermal model, and creating a GUI.

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