2016.P.1.3. Collecting data on the properties of aerosols and clouds using polarimetry sensor in CubeSat-GXIBA satellite

Author(s)

Hector Vargas (1)
Aurelio Heredia (1)
Maria de la Luz García (1)
Enrique Sanchez (1)
Juan Carlos Cisneros (1)

Universidad Popular Autonoma del Estado de Puebla, Mexico

Session

P.1

Keywords

CubeSat, aerosols, polarimetry sensor, sun-synchronous orbit

Abstract

In the Popular Autonomous University of Puebla of Mexico, it is developing a 2U CubeSat Earth Observation, specifically the territory of Puebla and its surroundings. It is designed to a height of 400-800 km in sun-synchronous orbit about 98 degrees, this in order to pass over a given terrestrial latitude to the same solar time, this illumination is a useful feature for viewing satellites the surface of the earth in visible wavelengths and / or infrared. At present an imminent risk to civil protection are attending state of Puebla is the volcanic activity of Popocatepetl, continually need to monitor such activity, it is clear that you can count on terrestrial or aerial means, but a means that can provide important data are sensors for space spectroscopy which give relevant information aerosols; these sensors can be placed in these small satellites in low orbit CubeSat class, occupy maximum average unit CubeSat, and provide more parameters as aerosol source originates. Therefore, the proposal is to develop and build a payload of X1) Climate Change Challenges and Requirements for Space Systems the satellite for observing the regional territory of Puebla, using this type of sensor for spatial spectral imaging spectroscopy to generate a series of up to at least 20 spectral bands within 500-900 nm spectral range, forming a desired spectral data cube. The amount of data collected by the spectral image generator is adjustable, and range from 10 to 500 MB. Monitoring should be 80% over average orbit and, along with cleaning will gather data about 2 MB of data within 24 hrs. One consideration that is anticipating is that, due to the downlink capacity of 29-49 MB for 24 hrs for an orbital altitude of 500- 800 km, and with only one earth station, reduce the amount of spectral images taken during the phase of data collection. The satellite will have the dynamics and attitude control system pointing accuracy of less than one degree in the observation phase of the acquisition of spectral images. The system will consist of magnetorquers, MEMS gyroscopes, miniature reaction wheels, sun sensors and star tracker for precise knowledge of the attitude. It can locate a half a CubeSat- cube space and have several modes of operation.