2012.P.1.2 UPPESAT: Seismic Activity Determination Nanosatellite

Author(s)

Samaksh Behl (1), Aakanksha Dhar (1) and Yachna Gola (1)

University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, India

Session

P.1 – Poster Session

Keywords

cubesat, UPESSAT, magnetometer

Abstract

CubeSats are becoming crucial in the present day scenario of space research as they not only serve to be a low cost research tool for testing and validation of the next generation micro sized payloads but they also play a vital role in space exploration. With the first CubeSat mission, accomplished by Russia in June 2003, various Universities have been coming up with the idea of Student Satellite Projects. A method of indicating India’s investment in developing a space industry is research projects within Universities. This gave birth to the idea of UPESSAT. UPESSAT’s primary scientific mission is to detect magnetic fluctuations using magnetometer at certain timelines and certain locations, record these fluctuations and downlink the magnetic signal data. The magnetic fluctuation data will be superimposed with the seismic data for that particular location and timeline, which may lead to pioneering techniques to predict earthquake activity. This paper describes the design of the primary satellite structure and the analysis used to arrive at the design. The internal and external configurations of the spacecraft along with the estimated mass properties of the integrated satellite will be described. Finite element method will be used to simulate the environment that the structure will undergo. It will be used to predict behaviour of the complex geometry to be used as the satellite’s structure. The main frame of the satellite is composed of beams and thin plates which will be checked for structural integrity. Correlating these analyses with several static and modal tests, the model boundary conditions will be verified. Set to launch in 2014, and bound for a 705 km inclined polar orbit, UPESSAT is a prime example of CubeSat technology.